O44: Between a Rock and Hard Place

08 December 2010 |permalink | email article

FACING a major Democratic revolt over his tax accord deal with Republicans a defiant Obama defended the plan as a good deal for all Americans, saying he had no alternative and that he had no choice but to compromise if he wanted to help the middle class.

Ending a brutal news conference the president, displaying rare emotion, said “There’s not a single thing that I have said that I would do that I have not done or tried to do. And if I haven’t gotten it done yet, I’m still trying.” Answering a final question Obama said that the positions of some people on the left would result in nothing getting done, except having a “sanctimonious” pride in the purity of their own positions.

That said many Democrats regard the continuation of Bush tax-cut policies as a bitter defeat. They remind of Obama’s repeated pledge during the 2008 presidential campaign that he would not extend the Bush tax cuts for Americans making over $250,000 a year.

A new Survey USA poll, commissioned by MoveOn, surveyed 1,133 voters in twenty states who donated to or campaigned for Obama in 2008 found a vast majority oppose extending tax cuts for the nation’s top earners, even if it comes as part of a deal with Republicans.

In addition, 51% of the respondents said they would be less likely to contribute to Obama’s reelection campaign if he stuck with the deal, while 57% said they would be less favorable toward Democrats who back the compromise. Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitas succinctly raised this question about past donors: “Will they give money and knock on doors and make calls and drag their social circle to the polls? Nope. They didn’t in 2010. And at this rate, they sure has hell won’t in 2012.” David Axelrod, you have a problem.

Overheard

“We rich folks wouldn’t have our tax cuts if (President Barack Obama) wasn’t willing to fight all the Democrats who want him to fight Republicans…Mr. President, face the facts: Republicans just aren’t into you.” Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report.

“The president is in a very difficult position. If we don’t pay the ransom, around 118 million Americans are going to pay the price.” – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer noting that on Dec. 30 middle-income tax rates are scheduled to go up.

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