Editorial: Obama plays let's make a deal

President Barack Obama made the deal on tax cuts he had to make. Boxed in by the calendar, Republican resolve and the fecklessness of congressional Democrats who never should have left the issue for the lame duck session, the choice for Obama was gridlock or compromise.

So his decision to get something done was the right one, but it's unfortunate that meant giving up on his promise to end the Bush tax cuts for the nation's richest people. Obama should never have let things devolve to the point where the votes simply weren't there to make good on his pledge. The House voted to extend the tax cuts only for those making less than $250,000 a year. But similar legislation failed Saturday in the Senate and so did a bill that would have drawn the line at $1 million. Sadly, he had to deal.

The agreement to extend tax cuts for all for the next two years means that middle class people won't see their taxes go up Jan. 1, and unemployment checks won't end for 2 million people without jobs. And Obama did manage to win agreement on additional billions of dollars intended to stimulate the economy. Included are a one-year payroll tax reduction that will mean $1,000 a year for a worker making $50,000; and tax breaks for college students, business investment, the working poor and people with children.

The compromise's $900 billion, two-year tab will add to deficits, but the calculation is that efforts to stimulate the economy are more urgent right now than limiting red ink. Tax cuts for the rich won't provide the stimulus or the jobs that Republicans promise. But none of the deal's costs will extend past 2012 - by which time the focus should be on deficit reduction, including comprehensive tax reform.

Democrats are fuming that Obama gave up too much too easily and should have stood and fought, which they see as a troubling pattern. Obama did cave on the tax cuts. But his gamble on pragmatic bipartisanship could pay off if Congress approves the tax deal and Republicans reciprocate by addressing other issues honestly. Neither is certain. While reveling in what they see as a win, Republicans need to know that partisan, just-say-no intransigence is no good for the nation.

With the framework for extending the cuts in place, Republicans should extend the spirit of bipartisanship to issues such as the New START nuclear arms treaty with Russia, Don't Ask Don't Tell, compensation for sick 9/11 workers, and the Dream Act, a path to citizenship for those who go to college or serve in the military after being brought here illegally as children.

Votes by year's end - and unfettered by partisan gamesmanship - would set an encouraging tone for the next Congress, when Republicans will have a House majority and additional seats in the Senate. Difficult but critical issues await, chief among them spending cuts, tax increases, and changes in Social Security and Medicare needed to rein in the deficit.

Partisan gridlock may seem like good politics, but it's very bad government. hN