Thursday, December 9, 2010
House Dems are revolting. In a good way
Eliot Spitzer interviews Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon about the House Democratic revolt he led this afternoon against Obama's tax-cut giveaway. Together they underscore the basic principles Democrats stand for -- income equality, a strong middle class, and jobs, jobs, jobs -- and how this deal not only violates them but takes us back to the failed Bush policies we thought we had escaped.
DeFazio said the vote in the Democratic caucus to reject the package was nearly unanimous, an unprecedented show of force against a Democratic president in his 24 years in congress.
"If you think the economics of the last eight years have worked great -- that is supply side, trickle down -- this would be even more supply side, and even more trickle down," DeFazio said. "And I don't think it's going to produce the results this president wants or needs in terms of putting people back to work."
He referred to the "failed economic team" of Timothy Geithner and Larry Summers, and said this deal was just more "mush" from them.
I've been watching Spitzer's 8 p.m. show on CNN -- yes, he has a partner, but she fades so far into the background you'd barely know it -- and I plan to write something about it soon. If you're looking for a Democratic advocate who knows the facts, won't back down, and articulates progressive values in ways you wish the president would, watch Parker/Spitzer. Or Spitzer, at least.
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Whenever I forget how lucky I am to live in Oregon, all I have to do is remember the great Democrats my state has representing us in Congress. Peter DeFazio is one of the best in DC, along with Earl Blumenauer who reps East Portland, and even my rep David Wu has stepped it up on liberal issues. As far as this tax bill goes, Oregon's 4 democrat representatives are all opposed.
ReplyDeleteI've heard a lot of great things about Spitzer but haven't had much of a chance to watch his show... he was a real progressive go-getter before he got caught with the prostitutes. Too bad he couldn't survive like David Vitter, although no surprise as to who the media gave a pass.