Bill Kristol: Republicans 'Screaming and Yelling,' Doing 'Contortions' to Avoid Tax Hikes on the Wealthy

(Photo: Fox News)

Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol has been arguing in favor of raising taxes on the wealthy for the past several weeks, echoing the president in his November 18 assertion that “it won’t kill the country if we raise taxes a little bit on millionaires."

Now he appears to be taking it a step further, lightly criticizing the Republicans in his party who are standing in the way of impending tax hikes.

After host Chris Wallace discussed the recent proposition of making top earners, or couples making $250,000 a year, pay a 35% tax on ​all​ their income instead of raising the top marginal rate, Kristol shook his head.

He explained:

"The Republicans are going into contortions to try not to raise the top rate, while in fact trying to produce more revenues-- which Speaker Boehner said he's for-- and to produce them from the wealthy, since they're scared of being accused of attacking the middle class.

"I don't really care if they want to find some complicated way to get more revenues...I think it's probably easier just to give in a little bit on the top rate, but they've made that a matter of dogma.  I'm not going to break my own sword on telling them not to break their sword on it..."  [Emphasis added]

Kristol proceeded to discuss the payroll tax, which is due to increase in January, taking issue with how it has been handled by Republicans.

"Republicans have a huge opportunity here to be champions of the working class, of the middle class, instead of yelling and screaming about millionaires."

Watch video of Kristol's remarks, via Mediaite:

(H/T: Mediaite)