Flap’s Links and Comments for July 23rd on 18:59
These are my links for July 23rd from 18:59 to 19:25:
- How the White House killed the deal – In an aggressive move, the House speaker’s office has put out a blow-by-blow on how the debt talks collapsed:
The White House is misleading reporters tonight by claiming that new revenue in the framework that was discussed would have been generated by letting the current tax rates expire. That is simply false. Under the framework, a CEILING was offered by the White House that would generate $800 billion in new revenue over ten years. This would be done through comprehensive tax reform that would clear out deductions, credits, and loopholes in the system – and spur economic growth.
After the gang of six plan came out, the White House moved the goal posts and insisted on $400 billion more in higher taxes – a 50% increase in revenue – and wanted that to be the FLOOR instead of the ceiling. The President acknowledged this in his remarks tonight. “Letting tax cuts expire” was never part of the tax reform agreed to. Please let me know if you have any questions. – steel
Summary of the White House ‘walk backs’ during discussions of the ‘framework.’:=====
Read it all.
I agree with Jennifer Rubin, it looks like Obama wants a default.
- Sources: Young woman accuses Oregon Rep. David Wu of aggressive, unwanted sexual encounter – A distraught young woman called U.S. Rep. David Wu's Portland office this spring, accusing him of an unwanted sexual encounter, according to multiple sources.
When confronted, the Oregon Democrat acknowledged a sexual encounter to his senior aides but insisted it was consensual, the sources said.
The woman is the daughter of a longtime friend and campaign donor. She apparently did not contact police at the time.
One person who heard the voice mail described the woman as upset, breathing heavily and "distraught."
In the voice mail, the young woman accused Wu of aggressive and unwanted sexual behavior, according to sources with direct knowledge of the message and its contents.
Reporters could not verify the young woman's age. Notes on Facebook over the past 18 months indicate she graduated from high school in 2010. California records show she registered to vote in August.
Wu, 56, did not respond to repeated questions from The Oregonian over the past four days.
Late Friday, Wu issued a one-sentence response: "This is very serious, and I have absolutely no desire to bring unwanted publicity, attention, or stress to a young woman and her family."
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Read it all.
This is not the first time that Wu has been accused os something like this.
My bet is that he woill not make it past Monday and will resign.
- Pressure mounts for Oregon Rep. David Wu to resign – U.S. Rep. David Wu spoke briefly to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi by telephone Saturday after Pelosi's meeting at the White House to discuss the federal debt ceiling.
The substance of the conversation was not disclosed but it came one day after reports that Wu was involved in unwanted sexual contact with a young woman last Thanksgiving.
The report has triggered concerns among some Democrats that Wu's behavior could cause political difficulties in the 2012 campaign.
Other Democratic leaders are expressing the same desire, according to those familiar with the deliberation, including some in Oregon.
In June, Pelosi released a statement calling on former Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., to step down after a similar Saturday conversation. In that case, however, Pelosi acted weeks after the incident broke into the public and after Weiner lied about the source of lewd photographs linked to his twitter account.
Even so, Weiner's offense was far less severe than the one Wu is alleged to have committed.
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Put a fork in Rep. Wu – He is Done!