The real lesson of Clinton wars: “The budget is a profoundly moral document”

[nashville_brook]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/paul-begala-on-the-lesson-of-clinton-wars-obama-should-treat-budget-as-profoundly-moral-document/2011/03/03/AFeCWqQD_blog.html

Paul Begala on the real lesson of Clinton wars: “The budget is a profoundly moral document”
By Greg Sargent

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...Obama should elevate the moral dimensions of the budget debate, by telling the public as clearly as possible what he and Republicans respectively stand for... the best way to accomplish this was to make sure that the Bush tax cuts for the rich remains front and center, as a way of revealing the stark difference between GOP and Dem priorities.

“The budget is a profoundly moral document,” Begala said. “It says, `This is what’s most important to me.’” Begala cited the Bible: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be.”

Begala recalled that Clinton made a concerted strategic effort to tie his hard line against Medicare cuts to GOP tax cuts for the rich at every turn. He advised Obama to do the same, arguing that failing to do this gives Republicans a hidden advantage.

“Democrats are at their best not simply when they say, `Republicans are mean — they want to cut Medicare,’” Begala said. He noted that the correct message is: “They want to cut Medicare because they want to give tax cuts to the rich. That’s what’s indefensible.”

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