According to the Media, the majority of Americans polled support the tax compromise

[mtnsnake]

Only trouble is, the majority of Americans polled don't have a fucking clue what the tax compromise is.

The majority of Americans polled support the word "compromise," period, because it sounds nice.

[emulatorloo]

1. Have you checked the internals on these polls? That will show what questions were asked

[vaberella]

2. It's well known that DU does not represent the majority of Americans.

That being said...they like words like "compromise", "working together", "bipartisan" and so on and so forth.

[JoePhilly]

3. The middle class also knows that their personal taxes will go up ..

if a compromise is not reached. That is all they really care about.

They do not care about the deficit.
They do not care about the tax cuts for the rich.
They do not care about the extension of unemployment.

They care about their own personal bottom line. Today. And next week.

And if they don't get to keep their tax cut, and their taxes go up, the will hold Obama and the Dems accountable for it.

That's the reality.

[mtnsnake]

4. You are so right

The middle class in general is not willing to see their taxes go up by 3% even if it means the country will probably collapse because of it. That is the sad bottom line.

[JoePhilly]

5. yup ... for all of the jumping up and down and screaming here on DU,

... and in the liberal media ... those tax cuts for the middle class are the only thing that matters.

And, if the deal fails, the media will proclaim that essentially, Obama broke his promise to not raise taxes on those making under $250,000.

That framing has already started, just in case the deal fails.

Of course, if the deal passes, the media will go back to focusing on how irresponsible it is to give tax breaks with the current deficits. That was their constant refrain before the compromise was announced.

[emulatorloo]

10. Tax cuts part costs $544.3 Billion. $463 billion for the $250.000 and below part

I think you pretty much nailed what is going on in the media.

[emulatorloo]

6. Maybe they like the unemployment benefits and education tax credits too

[mtnsnake]

8. Oh enough with the unemployment benefits crutch. That was just a lame excuse to cave.

The unemployment benefits extension should have been a separate issue if only we had the courage to get that one done without compromising our strongest traditional Democratic values.

[emulatorloo]

11. your perspective, but not everybodies perspective.

Jim DeMint wants to turn unemployment benefits into a Loan Program, that you have to pay back.

[mtnsnake]

12. That's for sure. nt

[JoePhilly]

14. I don't think those are driving the support

I suspect that lots of folks are fine with the UE extension, but if it wasn't there, and they get to keep their cut, they'd still support ...

And ... I think many don't know about most of the other provisions, like the education tax credits.

They aren't following most of the details, and the media isn't going to highlight much else.

[Nite Owl]

7. And nothing was explained to them

about the consequences on the deficit. Nothing was told them about just how they would be the ones to pay this back.

[mtnsnake]

9. Yup, you can bank on that

The majority wants it all, and they want it right now.

[bonniebgood]

13. JoePhilly wake up

'they' the repugs are going to blame Obama and the dems of adding another 1Trilllion to the deficit come campaign season. and you are going to agree with them because it will be the truth.

[JoePhilly]

15. Of course they will ... who said they would not ...

The GOP and the media framing will change to ensure that no matter what Obama does, it was a terrible thing to do.

If the compromise passes, the media attention will shift to the deficit. But honestly, the deficit issue is not going to flip a Presidential election. If people feel better about the economy, he wins. They deficit will not matter, in part because the GOP's had will be very dirty. It'll be a wash.

However, if the compromise does not pass, the media will say Obama broke his promise not to raise taxes on the middle class, those making under $250,000. That promise, which he made repeatedly as a candidate, will be called his "read my lips" moment. The media will show alternately show video of Obama and GHW Bush breakign their promise to not raise taxes. Any reduction in the deficit will be ignored completely. And he will lose re-election.

So either way, the GOP and the media will be attacking Obama. Probably with many on the left helping. The middle class will vote their own personal pocket book either way.

[emulatorloo]

17. Your analysis is dead-on. Seeing this set up in the media right now.

[HuckleB]

16. Exactly. They don't know jack about it. They just want "everyone to stop fighting."

We are a silly people.