From the article: “House Speaker John A. Boehner said in a statement soon after Mr. Obama’s remarks that discussions at the White House will be ‘fruitless’ unless the president abandons calls for any tax increases. ‘The American people simply won’t stand for it,’ Mr. Boehner said. ‘And their elected representatives in Congress won’t vote for it.'”

Americans are smarter than that Mr. Boehner – there is a difference between tax increases on extreme wealth and on middle and lower class Americans. What we won’t stand for, and is against our values, is the latter. You are the one who will not stand for tax increases on your contributors – it is a sad reality, but we must begin to call it what it is.

From NYTimes:

President Obama on Tuesday invited Democratic and Republican Congressional leaders to meet with him in the White House on Thursday, saying that “greater progress is in sight” on a deal to raise the nation’s debt limit and reduce the deficit.

Mr. Obama continued to insist that a final deal include a “balanced approach” that would include tax increases on wealthy individuals as well as trillions of dollars in spending cuts.

But he urged all sides in Thursday’s discussions to “leave their ultimatums at the door,” and he sounded an optimistic tone about the likelihood that an acceptable deal could be reached in the next two weeks.

“This will require both parties to get out of our comfort zones,” he said. “I’m ready to do that. I believe there are enough people in both parties who are ready to do that.”

Mr. Obama revealed that there had been a “series of discussions” about the debt issue with the leadership of both parties during the long Fourth of July weekend. He said those discussions had produced “progress” toward resolution of the issue.

Mr. Obama also insisted that he did not support a short-term deal that would extend the nation’s debt ceiling only until the next election. He described that as an effort to “kick the can” down the road on the issue of the nation’s debt.

“I don’t think the American people sent us here to avoid tough problems,” he said. “I  don’t want to do that here. Right now, we have got a unique opportunity to do something big.”

The president’s comments came as Republican leaders in the House continued to say they would not vote for any deal that includes tax increases. The Treasury Department has said that the government’s ability to borrow money and pay its debts will expire on Aug. 2.

House Speaker John A. Boehner said in a statement soon after Mr. Obama’s remarks that discussions at the White House will be “fruitless” unless the president abandons calls for any tax increases.

“The American people simply won’t stand for it,” Mr. Boehner said. “And their elected representatives in Congress won’t vote for it.  I’m happy to discuss these issues at the White House, but such discussions will be fruitless until the president recognizes economic and legislative reality.”

Negotiations with the White House to reach a bargain fell apart at the end of June after Republicans said they were unwilling to discuss the inclusion of tax increases. Since then, Mr. Obama has become more forceful in describing his adversaries as the protectors of the wealthy and corporations.

Tuesday’s remarks appeared to tone down that rhetoric, as Mr. Obama emphasized the general agreement that has been reached on the need for trillions of dollars in spending cuts.

“We have made progress and I believe that greater progress is in sight,” he said.