Absent clarity and leadership on the Democratic side, the Tea Party Republicans may yet prevail

[Better Believe It]

Losing a Party's Soul in Budget Fight
by Robert Kuttner
April 7, 2011

REPUBLICANS HAVE unveiled drastic budget plans that will either crown their success as radical reformers — or prove a huge misreading of public opinion. President Obama will play no small role in determining which way this plays out.

In the jousting over whether small differences over the 2011 budget will force a government shutdown, Obama has emphasized the importance of compromise, pointedly avoiding the subject of the broad harm in the Republican grand design. In an impromptu Tuesday press conference after talks broke down, Obama said with both pride and petulance that he had already agreed to most of the Republicans’ demands. But his pride is misplaced. Obama’s eagerness to conciliate only whets the right’s appetite.

The Tea Party Republicans seem so besotted with the animated rage of their far-right political base that they are mistaking that narrow energy for a broad shift in public opinion. Yet, in the absence of more clarity and leadership on the Democratic side, they may yet prevail.

Public opinion largely sides with the Democrats’ defense of popular social programs. But that support will remain latent unless a national debate is focused on something that only presidential leadership can achieve. As long as the debate is about who will cut more, the definition of responsible budgeting shifts steadily right, and the Tea Party wins.

Read the full article at:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/04/07/losing_a_partys_soul_in_budget_fight/

[ProSense]

1. Can I get

two orders of bullshit please?

[Vincardog]

2. I watched BO's presser. He said NOTHING. Hey Obama quit tap dancing and speak up for WORKING people