Majority Supports Extending Bush Tax Cuts...For Everyone

Guy Benson | September 14, 2010 10:22 AM

So much for "holding the middle class hostage." Maybe John Boehner can drive his hard bargain after all. Hey, it's good economics and good politics:

A majority (51%) of U.S. voters now support extending the so-called Bush tax cuts for all Americans including the wealthy, even as the House Republican leader indicates he is willing to compromise with President Obama and not include wealthy taxpayers in the tax cut extension.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 44% of Likely Voters believe the tax cuts should be extended for everyone but the wealthy.

A recent Reuters poll found a similar result. If Republicans can properly articulate why Peter Orzag and Joe Lieberman are right about the adverse economic impact of hiking taxes on anyone, including those gosh-darned rich, during a recession, they may be able to force the Democrats' hand. Frankly, some Senate and House Democrats seem open to having their hands forced:

And at least four Democrats — Senators Evan Bayh of Indiana, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Jim Webb of Virginia — as well as Joseph I. Lieberman, the Connecticut independent aligned with the Democrats, have expressed concern that any tax increases would hinder economic growth.

Pardon me for digressing from the latest official DNC/White House talking point: It's all John Boehner's Sarah Palin's fault.