Clark To Rove: Bring It On!

Clark unveiled his tax plan today. I loved this line from his speech:

So if Karl Rove is watching today, Karl, I want you to hear this loud and clear - I'm going to provide tax cuts to ease the burden for 34 million American families and lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty by raising the taxes on one-tenth of one percent of families in America, those who make more than a million dollars a year. You don't have to read my lips, I'm saying it. And if that makes me an "old style" Democrat, then, I accept that label with pride and dare you to come after me for it. Because what I am talking about today is in the best tradition of Wilson and Roosevelt; of JFK, LBJ, and Bill Clinton - and it is in the best interest of the United States of America!*

In your face! Heh.

At first glance the plan looks pretty good, at least judging by the summary. I'll need to read the full policy more closely, and get more information elsewhere. It certainly appears to be fairer and an easier sell than simply repealing the Bush Tax as Dean suggests. If anybody has additional insight, I'd appreciate hearing it.

I'd like to see Howie propose something similar that would deflate the "raising taxes on the middle class" canard Kerry rehashed yesterday, and Bush will certainly use in the general election. That said, I have seen polling that suggests most Americans are more than happy to give back their tax cuts for universal healthcare and other services. That was a couple months ago and I'm not sure if that's still true, so maybe somebody can help me out. Also, I wonder: when push comes to shove, does the simpler "it's your money" soundbite would still win out over the "you gotta pay for the stuff you want"?

[Update: from WaPo:

A top aide said Dean is considering a tax reform plan for the general election that includes a reduction in payroll taxes. If Dean rolls out such a plan, it could offset what many strategists see as a big liability: his support of what amounts to a nearly $2 trillion tax increase by calling for a repeal of Bush's tax cuts.

If Clark became Dean's running mate, maybe the ticket can just use Clark's Families First plan...]

ntodd

* I corrected what I think were typos in the speech text.  ¶ 7:08 PM