NYT/Reuters: Senator Bayh Calls for Renewed Focus on Middle Class

[DeepModem Mom]

Bayh Calls for Renewed Focus on Middle Class
By REUTERS
Published: July 17, 2006

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, a potential presidential contender in 2008, said on Monday the party needs to strengthen its appeal to middle-class Americans or risk defeat in the next two elections....

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"We have both a patriotic responsibility and a political imperative to reclaim our legacy as the party of the middle class by fighting for their interests,'' the former Indiana governor said before flying to Iowa, site of the traditional kickoff caucus in the White House race, to repeat his middle-class message.

Bayh proposed several measures to create economic opportunity for the middle class, including a $6,000 tax credit to make college more affordable, a plan to cut health insurance premiums for 57 million middle-income Americans and a program to boost retirement savings.

Bayh said the Democratic economic agenda too often ignored the middle class. He cited efforts to raise the minimum wage and the recent call by former Sen. John Edwards, his potential presidential rival, to eradicate poverty.

While both were worthy goals, he said, they did not directly address the challenges facing the middle class....Bayh criticized President George W. Bush and White House political adviser Karl Rove for focusing on politics at the expense of the middle class, saying "inaction, incompetence and ideological extremism'' had led them to ignore growing economic problems including rising gas prices, health insurance costs and national debt....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-bayh.html

[last1standing]

1. Bayh thinks like a repub.

He can't come to terms with the fact that none of his proposals will help those who don't have the money to spend then wait till their income taxes come back. When you have to choose between food and college for the kids, food comes first, tax credit or not.

And I don't trust any so called Democrat who feels it necessary to attack Democrats as a whole such at saying the Democratic economic agenda ignors the middle class. Who the Hell does he think the repubs are representing? It sure isn't the middle class. What kind of Democrat doesn't support raising the minimum wage?

And this guy is a potential Democratic presidential candidate?