One Democrat who isn't running away from Dem agenda

[babylonsister]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/09/one_democrat_who_isnt_running.html


One Democrat who isn't running away from Dem agenda

At least four high-profile Dem Senate candidates have come out against letting the Bush tax cuts for the rich expire. And many House Dems are practically tripping over themselves as they run away from the Obama/Dem agenda, refusing even to extend tax cuts for the middle class unless the high end ones are continued too.

That's why Alexi Giannoulias, the Senate candidate in Illinois, remains a fascinating candidate to watch as a test case of whether a Democrat can win a very tough race, even as he enthusiastically embraces the Dem agenda.

I'm told that Giannoulias, who's locked in a close race with GOP Rep Mark Kirk, is unveiling a new Web site today attacking plans to extend the tax cuts for the rich -- a site designed to build support to pressure Congress to extend the middle class cuts. Not only that, but he's criticizing fellow Dems who have proven too skittish to take on the issue.

In a statement emailed my way, Giannoulias said:

Republicans and some Democrats are holding middle class tax cuts hostage unless the top 2% of Americans get a massive new tax break. I strongly oppose any efforts to deprive the middle class of much-needed tax relief, which is why I hope you'll help me lobby Congress today.

I'm launching a new advocacy site today, 700BillionReasons.com, to help voters across the country share their reasons about why we shouldn't doll out a $700 billion tax cut to a sliver of the wealthiest Americans when we could use that revenue to invest instead in the middle class or pay down our debt.

Giannoulias is also running an ad that actually shows him literally embracing Obama.

Obviously it's easier for Giannoulias to declare support for the Dems' agenda in a blue state -- Obama's home state -- than it is for the Dems running in red states or difficult districts. But Giannoulias is making a clear bid to emerge as a leading progressive voice in this fall's campaign, and the intensity of Giannoulias's embrace of Obama's agenda, particularly on the Bush tax cuts, remains striking.


By Greg Sargent

[dennis4868]

1. At least there is...

one Dem left who is proud to be a Dem.....