JONATHAN COHN SEPTEMBER 27, 2011
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Prominent pundits still insist on writing as if the failure to strike a compromise on economic policy reflects intransigence and extremism from both parties. Yes, Mr. Friedman, I'm looking at you. With that in mind, pause and consider the following, entirely accurate context paragraph from a story about the new deficit commission that appeared in Monday's New York Times:
Last week began with contradictory markers from President Obama and Speaker John A. Boehner. Mr. Boehner reiterated that Republicans would oppose any tax increases, and then Mr. Obama, newly aggressive, warned that he would veto any measure that would trim Medicare benefits without also raising taxes on the wealthy.
The Republican leadership position is as simple as it is extreme: No new taxes. Period. Now contrast that with Obama's position: No cuts to Medicare ... unless they affect something other than benefits ... and unless they come with tax increases on the wealthy.
We could spend a long time arguing whether Obama's position represents a good bargaining position and where, exactly, the true ideological midpoint of American politics lies. But, as a general rule, it's hard to imagine how anybody following politics even casually might conclude the two parties are equally to compromise for the sake of addressing our fiscal problems.
6 comments
I like the keen brevity, but I am having trouble with the last sentence. Are you saying that the Republican position is so far out that compromising in the middle requires Democrats to give much more?
- Nusholtz
September 27, 2011 at 8:43am
Well, if anything, I like that Cohn is the first to Blog. Tim, step it up buddy!
- RJSampson1
September 27, 2011 at 9:14am
And notice that Obama did not promise to veto any Supercommittee package that cuts spending without increasing taxes -- only one that touches *Medicare* without increasing taxes (the Times actually had this wrong in its preview. http://goo.gl/BOlCg. Also, in his deficit reduction plan, he calls the cuts mandated by the trigger in the BCA "devastating." This worries me. I see wiggle room for another cave.
- adsprung
September 27, 2011 at 9:31am
"equally READY to compromise..."
- AllanL5
September 27, 2011 at 9:32am
I think the word missing from the last sentence is "willing"..."equally willing to compromise" and yes, it's painfully obvious from what was said that Republicans are not amenable to compromise and Obama is.
I think the middle ground on this issue is pretty obvious and I think Obama has taken a firm hold of it while standing in defense of the current spending levels. On the one side you have taxes, on the other you have government spending, and in the middle is where you compromise between higher taxes and spending cuts in order to balance the budget.
As for this whole debate, I think there have been more than enough spending reforms over the last three years and it's time to talk about higher taxes and the Buffet plan.
As a side note, it's really easy to tell which political ads are in support of Republicans because they invariably include the current hot-topics like "so-and-so raised taxes on job creators". It's pretty sad, actually; it kind of reminds me of kindergarten, and walking a child through a lesson plan.
- GSpinks
September 27, 2011 at 2:05pm
Isn't it "Whom" are you calling unreasonable?
- Nusholtz
September 27, 2011 at 4:51pm