This has been a fast-paced week, as far as issues go. The developments of the past 7 days have served to remind me, yet again, why I seldom identify blog topics in advance, and why I almost never write a pre-Blog Night outline. I was reasonably certain I knew, by the middle of last week, what I would write about for today. Then the past 48-hours unfolded, resulting in my totally changing focus.
During the past several days, I have had direct communications with two good friends, one of whom I consider the most dyed-in-the-wool Capitalist, Republican in my immediate friend circle; the other, the most fervent Liberal Democrat I have ever known; also my friend. In communing with them, I had the opportunity to discuss their views on the ideological chasm between Democrats and the GOP-T Party on the so-called Bush Tax Cuts Debate.
Their opinions were about what one would imagine, given their respective political bent and ideological persuasion; almost diametrically opposed. My friend, the self-proclaimed Capitalist (in discussions before the latest BFD), argued passionately for the Bush Tax Cuts, at least in part, on the basis that he believes the federal government is an inefficient monstrosity that cannot help but use the people’s money less prudently than the people would, left to their own devices. He also felt that the Inheritance Tax was simply wrong on its face, and quite frankly, both “un-American and unconstitutional.”
Alternately, my Liberal friend noted (yesterday, after the new BFD) that he is “really disappointed” by the President’s decision to proffer an agreement to extend the Bush Tax Cuts to the wealthy. He added that this proposal would “pass along more debt to future generations, while we watch the country go down the tubes.” Finally, he concluded by reminding me of one of my earlier comments about a previous action taken by President Obama, when I said, “If we continue to make deals like this, we may as well have the Republicans in power.”
While I didn’t make this retort to his last comment, based on the results of the November 2nd Election, we do, for all practical purposes. And, good, bad, or indifferent, I am left to presume, that is the will of the people...or at least it was on November 2nd.
I find it compelling, in a theatrical sort of way, that my friends have so cogently and succinctly stated the key tenets of the two sides. By stating their Guiding Principles, they inadvertently affirmed the notion of the aforementioned great and wide chasm separating the two sides. In a way, it is akin to Kipling’s “The Ballad of East and West,” in which Rudyard proclaims, “Oh East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.” That dear readers, is the paradigm; the Sphinx-like riddle President Obama is challenged by, and is trying to solve.
Alas, in attempting to leverage a win for the middle class, albeit a short-term boost that will be consumed by additional red ink added to the deficit, the President has elicited a full-throated roar of derision and scorn from the Left, including Democratic members of Congress, and a variety of economists, and media types. In the most contentiously shrill version of these intra-Party friendly fire attacks, President Obama is characterized as having sold out. His critics argue he turned his back on a bedrock campaign pledge by endorsing the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans.
While the President has been maligned often for his even-temperedness (not enough fire and/or passion for some people’s tastes), he did seem to take great offense to the allegation that by driving this compromise, he was somehow a sell-out. In fact, he bristled at the notion. In a hastily called news conference to further explain the details of the agreement, and to defend it, President Obama stood his ground and addressed the questionable tactics of the opposition, as well as the stinging criticism of his fellow Party members.
He suggested that Republicans were “worshipping the “holy grail” of Trickle-down economics and using procedural maneuvers to hijack a serious economic policy debate.”
He called out his own Party for suggesting that he had not laid out priorities or made progress on his promises. He likened that aspect of the current conversation to the public option debate, and expressed it thusly:
- "So I pass a signature piece of legislation where we finally get health care for all Americans, something that Democrats have been fighting for, for a hundred years, but because there was a provision in there that they didn't get that would have affected maybe a couple million people, even though we got health insurance for 30 million people, and the potential for lower premiums for 100 million people, that somehow that was a sign of weakness and compromise.
- Now, if that's the standard by which we are measuring success or core principles, then let's face it, we will never get anything done. People will have the satisfaction of having a purist position and no victories for the American people. And we will be able to feel good about ourselves and sanctimonious about how pure our intentions are and how tough we are, and in the meantime the American people are still seeing themselves not able to get health insurance because of a preexisting condition. Or not being able to pay their bills because their unemployment insurance ran out.”
The reality is, of course, President Obama is no more a fan of the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthy than any other Democrat. He is motivated by the irreducible responsibility that he bears to be the President of all the people, most notably, the 98% who would have seen their taxes increase, had he not acted, as well as a too vivid recollection of the outcome of the November 2nd Election. It was those election results that strengthened the Republicans' hand for the next Congress. Failure to act responsibly and judiciously now would be a prescription for even more severe consequences meted out by the 112th Congress, in which the GOP-T Party will boast a Majority in the House, and increased numbers in the Senate.
Moreover, let it be clear, the President did indict the GOP-T Party, directly, for its intransigence. Finally, it must be noted, this battle did not begin Monday. Had the Democrats shown this apparent newly found zeal to do battle; had they demonstrated this moxie and readiness to unite and challenge the GOP-T Party, earlier, when they actually had the numerical leverage, and time on their side, the President would not find himself in this compromising position now. Of course, gentlemanly, and even-tempered as he is, President Obama, despite all his bluster, has been simply too civil and dignified to remind his esteemed colleagues of that slice of contemporary American History.
Of course, that’s just my assessment. I look forward to your feedback, and your unique and personal points of view. After all, this may be the just start of a regular dialogue about the pros and cons of “The Sell Out Vs. The Sanctimonious.” It is quite possible that scenarios such as this will play out repeatedly over the next two years. Get ready; all indications are it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703296604576005270162137088.html
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/12/07/tax.deal/index.html?hpt=T2
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2010/12/07/explain.it.to.me.tax.cuts.cnn?hpt=T2
http://celebrifi.com/gossip/Extension-deal-taxes-Dems-patience-4205975.html
http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-cohn/79694/the-tax-deal-hate-the-tax-deal
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/12/05/1444486/after-the-tax-fight-parties-move.html
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/12/07/obama_and_gop_make_deal_on_taxes/
http://www.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/12/obama-addresses-possible-deal-on-bush-tax-cuts/1?imw=Y&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Usatoday-MostViewedArticles+(USATODAY.com%3A+Most+Popular)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/02/AR2010120206050.html
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/12/06/1555453/obama-gop-reach-deal-to-extend.html
http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2010/12/07/news/national/free/id_420845.txt
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec10/taxcuts_12-07.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/APb16f0a0fb3974d95a4890c331b0cf356.html
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