Obama told to 'move the needle' on tax policy

[December 09, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- A liberal Democrat is accusing President Obama of acting more like "negotiator-in-chief" than leader of the country and his party on the issue of tax policy.

Rep. Anthony Weiner makes the charge in an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America." He says he doesn't think Obama fought hard enough to protect party values as he arranged a compromise with congressional Republicans on legislation protecting all taxpayers from a rate increase at the end of the month. This includes the wealthy, and Obama had been against extending them for this class of taxpayers.

Weiner said, "The president has the ability to move the needle and I don't think this administration understands that."

The New York Democrat says "this isn't the same critique as from Republicans who want him to fail." He said Democrats want to "improve it," not block it, when the bill comes up for a vote.

[Associated Press]

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