Chris Matthews: Obama, Tax Cuts, and Giving People Money

Chris Matthews and I are on the same page when it comes to Obama's claim that cutting people's taxes is actually giving money to them.

It's a very rare thing for me to be in agreement with Matthews, but he is making sense for a change.

Yesterday, during the CNBC Town Hall Discussion on Jobs, Obama exposed his view of the government as an all-powerful and controlling entity, robbing people of what is theirs.

OBAMA: What the Republicans are proposing is that we, in addition to that, provide tax relief to primarily millionaires and billionaires. It would cost us $700 billion to do it. On average, millionaires would get a check of $100,000.

OBAMA: The first thing you do when you’re in a hole is not dig it deeper. That's why this tax debate is important. We can’t give $700 billion away to some -- America’s wealthiest people. We’ve got to make sure that we are responsible stewards for our budget. That's point number one.

Obama is stating that the $700 billion earned by Americans is his to control.

He cannot claim to give them what they already own. Taxing is TAKING from the people, not giving.

Shockingly, Chris Matthews understands this point.

Transcript, NewsBusters

CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: I have one small tweak to make to what the president said today -- he should stop saying that giving people tax cuts is giving people money. It`s their money! A tax cut is when the government doesn`t take our money. It`s an important distinction.

He talked today, for example, about people getting a check from the government in the form of a tax cut. That`s not the way it works. If tax rates are kept lower, it`s a matter of the check going to the government being smaller. Again, it`s an important distinction.

Matthews is right. It is an important distinction.

Don't tread on me, Obama.

Video.