So Grover Norquist claims that since rates went up Jan. 1, Republicans who voted yes on the McConnell-Biden bill were actually voting for a tax cut. Too clever by half, but let's run with it: President Obama just signed into law one of the biggest tax cuts in American history! He has joined the pantheon of Reagan and Bush II, making Democrats the brand spankin new party of low taxes. Move over GOP, all your talking points are belong to us!
Meanwhile, over at RedState, commentators are blasting McConnell for his giant tax hike. So according to Republicans, Obama cut your taxes! And, according to Republicans, McConnell raised your taxes! No matter how you spin it, we win on the messaging.
This is a short term victory. This is a long term victory. A wedge has been driven straight into the heart of the Reagan coalition. For those despairing about the smaller take on revenue than we initially wanted, I guess I understand, because I've been there before: debt ceiling, public option, etc. But I hope you can take consolation in the very real victory here: the once-invincible Republican phalanx that has reigned supreme for two decades has been shattered. Make of that what you will, but I predict that like the Spartans after their very first defeat in battle, this will mark the end of anti-tax hegemony and will signal the start of Tea Party orthodoxy's long decline.
And by the way, the fight continues. There are many avenues for more revenue going forward, corporate tax reform not least among them. I know many are pessimistic about our chances of achieving these new revenues, but for what it's worth I'm firmly in the optimists' camp.