Really. Look at this sexy political tango from Jonathan Chait, h/t Steve Benen.
The public opinion landscape here is crystal clear. People overwhelmingly approve of the tax cuts benefitting people earning less than $250,000. They overwhelmingly disapprove of the tax cuts that only benefit people earning more.
Okay. We know that. Conservatives may not want to accept those stats, but there they are. So how do we force a vote that gets tax cuts for the under-$250K and end the tax cuts for the over-$250K earners.
Well, there's a simple solution to that: hold two votes. First have a vote on the tax cuts for all income under $250,000. (That of course, also provides significant tax relief to upper-income taxpayers. Indeed, under that plan, the rich would get more than the middle class in total dollars).
Good idea. Two separate issues.
Then you hold a separate vote on tax cuts exclusively for people earning more than $250,000 a year. Anybody who wants to vote for that can vote for that, too.
Let the red coats show their true colors. I like the idea of having their names on that list. Nice list. Viral list. Gives ol' John Boehner the vote he wants. Well, sort of the vote he wants.
The Republican game is to hide their political shit sandwich in your ice cream sundae. Why let them play that game? Keep the two separate and let people decide which they want. There's no possible advantage for Democrats in combining the two.
Just do it.
