Liberal group launches Iowa ad pushing Obama to fight on tax cuts

Created: December 02, 2010 17:13 | Last updated: July 31, 2020 00:00

A national progressive organization is once again launching a television ad in Iowa, this time urging President Barack Obama to “fight, don’t cave” on ending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which sparked controversy shortly before Election Day with an ad targeting U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, announced the ad buy Thursday. The ad uses footage of Obama in Iowa in 2007 promising to let the Bush tax cuts expire on the wealthiest Americans, as well as footage of future Republican House Speaker John Boehner agreeing to vote for a package that let upper income tax cuts expire if that was his only option.

“We’re bringing our ad to the place President Obama made his core campaign promise of letting the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy expire,” said Adam Green, co-founder, Progressive Change Campaign Committee. “There is no room for compromise on an issue where the promise is so clear and where the Republicans are standing with the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans against the entirety of the American people. Iowans and Americans need this President to do what he said he’d do on the campaign trail — fight hard for change we can believe in.”

Senate Republicans have vowed to filibuster any legislative measure that comes before the Senate until the chamber extends the Bush tax cuts in full.

“Our ad reminds President Obama that he has a choice,” said Stephanie Taylor, co-founder, Progressive Change Campaign Committee. “He can keep his promise and make sure that the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share of taxes. Or he can break his promise, add billions to our national debt, and leave his past supporters demoralized by caving to Republicans even when they are clearly wrong. The choice is his.”

The group is asking for donations to help keep the ad on the air longer. The group first aired the ad in Washington, D.C., and managed to raise more than $50,000.

Green says the ad will air on every broadcast station in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, with the exception of WHO-TV in Des Moines, which refused to air the group’s Grassley ad back in October.