Democrat opposition to tax cuts becoming a liability

CNBC:
America is warming up to the Republican tax cuts — and Democrats are starting to get worried.

Recent surveys have found growing support for the GOP overhaul of the tax code amid relentless messaging from Republicans and a barrage of businesses announcing bonuses and pay increases.

The momentum is increasingly leaving Democrats on the defensive on the kitchen-table economics they believe will be critical to victory in November's midterm elections. In an open memo this week, Democratic super PAC Priorities USA said the party's message has gotten drowned out in the debate over the tax plan.

"While Republican gains have not been enough to counter the extraordinary political environment for Democrats, it is imperative that Democrats return to focusing on the economic message and counter the narrative being pushed by the White House, Republicans in Congress and their special interest backers," the group said.

The super PAC pointed to internal poll numbers showing the percentage of voters who view President Donald Trump's tax policies favorably jumped from 32 percent late last year to 46 percent in February. Support for his economic policies also rose significantly, from 38 to 46 percent.
...
But Democrats have also stumbled in their attempts to frame the law as primarily benefiting the wealthy and corporations — most notably, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's characterization of bonuses for workers as "crumbs" compared with the benefits that businesses receive under the new tax code.

Republicans have seized on the comment as evidence that Democrats are out of touch with the working-class populism that has fueled Trump's popularity.

"Do you think salary bonuses are crumbs?" Republican Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado asked White House budget director Mick Mulvaney as he testified on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

"I think only a very wealthy person from San Francisco would think that was a crumb," Mulvaney replied in a dig at Pelosi.

The conservative group Americans for Prosperity this week unveiled the first major installment of its $20 million campaign to tout the Republican tax plan. The group, which is backed by the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch, is spending $4 million on new ads targeting vulnerable Democratic Sens. Joe Donnelly in Indiana and Claire McCaskill in Missouri.

"Senator Joe Donnelly said he's support tax cuts for hard-working Hoosiers," one ad intones. "But when he had the chance, he said no."
...
The tax cuts are helping the GOP counter the Democrats class warfare approach to politics.  They also appear to be blocking what was once seen as an inevitable "blue wave" electtion.

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