A lesson in goal post moving, and in creating false choices.
A campaign is underway by the white house, its village media friends and the OFA to muddy the waters. To make it appear that what happened didn't happen. The issue was, and is, whether all the Bush tax cuts should be extended. Plain and simple. That's what Obama ran on, and what had become almost an article of faith among Democrats. At least until the start of this week.
But now we're told that the extension was merely a bargaining chip to get the Republicans to agree to an extension of unemployment benefits (even though they agreed to it before without the tax cut for the wealthy carrot), a payroll tax "holiday" and other tax cuts. Who knew? And oh, btw, we have to throw in an estate tax rate giveaway in the bargain. But, what a deal!
Bulloney.
This is just a fig leaf being used by the administration to cover up the fact that they completely caved on tax cuts for the wealthy. And worse, didn't even fight to end it. They don't want you to look at the elephant behind the curtain (how many metaphors can I mix?). They want you to look at these other wonderful goodies and to pay no attention to their total defeat on the Bush tax cuts. Don't fall for it.
Even worse, they are creating false choices. Telling you that it's either tax cuts for the wealthy or no unemployment compensation extension. Just as they tried to make you believe that it was either the public option or no ban on preexisting conditions. Not only is this cynical and defeatist, it is untrue. As Olbermann noted, Republicans have failed to block unemployment compensation extensions in the past. They would have been shamed into doing so this time, especially with Christmas right around the corner, had only the administration had the will to publicly pressure them.
The issue was, and is, the extension of all the Bush tax cuts. The administration totally caved on that. Don't let them convince you otherwise by trying to change the terms of the debate. By moving the goal posts. By muddying the waters.
At least own up to your own capitulation, guys.