Late Friday, 64 United States Senators--32 Republicans and 32 Democrats--sent a letter to President Obama urging him to do something or other about the deficit and national debt. They don't ask for anything specific, of course, because if they did someone could well say, "Well, there's 64 of you. Looks like you could pass that legislation yourselves if you really wanted to."
Here's the letter. Note there's nothing in there about jobs, jobs, and jobs, which is what the people want. No, the "Gang of 64" wants "spending cuts, entitlement changes, and tax reform." This is a particularly bad sign: They say they want to build on the work of the Fiscal Commission, which means those "entitlement changes" include gutting Social Security and fewer benefits for the middle class.
My own lame Senator, Michael Bennet, initiated this travesty, which my other lame Senator, Mark Udall signed and supported--along with 30 other Democrats. Are these 32 Senators, the national leadership of the Democratic Party, really buying into the notion that the deficit is the problem here? (BTD wonders how many of them supported December's tax cut deal that drove the deficit yet higher?)
Yes, the deficit is high. It's higher because we keep cutting taxes on the wealthy while trying to finance two wars and an unfunded prescription drug benefit. If you want to get rid of the deficit, then raise taxes back up where they were and end the wars. Cryin' out loud people, this is not that difficult.
We've had higher deficits than this, by the way. During and after World War II, the deficit ballooned to over 120% of GDP. We brought it down by creating more and more jobs. One shouldn't need to spell this out, but, if more people have jobs, more people are also paying taxes and generating revenue for the government. To paraphrase St. Peter, "Prosperity covers a multitude of sins."
It's shocking that 32 Democrats would forget who they are, and who voted for them, in order to give cover to the idea that raising taxes is off the table, but cuts in benefits for the middle class are not.
No leadership from the White Hous and no resolution in the ranks as the Republicans continue to control the narrative.
Remarkable how the effects of the Catfood Commission continue to richochet around Obama and the party. One of his most foolish moves.
Posted by: Hypatia | March 22, 2011 at 03:43 PM
I do not understand what happened to the Democratic Party when Ross Perot appeared on the scene (or was it Reagan? I can't quite figure that out, but somehow I think Tip O'Neill has more guts) but the continual retreat from our principals over the past 20 years horrifies me.
Posted by: Jody | March 23, 2011 at 03:09 AM
How they can control the narrative, when we have the high ground with the public, is one of the great mysteries of contemporary politics.
Posted by: John Petty | March 23, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Money money money. When a Democratic President can't even bring himself to say the words "collective bargaining" you know there's a problem.
I'm reminded of an exchange at one of JFK's press conferences. I forget the circumstances, but the stock market had fallen a bit and one of the reporters asked JFK if big business had him where it wanted him. JFK said, "I can't believe I'm where business - big business -- wants me." Big laugh. Obama can't get a quip off that fast, but even if he could it's a joke he - or possibly any other modern Democratic president --would never make.
Posted by: Hypatia | March 23, 2011 at 12:28 PM
It's worse than you think: Our Democratic president can't bring himself to say he's a Democrat.
Posted by: John Petty | March 25, 2011 at 09:34 AM
He had trouble getting the word out when he was running for the office, too. One of the things I liked about HRC was her willingness to identify herself as a member of a party. You voted for her, but you also voted for the party she represented. It wasn't just Me, it was We.
Posted by: Hypatia | March 25, 2011 at 04:34 PM