Yesterday the President announced a deal that he and the Republican Party leaders have agreed upon allowing the tax cuts to be extended for another two years for everybody. He also announced that an additional 2% of payroll tax will be taken off what employees payout each payday. This agreement includes allowing the unemployment checks to keep being paid through another 13 months.
The Democratic Party (Congress and voters) are fuming over this deal. President Obama made a campaign promise to stop tax cuts for the wealthy and pay down the debt instead. He, in the eyes of supporters, is once again caving to the Republican Party. Just like he did with the Recovery Act and the Health Care bill. He is being seen as a weak President, never having the guts to stand on mere principle.
What if however, this is a well thought out political strategy.
What if this announced deal is just a tool to make it appear that Obama has caved, that he is once again giving the Republicans what they demand. What if the deal is just to make it appear that Obama tried negotiating with Republicans? What if he's getting Republicans on record as saying something like Minority leader in the Senate Mitch McConnel said on Meet the Press December 5, 2010,
"Well, let's put it this way, we've had more conversations in the last two weeks than we've had in the last two years, and I think that's a good sign, a growing awareness that the power's going to be more symmetrical in the next Congress, and I'm optimistic we'll be able to come together."
Could it be that Democrats got together and actually came up with a plan to make it appear that Obama had worked things out with the opposition party, only to knock it out of the water in the House later?
The media is reporting that some in the House are against this deal and may even filibuster it if it comes to the floor. What if this really happens and Democrats stop the tax cuts for everybody and they leave proof behind that it was the Republican Party that was using the unemployment checks as a tool to help the rich once again?
What happens on January 1st if tax cuts stop and the unemployed lose their benefits? People will lose some money up front but what if President Obama and the Democratic Party on the day the new Congress is sworn in produces a bill that asks for permanent tax cuts (plus a little more than what we would have gotten) for the middle class only? What if they also produce a bill for the unemployed to receive benefits again? Two separate bills.
Will Republicans be willing to go on record once again and vote no on any tax cuts? Perhaps they will, but will those Democrats that voted NO last week on extending the tax cuts for middle class but not the rich suddenly change their minds and vote YES this time around? They've gotten themselves on record as supporting tax cuts for the rich but this time around the bill is just for the middle class, so they get to claim during election time they supported both classes.
The other bill for unemployed will once again be voted on (with mounting pressure from voters) and I'm betting some of the Republicans in blue states will decide to change their minds as well.
President Obama meanwhile has proven he tried to work with the Republican Party, has them on record as saying he did so, and he's on record as not wanting to increase taxes during a recession. And, if the two bills I mentioned get voted on in late January, Obama can say his goal has always been to get tax cuts for the middle class and benefits for the unemployed, that is why he doesn't veto those bills.
So, what just happened? Obama's got his own tax cuts (no longer the "Bush tax cuts" put into play. He's gotten proof or working with the opposition. He's gotten proof that he doesn't follow his own Party's thoughts 100%.
Democrats have gotten tax cuts for middle class and unemployment for those in need. They've also gotten proof they don't follow the president as Republicans did like puppy dogs on every deal he makes. The Blue Dogs have gotten proof they wanted to help the rich as well as the middle class and poor.
What a deal maker!
I'm also a dreamer.