Meanwhile, in the White House, the left hand seems not to know what the far left hand is doing.
Within hours yesterday, senior adviser David Axelrod gave contradictory statements on the question of extending the Bush-era tax cuts.
In an early morning report, Axelrod indicated the White House realizes that the midterm elections confirmed a bipartisan consensus that all tax cuts should be extended — regardless of income levels — given a shaky economy:
“We have to deal with the world as we find it,” Axelrod told the Huffington Post. “The world of what it takes to get this done.” He continued: “There are concerns [over multiple temporary extensions for the wealthy], but I don’t want to trade away security for the middle class in order to make that point.”
Sounds smart: Recognize consensus. Deal with the world as it is. Introduce certainty into the economy.
Except, Axelrod then did a 180-degree turn, later telling National Journal: “We’re willing to discuss how we move forward. But we believe that it’s imperative to extend the tax cuts for the middle class, and don’t believe we can afford a permanent extension of tax cuts for the wealthy.”
What?
It’s not as if the issue suddenly jumped out of the bushes. It’s been known since they were passed nine years ago that the tax cuts would expire at the end of 2010.
So why is Axelrod talking out of both sides of his face?
More to the point, is there a White House tax-cut policy?
How can either businesses or individuals plan ahead when they have little idea how much money the federal government will let them keep?
You’d think last week’s midterms would have gotten that message across.
Apparently not.