Analysis:
Obama compromise a bid for independents

[December 08, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- In political terms, President Barack Obama's tax-cut compromise with Republicans amounted to a step toward luring back independent voters whose support he needs to win re-election in 2012.

Never mind that his deal with the GOP alienated his liberal base; there's no clear alternative Democrat to run against him.

Perhaps more likely is a bid by an independent -- maybe New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg -- looking to fill a vacuum created by voter frustration with both political parties and disappointment with a president who has not kept his promise to change how Washington works.

Enter Obama's dealmaking with Republicans and criticism of Democrats, moves intended to try to reclaim that swing-voting territory as he casts himself as a president who puts people above politics.

"We will never get anything done" if Democrats are unwilling to bend and liberals insist on ideal positions, Obama said Tuesday at a news conference where he staunchly defended his deal with the GOP and passionately answered fellow Democrats' complaints that he compromises too much on their core issues.

"People will have the satisfaction of having a purist position and no victories for the American people," Obama said. "And we will be able to feel good about ourselves and sanctimonious about how pure our intentions are and how tough we are." In the meantime, he said, Americans will suffer.

"That can't be the measure of what it means to be a Democrat," he added.

And with that, Obama started positioning himself as the president first, and the country's top Democrat second.

The move could play well with disillusioned independents, who were critical in 2008 and will be again in 2012.

There's no doubt that tax cuts will be a central issue in Obama's likely re-election campaign.

Under the deal that Congress still must approve, Bush-era tax cuts set to expire at year's end would be continued for all Americans for two more years. That would ensure a battle over renewing them just as the next presidential campaign is in full swing.

Obama promised as much, saying, "I will fight."

He wants to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans to keep a campaign promise; Republicans insist on keeping the cuts in place for everyone permanently. In the end, Obama agreed to a temporary extension of tax cuts for all while the GOP agreed to back an extension of unemployment benefits that also are set to end soon.

The president previewed the debate ahead in 2012 by likening Republicans to "hostage-takers" willing to hurt the great majority of Americans to extend tax cuts for millionaires.

"On the Republican side, this is their Holy Grail, these tax cuts for the wealthy," Obama said, adding: "It seems to be their central economic doctrine," and "Republicans feel that this is the single most important thing that they have to fight for as a party."

Conversely, he cast Democrats as the party of middle class protectors, foreshadowing a campaign of populist pitches and class warfare.

The compromise portended more likely to come as Obama courts the fickle center of the electorate and positions himself as the pragmatic president many independents want. He's essentially betting that Democrats ultimately will fall in line behind him -- and hoping that no serious Democratic challenger emerges, much less a serious third-party candidate.

Liberals disappointed with Obama have been clamoring for someone of their ilk -- like Howard Dean or Russ Feingold -- to step up. But no one has given any indication of a willingness to run against the president, particularly one who still is personally popular with key Democratic constituencies.

No independent candidate has emerged either, though Bloomberg is stepping up his national profile in ways that make it seem like bid could be in the offing.

In a sign of potential vulnerabilities within Obama's base, a new poll by the Pew Research Center finds Democrats and people who lean to the Democratic side giving Obama mixed ratings on traditional party positions. Forty-three percent say he is doing a fair or poor job on such issues as protecting the interests of minorities, helping the poor and representing working people.

Obama's troubles are most acute among independents.

They rallied behind him strongly during his presidential campaign, embracing his calls for a solutions-oriented Washington free from partisan gridlock and bickering. And they carried him to victory by large margins.

But, within two years, independents had fled the Democratic Party and Obama, disappointed with politics as usual in Washington at a time of high unemployment, budget-busting spending and soaring national debt. Republicans benefited, winning control of the House and making huge gains in the Senate.

At the same time, Obama also infuriated fellow Democrats who felt he didn't hold true to their core principles. They balked, for example, when the health care law didn't include a government-run insurance option.

Now, he's angered labor by calling for a freeze on federal wages. He also has insisted that the Senate take up a nuclear arms treaty ahead of other Democratic priorities, including immigration reform and allowing gays to openly serve in the military.

No doubt earning props from independents, Obama struck back Tuesday at liberal critics.

"Take a tally," Obama said. "Look at what I promised during the campaign. There's not a single thing that I've said that I would do that I have not either done or tried to do. And if I haven't gotten it done yet, I'm still trying to do it."

He continued: "To my Democratic friends, what I'd suggest is let's make sure that we understand this is a long game. This is not a short game. And to my Republican friends, I would suggest, I think this is a good agreement. Because I know that they're swallowing some things that they don't like as well."

He offered no words to independents.

Instead, he let his compromise do the talking.

[Associated Press; By LIZ SIDOTI]

Liz Sidoti has covered national politics for The Associated Press since 2003.

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