The Democrat tax bind

IBD:

With just weeks to go before the midterm elections, Americans have made it clear they don't want their taxes raised. So what do congressional Democrats do? Nothing — at least until the elections are over.

For months, Democrats have hammered Republicans for trying to keep President Bush's tax cuts in place for everyone, not just the middle class and those who no longer pay taxes. That would be a "giveaway to the rich," they contend. But guess what? Most Americans don't see it that way.

In a recent Fox News/Opinion Dynamics Poll, 63% want the Bush-era tax cuts — now set to expire at year-end — to remain in place. In the latest IBD/TIPP Poll, 48% favor making the cuts permanent vs. 30% opposed. And as for taxes on the rich, an AP-GfK Poll found that 39% support letting taxes go up only on those earning over $250,000, but 44% oppose the idea.

Hence, the Democrats' dilemma: Either way they vote, they'll anger a large chunk of the electorate — at a time when they need all the votes they can get to keep from being swept out of power.

So rather than hold an up-or-down vote on a tax bill that reflects their true beliefs, Democrats are postponing any action until after the elections. Obviously they know that what they really want to do will be wildly unpopular, and perhaps cost them seats.

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I think they are not going to have the votes after the election either. If they do then some of them are being very dishonest with voters.