Bush Gets Norquist's Alabama Memo

Rejects Tax Cut Repeal to Fund Iraqi Reconstruction

The "tax increase" meme is as strong as ever in the Bush Administration:

Some have suggested repealing at least some of the nearly $2 trillion in tax cuts enacted since Bush took office.

"I heard somebody say, well, what we need to do is have a tax increase to pay for this. That's an absurd notion," Bush told reporters.

"You don't raise taxes when an economy is recovering. Matter of fact, lower taxes will help enhance economic recovery.

"We want our people going back to work. We've got good momentum now in our economy; we don't want to destroy that momentum. But the $87 billion is worth it and I look forward to working with Congress to get that number completed and get the job done. "

Bush's spokesman was asked later about a potential Democratic proposal to repeal the tax cuts for just the top 1 percent of Americans.

"Sounds like a tax increase to me," said White House press secretary Scott McClellan.

"There are a lot of small-business owners in that top bracket. These are the job creators, the economic backbone of our economy," McClellan said.

"And so that would be a job killer move, just as our economy is moving in the right direction."

One: Bush is still saying $87 billion, even though his own people have admitted that he needs more. Is he lying or just that stupid?

Two: When DO you raise taxes? Are we to assume that there is some magical moment in Bush's brain that taxes may then be raised? Are there conditions under which taxes may safely be raised? Yes -- under a Democratic administration.

Three: McClellan says that there are a lot of small-business owners in that top bracket. That top 1% bracket? Small business? What is McClellan smoking?