Senate Democrats Plan To Put Republicans On The Wrong Side Of The Middle Class
Senate Democrats Plan To Put Republicans On The Wrong Side Of The Middle Class
Brian Beutler January 25, 2012, 3:11 PM 3504 18
Senate Democrats are preparing an aggressive legislative agenda to complement the vision President Obama outlined in his State of the Union Address. The goal is to test the idea that the public supports an agenda of aggressive federal action on behalf of the middle class, and that Republicans are locked in a pattern of reactionary opposition, even to popular policies.
The push is premised on the notion that the country has turned the corner on the fights over deficits and the size of government, and that keeping issues of equity and opportunity for the middle class at the center of the national debate will redound to Democrats political benefit, either by breaking the GOP or by putting them on the wrong side of public opinion.
But in an extremely consequential election year, when consensus becomes an endangered species on Capitol Hill, it will take a groundswell of political pressure to force either party to work with the other on a substantive agenda. So expect the Dems to hawk these issues relentlessly.
Dont be surprised if election year pressures in 2012 may push Republicans to cooperate with this President more than they might be planning to, said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) at a Wednesday Democratic leadership briefing with reporters. Otherwise theyre going to find themselves on the wrong side of the middle class again and again.
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