Reply #24: I get what you mean - but it is not really Catch 22

[karynnj]

If you look at the real basic goals that both MA and Obama have, they are in their purest essence compatible.

On the tax cuts, if everything was possible, Obama would, like the MA liberals, want the high bracket tax cut to end. But, even before the election, you already had Bayh and others calling for the extension - and not one Republican seeming less than 100% certain to oppose it - even Scott Brown, was decisive about this - it was the one thing where his answer was not that he was "reading the bill".

The difference is one of which is the least bad of several bad alternatives. On DU, the break is not just Obama/lefties, it is how you weight (deficit issues and winning on a Democratic goal of rolling back the taxes on the wealthiest) and (the hardship of large raises in taxes or loss of refundable credits to people already struggling and the extension for 13 months of UI, where it is possible it could have been included in a must pass bill, but there was risk it couldn't.)

A Democrat taking EITHER side can cite Democratic values to defend their choice.

I think it diminishes Kerry to suggest that he backed this just because Obama's name is on it. I think one thing Kerry has always been known for is an ability to find paths forward and solutions that really do have parts each side wants and parts that make each side uncomfortable. This was true on his climate change ideas and his foreign policy positions. It also is the type of solution that you get when you really do have divided government. Neither side has the power to get all they want.

That said - the details are not carved in stone and he is among the people trying to tweak it to add useful things. I wish he would address the pay roll holiday specifically and address how to prevent the poorest people being the only ones actually seeing their rates rise. I would guess he could do more good being in the group working on the proposal now than taking the easier position of speaking against a compromise.