Republican South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint, a powerful conservative voice in the GOP, forecast that President Obama would “get his wish” in the “fiscal cliff” negotiations and succeed in raising taxes.
DeMint, who earlier this month resigned from the Senate to become president of the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, accused Obama of “intentionally trying to take us over this cliff,” in pursuit of the “political trophy” of higher taxes. “We’re going to be raising taxes. Not just on the top earners. Everyone’s going to be paying more taxes next year in this country, and I think that’s what the president wants,” DeMint said on CBS This Morning.
President Obama has repeatedly stated his intent to raise taxes on the top two percent, while keeping them at their current rates for those making $250,000 or less. If no bipartisan deal is reached on the so-called fiscal cliff by the end of 2012, taxes will automatically go up across the board.
The South Carolina senator faulted both parties for their lack of success in reaching an agreement, saying they had “failed” the country.
