What's Wrong With The Democrats

Hello, Democrats. Guess What! We just had an election. You lost. In a couple of weeks there are going to be significantly more Republicans running around in your Congress. Which part of this reality do you not understand?

The grousing about President Obama making a deal with Republicans is misguided and counter productive. The window for deal making is about to close. Dont forget, you just had two votes to try to enact the Obama tax agenda. They both failed. There is zero possibility that the results would be better after January.

Republicans actually gave up something in this deal. It is the first real bipartisan action in two years. Democrats got many things they have wanted that they cannot possibly get at a later time. Extension of unemployment benefits for thirteen months, small business tax breaks, and a reduction in the payroll tax are critical Democratic priorities. So the temporary extension of tax breaks for the rich may be a bitter pill to swallow, but guess what? That's exactly what compromise is. Each side likes part of it and dislikes other parts of it.

What is the alternative? Let all the tax cuts expire as of January 1? Do we really care about the problems of the middle class or not? Can we possibly want nothing to happen? In the process of dragging out this debate what is being accomplished? The opportunity to resolve other critical legislative issues is slipping away. There is a window for Don't Ask Don't tell, the DREAM Act, the new START treaty, and a few additional items, but the delay and the bickering is making it less likely each day that these items will get passed. Only one reason to continue this opposition seems plausible, and that would be the pursuit of a cynical political strategy.

That kind of thinking puts us right into the category of Republicans. Just say no. Maybe it is good politics. It worked for the Republicans. At least the Republicans don't really believe in government so maybe they actually believed that doing nothing was a positive thing. Democrats believe government is capable of helping others, and can even be a force for contributing to an improving economy. Are we really going to sit on the sidelines for the next two years to watch the economy continue to falter in the hopes of winning back a majority in the house? Shame on you, Democrats. I thought this was a party that really believed in trying to make things better for all the people.

Then there is the question of the budget deficit. It is interesting that everytime a proposal comes up that one doesn't like, the deficit is cited as the problem. No one seems to care about the deficit if they approve of the program. Republicans cry deficit when it comes to unemployment benefits, but see no need to pay for tax cuts for the rich. Moderate to conservative Democrats are so concerened about the deficit when it comes to tax cuts for the wealthy but not for tax cuts for the middle class. The fact is the deficit is a real problem, but so is unemployment. This deal will be the last opportunity to try to strengthen the economy. I'm pretty sure we will not be seeing any infrastructure or job training bills in the new congress. It makes little sense to me to implement austere budget restrictions unless the economy itself is in better shape.

We have a deficit reduction panel which has just issued its recommnendations. There is of course difficult work ahead, but clearly the President will address the deficit in this year's State of the Union address. Work will begin in earnest. There will be much horse trading, and again much to like and dislike about the final result. It needs to be done, and Democrats need to be at the table to make the deal as fair as possible. That, however, is the work of next year. Now is the time to pass the tax deal to boost a weak recovery and get millions of Americans back to work. So don't bring up the deficit as an excuse to vote against the deal.

Much good has been accomplished under this administration over the past two years under very difficult circumstances. Much more can still be done in the next two years. If Democrats just want to be vindictive because of how Republicans acted the past two years then you are simply lowering yourselves to their level. The goal of government is to govern. The American people expect that to occur. The President is trying to govern and he deserves your support.