Julian E. Zelizer: Bad Timing Could Sink Democrats
[Julian E. Zelizer is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. He is the author of "Arsenal of Democracy" and a book on former President Carter and editor of a book assessing former President George W. Bush's administration, to be published this fall by Princeton University Press.]
With the real possibility of a Republican takeover of the House of Representatives, many Democrats are starting to argue for budget cuts.
In New Hampshire, Democratic Senate candidate Paul Hodes has called for $3 billion in cuts, saying, "For too long, both parties have willfully spent with no regard for our nation's debt."
This criticism will become louder this week with the president's proposal for a $50 billion infrastructure package to improve the nation's roads, airports and railways. These budgetary pressures will only intensify if the political strength of conservatives increases following the midterm elections.
But Democrats need to proceed with caution and avoid the pressure to target federal spending before the economy shows signs of stronger recovery. They should recall what happened in 1937 when a member of their party, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, decided to reduce federal spending to please fiscal conservatives and demonstrate that the New Deal had succeeded....
Read entire article at CNN.com
With the real possibility of a Republican takeover of the House of Representatives, many Democrats are starting to argue for budget cuts.
In New Hampshire, Democratic Senate candidate Paul Hodes has called for $3 billion in cuts, saying, "For too long, both parties have willfully spent with no regard for our nation's debt."
This criticism will become louder this week with the president's proposal for a $50 billion infrastructure package to improve the nation's roads, airports and railways. These budgetary pressures will only intensify if the political strength of conservatives increases following the midterm elections.
But Democrats need to proceed with caution and avoid the pressure to target federal spending before the economy shows signs of stronger recovery. They should recall what happened in 1937 when a member of their party, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, decided to reduce federal spending to please fiscal conservatives and demonstrate that the New Deal had succeeded....