I saw this foolishness yesterday in the WSJ. The headline drew me in, but then I just had to roll my eyes.
There's nothing like the prospect of an electoral rout to concentrate the incumbent mind, and so all of a sudden rank-and-file Democrats in Congress are saying maybe they shouldn't let the 2003 tax rates expire after all. Now if they can only persuade their Speaker of the House, the Treasury Secretary and President Obama.
So who are these liberals?
The revelation that tax increases could hurt the economy has recently been heard from Senators Evan Bayh of Indiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, and, most surprising, even from Kent Conrad of North Dakota.
Yes, these three senators are well known for their liberalism! What set me off was seeing an article today by Larry Kudlow where he repeats the story - calling it a 'Liberal Tax Revolt Game Changer'. The WSJ article also mentions Bobby Bright - another screaming liberal - as well as Jerrold Nadler. I know almost nothing about Congressman Nadler - he might actually be a liberal for all I know - but given the voting records of the other 'liberals' in the article, I'd have my doubts that he's anything more than moderate.
How can reporters put out this sort of headline with a straight face? They could have called it a Democratic Tax Revolt and that would have been somewhat accurate.
Of course the whole point of the articles is to suggest that the Bush Tax cuts on the wealthy should be extended as well as the middle-class ones. Perhaps if they get people to believe that even liberals think it's a good idea then it should happen. Someone should ask Ben Nelson what he thinks of being part of a liberal revolt and see what he says.