L
argely unnoticed outside of progressive blogs there was a fairly tempting opportunity to assail the Bush tax cuts last year on the basis of national public opinion polling. But the Obama administration and Congress let it pass. Why?
Perhaps they understand the Republican coalition better than Republicans do. This is a cohort which can not only hold two opposing thoughts but remain oblivious to the contradiction. Congressional Republicans walked straight into a minefield with their deficit reducing “entitlements” roll-back:
The problem was underscored last week when Republicans bowed to political realities on their signature issue of entitlement reform, acknowledging that a plan to overhaul and eventually privatize Medicare would not advance anytime soon, and would not be part of a deal with the White House to raise the government’s borrowing limit.Democrats have attacked the Medicare proposal, and polls have shown formidable public disapproval of it. Many Republican lawmakers ran into a wall of voter opposition during a congressional spring recess.
Kathleen Hennessey and Lisa Mascaro – GOP finding it hard to make progress LAT 7 May 11
That was an unforced political error of significant proportions. We understand their constituency; when they complain about “entitlements” they are complaining about other people receiving them; seems they are something like a VA benefit for patriotic, God-fearing Republicans. Who knew?