Legal Commentary

A Mandate For Clintonism: How About A Little Clinton Tax Policy?

By Big Tent Democrat

[Obama] won a mandate for responsible governance in the mold of presidents past. - Booman

I don't agree with the idea Booman espouses - that Obama won a mandate for Clintonism, other than in the sense that Obama won a mandate for fixing the country, especially the economy, something Clinton did. But if President Obama did win a mandate for Clintonism, why can't Dems deliver on the Clinton tax policy?

Apparently, Bill Clinton yesterday responded to the familiar line, this time from Rachel Maddow last March, that Clinton was the "best Republican President ever." Clinton said:

We had 100 times as many people move out of poverty during those eight years [I was president] than the previous 12 years because we had an earned income tax credit, not because we had another traditional anti-poverty program hiring people,” he said.

Certainly true. But if you can name the last President to raise taxes on the rich, you'll also get a prize if you say the "best Republican President" Bill Clinton. President Obama is trying to reinstate Bill Clinton's tax policies. I am with Obama on this one. And he has a mandate for it. He's being let down by Dems in Congress. Personally, I think the President should challenge the Congress, not just the Republicans, on tax policy.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on September 15, 2010 (boomark / email).