Don't Negotiate with Hostage Takers

You don't negotiate with hostage-takers. Period.

As President Obama said, the Republicans took the middle class and jobless Americans as hostages—but instead of refusing to negotiate with hostage-takers, the White House paid the ransom.¹

It's a bad deal that would give huge tax breaks to millionaires and undermine Social Security. If Democrats give in to these demands now, the Republicans will only keep taking more hostages and demanding more ransom.

That's why House Democrats voted yesterday to not bring the tax deal to the floor in its current form. If the Senate does the same, we can force the White House and Republicans to negotiate a better deal for the middle class.

Can you send a free fax right now urging Senator Sherrod Brown to oppose the millionaire tax bailout? Just click this link:

http://pol.moveon.org/fax?tg=FSOH_2&cp_id=1498&id=25446-17663758-MnINHdx&t=3

The deal President Obama agreed to with Republicans would extend the Bush tax breaks for the top 2% of earners for two years and extend unemployment insurance for 13 months. It would also cut the payroll tax for one year, undermining Social Security by cutting its key source of revenue.²

The fax is designed to reinforce the powerful message gaining traction in the media that President Obama made a huge mistake by negotiating with hostage-takers. The fax includes a parody ransom note from Republicans with this message:

Sen. Brown: Don't Pay the Republican Ransom!

If you reward the hostage-takers, they'll only take more hostages. Say no to the millionaire tax bailout and demand a better deal for the middle class.