OBAMA's Trojan Horse - No, He Won't Cave! - by David Corn

[JoePhilly]

32. Obama could not let them expire last time because that would have rasied takes on those

making under 250k. And that's 98% of the US.

As a candidate, he promised not raise taxes on those under 250k, and if he had, it would have been his "read my lips moment". The media would have run clips of Obama making that promise side by side with clips of Bush #1 saying "read my lips, no new taxes". Those clips would have run in an endless loop on the "liberal media".

And Obama would have become a 1 term President for sure.

So Obama DELAYED his promise to end the Bush tax cuts for those above 250k. He had made that promise as a candidate in 2008. By putting the expiration at the end of this year, Obama effectively ensured that win or lose in the 2012 election, he would be the one to make the decision on those tax cuts.

Now, he can let them all expire, which BREAKS his promise to the 98% under 250k, but doing so no longer hurts him. He can't run again anyway ... AND ... its more likely that the GOP will be the ones blamed for the "fiscal cliff".

He could make a deal before the end of the year, but I think it would have to be a pretty sweet deal.