That's right! We need to state this fact over and over and over again. When they talk about "broadening the tax base," that's simply code for their plan to raise taxes on the middle class and working poor in order to cut taxes even further for the wealthy. When their candidates and talking heads lament that 47% of Americans pay no federal income tax while ignoring the fact that those families still pay payroll taxes (which for most Americans is much more than their income tax burden), sales taxes, property taxes, and a whole host of other state and local taxes, and then say we need to "broaden the tax base," they are clearly implying that we need to raise taxes on the middle class. When they oppose extending the Obama payroll tax cuts, they are clearly advocating for a tax hike on the middle class.
When they rail against the earned income tax credit, which was championed by such socialists as Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, it is clear that they want to raise taxes on the working poor.
Framing issues is important. Obama has been doing well lately with his proposals to create jobs and his demand that deficit reduction include tax increases on the wealthiest among us. But let's not just focus on the need to require the wealthiest among us to pay their fair share, let's also hammer home the fact that the GOP wants to raise taxes on the middle class. We need to say it over and over and over again! Repeat after me: Republicans want to raise taxes on the middle class and working poor!!!! It's a fact, and we need to hammer that fact home. Republicans want to raise your taxes!
We should run ads illustrating how various GOP plans to "broaden the tax base," to repeal
the Obama payroll tax cuts, and to repeal the Earned income tax credit would result in higher taxes for the vast majority of hard working Americans.