President Obama is in a lot of hot water with many Democrats today, after striking a deal with Republicans yesterday that some call the equivalent of selling his political soul.
With huge GOP wins in the U.S. House of Representatives and several pick ups within the U.S. Senate, Mr. Obama’s political power has been substantially weakened. So yesterday, the president had to enter into a compromise. In order to maintain lower taxes for the middle class and extend unemployment benefits for millions of Americans who were about to lose benefits during the holidays, Mr. Obama had to give away a position many Democrats thought was a clear winner for the party — the refusal to keep reduced tax rates for the rich.
The Democrats wanted to keep lower rates for middle income earners, while letting cuts expire for households with incomes of more than $250,000. But the president said that position could not prevail if the tax cuts his party wanted were to be saved. “We’ve got to make sure that we’re coming up with a solution, even if it’s not 100 percent of what I want or what the Republicans want,” he said.
Giving in on providing tax cuts to the wealthiest of Americans runs contrary to everything Mr. Obama campaigned on while running for president. However, the president explained in a national news conference that his back was against the wall: either he had to give Republicans their desired tax cuts for the rich, or the GOP had the power to cause middle America to see $3000. more taxes a year AND to cause many to immediately lose unemployment benefits.
Did Mr. Obama make the right move in the best interest of middle America? Or did he just cost himself the 2012 election?
"Did Mr. Obama make the right move in the best interest of middle America?"Short answer: No.But I've learned two things since he was elected in 2008:1. The Repubs and many_if not most_of their their supporters truly HATE that Black man and will stop at nothing to destroy his presidency, even if it means causing further destruction to the future of this country, of all Americans and the American way of life. 2. This President is actually only willing to fight_even die_for 3 causes: Michelle, Sasha and Malia. End of story.Did he just cost himself the 2012 election?We shall see.