The case of the misplaced missing backbones.

[Clio the Leo]

It's fine if you want to put all of the blame on the President for "caving" on the Bush tax cuts, but why are the Dems in Congress who want to keep Bush tax cuts living in complete anonymity. Some of these folks survived the election, some did not, but they ALL took an oath to serve the American people until January of 2011.

If you think the President isn't doing his part to lobby votes, show him that YOU can do it better. You can contact them here...
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt

Dem candidates balk at ending tax cuts for rich

8/20/10 - we're starting to see more Dem Senate candidates come out against letting (the Bush tax cuts) expire. Robin Carhahan, the candidate in Missouri, came out for extending them yesterday, arguing that now's not the time to raise taxes.

Brad Ellsworth, the Senate candidate in Indiana, favors keeping all the Bush tax cuts. And a spokesperson for Charlie Melancon, the candidate in Louisiana, tells me Melancon favors extending them, including the tax cuts for the wealthy.

The dynamic is an interesting one. The Democratic leadership in the Senate is set to stage a big push this fall for letting the tax cuts for the rich expire -- and Dems intend to make this argument a centerpiece of their broader case against Republicans. Yet a number of leading Dem Senate candidates are not on board with the leadership on this issue.

Clearly, Dem candidates in red states are concluding that they can't win an argument over ending tax cuts for the rich, because Republicans will too easily portray it as a tax hike. And this is one of the issues that individual candidates may use to achieve separation from the Dem leadership.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/08/how_many_dems_will_balk_at_end.html

Democratic 'Centrists' Want All Rich-People Tax Cuts Extended

The Democrats will need complete party cohesion to pass Barack Obama's extension of all Bush tax cuts except those for the top two income brackets. But now, predictably, Sen. Ben Nelson and other Democratic "centrists" are voicing their bullshit opposition.

<snip>

But the Democrats' more immediate problem is a familiar one: keeping their own party together! Specifically the odious Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who sounded his concerns today about making rich people pay 4% more in income tax on every dollar earned after $250,000.

Meanwhile in the House, we have the previously deficit-conscious, conservative Blue Dog Democrats, abandoning their deeply felt budgetary concerns:

* Rep Jim Himes of Conneticut says he supports a termporary extension, because earning $250,000 annually "does not make you really rich."
* Rep Bobby Bright of Alabama came out against ending the tax cuts, because "a vast majority of my constituents ... don't believe in tax increases on anybody at this point in time."
* Rep Ron Klein of Florida wants a one year extension of the tax cuts, including those for the rich, because "right now, our top economic priority has to be job creation."
* Rep Gerry Connolly of Virginia says the tax cuts should remain because the recovery remains "fragile."
* Rep Harry Mitchell of Arizona says he "strongly" opposes letting the tax cuts lapse because "we need to encourage investment, not discourage it."

http://gawker.com/5634211/democratic-centrists-want-all-rich+people-tax-cuts-extended

More Democrats break with Obama on tax cuts
9/15/10 - Washington (CNN) – Thirty-one House Democrats, most of whom face tough re-election bids this fall, have signed a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer urging them to extend expiring tax breaks for all income levels, including the wealthy.

Pelosi and other House Democratic leaders have made it clear they support President Obama's proposal to vote on a bill that only renews tax breaks for those making $250,000 and under. But with the midterm elections less than two months away, leaders have not yet decided whether they will schedule a vote on the legislation before voters go to the polls.

The letter–written by Utah Rep. Jim Matheson, Illinois Rep. Melissa Bean, Virginia Rep. Glenn Nye and Michigan Rep. Gary Peters –states that after listening to economists, small businesses and families over recent weeks they are concerned that "raising any taxes right now could negatively impact economic growth."

<snip>

CNN reported that the four authors were circulating a draft of the letter earlier this week. But with more than 30 Democrats now signed on to the final letter, Democratic leaders will face increasing pressure to address the concerns of these moderate members.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hoyer told reporters he could consider proposals to extend tax cuts for higher wage earners, but he also stressed his strong support for just renewing the middle income tax breaks.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/15/more-democrats-break-with-obama-on-tax-cuts/