More is not enough, Obama makes new demands

Democrats have sensed weakness in the GOP and now they're poised to strike. As Republicans demonstrate their willingness to give in on taxes to avoid another fiscal crisis, Obama and the Democrats have asked for further concessions.

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - Republicans allege that Obama and the Democrats are holding the economy, and Americans, hostage as they change the terms of their already tenuous deal with Republicans. While Republicans have signaled their willingness to raise taxes on the wealthy, a major concession, the Democrats now want more.

Democrats have now asked for a permanent raising of the debt ceiling limit, new stimulus, new spending, and putting off discussion about entitlement reform.

Just yesterday, it appeared probable that President Obama and GOP leader John Boehner (R-OH) were ready to make a deal. Tantalizing details were leaked to the media that, for the most part, appeared sensible. Then, Democrats sensing the Republicans were willing to negotiate, struck again, upping the ante.

And why not? Democrats have much less to lose than Republicans. Recent polls show that if the fiscal cliff is reached, triggering automatic tax increases for all Americans, that most Americans would lay the blame on Republicans.

This leaves Boehner and other Republicans in a difficult situation. Should the GOP concede to Democrats the majority of their demands, which would represent a genuine failure of leadership, or should they allow the country to careen off the fiscal cliff, which would be seen as a failure of leadership?

And while Republicans try to please Obama, the president is out on the campaign trail, asking people to "pay a little more."

The recent setback suggests that Democrats aren't serious about spending cuts and changing the way Washington does business, while at the same time the Republicans have been jolted back into reality.

Most Americans, and even most Republicans rightly expected Obama and the Democrats to negotiate a solution in good faith, however that appears to be a naĂŻve assessment as yesterday's tenuous deal begins to unravel under the weight of new Democratic demands.

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