in 1992, Clinton campaigned on a middle class tax cut. once he got in office, he couldn't make good on it because of the deficit and polling showed most voters would not hold it against them. So the economy recovered without a middle class tax cut. so why the hell are Democratic candidates insisting on keeping this chimera of a tax cut when the country has pressing needs such as paying for that damn war, health insurance, investing in renewable energy, higher education, blah blah? plus, the deficit is now way worse than what Clinton confronted. there is no way in hell the Democrats advocating keeping the "middle class tax cuts" are going to be able to do so without exacerbating the deficits. certain Kossacks think we should keep it just because "we dont' want to be labelled tax raisers." this is so stupid. we just want to go back to the tax rates under Clinton. and this argument is so easy to make. my mom is a middle class taxpayer with 2 kids. i said Bush was gonna cut her taxes and she'd get a child credit. she said, "WHAT?? we're in a war right now. how can they afford giving me a tax cut?" DUH!! that is why i think Dean and Gephardt will be just fine for repealing all the bush cuts--they look like honest, we don't/can't promise you everything-types of panderers. the others look like panderers. and we're on the RIGHT SIDE Of the issue except we worry too much about what Karl ROve will say. Did Bush worry, "Gosh should i ram another tax cut through when we never have cut taxes during wartime in the history of our country? what will the media/opposition say?" i think Americans respect that more in political figures: people with clearly defined principles who stick to them no matter the controversy.