For Kim and Reed, Obama’s caving to Republican pressure on extending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans was a defeat, even if it resulted in some good results for progressives. But if the Democrats are compromising their values now, how does this bode for upcoming legislative battles?"I think the deal is totally rotten, I think it’s the best rotten deal the Democrats could’ve gotten," says The Nation‘s Richard Kim of Obama’s tax cut compromise. His colleague Betsy Reed, though, notes that by compromising now, heading into an even more conservative Congress, Democrats are setting themselves up for far worse deals in the future: "Where are we going to draw the line ultimately?"
Betsy and Richard join The Nation in Grit TV in studio to examine the tax cut compromise, the health care bill, Bernie Sanders’ eight-and-a-half-hour speech before the Senate and strategies for progressive organizing under a Republican House and narrow Democratic majority in the Senate.
The Nation on GRIT TV is a weekly video collaboration between The Nation and GRIT TV with Laura Flanders. Watch for Monday briefings, Wednesday commentaries, weekend conversations and more at TheNation.com. For full half-hour episodes of The Nation on GRIT TV, or local television air times visit www.grittv.org.
