Americans never shy away from a good culture war, but as the Big Dog once proselytized, the economy trumps all.
And these midterms will be no different. As the silly season of August recedes, big economic debates in the offing should allow progressives and the Democratic Party to frame the election in squarely populist economic terms.
Per CNN. The tax cuts passed under George W. Bush are set to expire. Which of the following statements comes closest to your view?
*Tax cuts should continue for all Americans: 31%
*Tax cuts should continue only for families making under $250K a year: 51%
*Taxes should rise to the previous level for all Americans: 18%
So 7 in 10 Americans oppose more tax giveaways to the wealthy. And both the White House and Treasury Dept. are united in standing firmly for fiscal responsibility and economic fairness.
Wall Street Journal: Geithner Pushes Tax Boost for Wealthy
Huffington Post: Bernstein Throws Cold Water on Bush Tax Cuts Compromise
Yes, it is frustrating that every Democrat cannot get behind a political winner like this--one that draws a sharp contrast between the parties on a simple question: Whose side are you on?
But make no mistake, that is the exact message the Obama administration and Congressional leaders want going into the fall. Let's amplify it online and door-to-door. Because I don't think many Americans would shed a tear if the tax bomb exploded in the bankers' wallets.
What about jobs? Two out of 3 new jobs are created by small businesses, and recent layoffs have mostly come from companies with fewer than 50 employees. This week President Obama called out Republicans for blocking action on a small-business lending bill that also provides targeted tax cuts to boost growth and hiring in small and start-up companies. He announced that this will be the first item of business for the Senate when it returns next month. Democrats want to give a fist bump to average Americans in this tough economy,
while the Republican scrooges glower and fantasize about repealing Wall Street reform.
The next two months shouldn't be about what Democrats didn't do. And this year Democrats still must repeal DADT, ratify New START and confirm more judges, but the election framing should be "It's the economy, stupid Republicans."
September must be about presenting the American people with a stark choice between two vastly different economic visions for the future: one that values wealth over work, mocks the unemployed and blocks jobs, and seeks to privatize Social Security and voucherize Medicare; and another that invests in the future by supporting manufacturing and small business, protecting seniors and consumers, and prioritizing education and clean-energy research.
Let's go out and win this thing.