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Tax Battle Heats Up as Obama and Romney Exchange Jabs

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    Former deputy assistant to President George Bush Brad Blakeman and Democratic political strategist Christy Setzer debate the politics of President Oba...

  • Duration 5:35
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This tax battle -- is continuing.

To heat up watch President Obama bringing Robin Hood into the fight.

Governor Romney's plan.

-- effectively raise taxes on middle class families with children by an average of 2000 dollars he'd ask the middle class to pay more taxes that he could give another 250000.

Dollar tax cut to people making more than three million dollars a year.

That's like Robin Hood -- reverse.

This Romney -- And we're joined now by both Brad Blake but a former deputy assistant to president George W.

Bush.

And -- -- -- democratic political strategist and president of new heights.

Communications what are -- in Washington first afraid there are committed sounded like the president was testing.

-- -- line there with Romney hood if Bahrain if you were advising the campaign would you say keep -- -- I absolutely a look at the Obama campaign is not stupid and they know that any -- the conversation turns to Mitt Romney in taxes.

It's not a good thing and so is actually Mitt Romney this week.

He stepped into a little bit by releasing his own tax plan because not.

When he talks about taxes people are reminded that -- and he has not released his own tax returns -- their thinking about that.

And still once they -- the.

-- that's what this is about this is about the Romney tax plan so.

We go to Brad kind of on consecutive questions is this is political it's -- -- just talked about but it's also -- -- -- the politics first do you agree.

But Christie that this is a tough one for you guys on the Republican side that this is a simple -- might stick -- it's hard to fight back from well actually I've been writing about.

The -- period economics that the president has been engaged in prior years I just did a news Max column a few weeks ago about it sort of referred earlier this month politics it's Smart politics because if you co op.

-- good slogan against her opponent it prevents him from using it OK so I can and political points for take it and I'll go to -- second on this but first you -- on economics.

So the tax policy institute this is what prompted all this came out the said the Romney tax plan.

Results and a 2000 dollar net.

Tax increase on average for middle class.

Americans and it would cut taxes on the more wealthy Americans -- factual the Romney campaigns is only President Obama would raise taxes not.

Not Romney but what do you say about the facts of it.

-- the facts of -- are nonsense because they made assumptions that were not based on fact and the Romney campaign has yet to release.

The total picture of their final tax plan I think that's going to be coming.

In the next few weeks but one thing -- for sure they don't raise taxes on the middle class they don't raise taxes on the middle class know what they what they do is say they were they they run create more of a tax base to increase revenue from coming in Ronald Reagan did this.

And approved to reduce the deficits and create more opportunity for the individual.

How about that than -- on the on the merits if we actually all agree this is Smart politics what about the merits.

And I I could not disagree with Brad -- look.

What this plan is going to do is raise taxes on 95%.

Of -- the only people who -- not see their taxes raised.

Who will and see a giant who will -- -- -- giant tax cut are those of us and make over 200000 dollars here's a look at your millionaire.

You'll probably be seeing about an 87000 dollar tax cut that's an enormous amount but if you are -- middle class family -- -- couple kids.

You're probably going sounds like your taxes raised I got to it sounds -- Our feeling about what a tax cut is tax increases vs.

You know I change in the tax code is that right Brad or by getting it wrong you're -- you're getting it right but what we have to understand is and what's been report on Fox News business channel it was -- born just a few minutes ago.

Is the top.

5%.

Pay pretty much for everybody else right so this this this nonsense that and again it's a Robin -- economics for the president.

And he's co opting a slogan but there's nothing there there.

You want to penalize the rich the people who hire people and buy equipment and invest in property.

The very people you want to encourage -- deterring from investing an -- -- Bill Clinton there's a trillion dollars a -- sitting on the sidelines.

Because people are on are afraid of their future and uncertain of the tax policy we'll do one more quick response from -- -- -- we after wrapping up -- debt.

So the funny thing is that the Romney campaign has not actually countered the merits of -- argument that's because everybody from the Wall Street Journal to the Tax Policy Center.

Which is a nonpartisan think tank at the Romney campaign themselves on the had endorsed stat is being objective during the primaries friend has said that is exactly what this and this plan is going to do is an -- -- Taxes on 95% of last and it's going to give a tax cut to millionaires and -- So let me go back out -- go back to do one more here because it is -- -- Just to go back to the politics is -- proposed the economic spread you think about who they targeting your rank is a very small.

Number of people just percentage wise they're gonna decide this election -- undecided voters in -- in a few states it's it's Florida Ohio wherever.

But just sit -- and undecided voter in Florida who is that person.

Not person probably is somebody who would respond to this argument again which is what makes it effective politically mean how well Romney.

Combat it just politically Brad do you think -- -- -- fired back that's it.

Because the American people are are not stupid.

They know that every time they go to the gas pump they realize -- high gas prices they're paying their -- realizing now inflation.

On commodities.

They they know their the unemployment rate is.

In in some instances double the national average in our inner cities the very people who support this program the most are hurting us dark guys thank you very much to -- sets and also to Brad -- coming on with us again.

We appreciate it thanks to both.