Yet Another Democratic Party Scam

It just drives me nuts that the Democratic Congress can't seem to debate a single proposal without making some kind of scam or joke out of it. The big Democratic uproar about Rush Limbaugh is the biggest case in point recently, but the latest tax-hike proposal from Congressman Jack Murtha is just as ridiculous:

Arguing it is unfair to continue to pass the cost of the war in Iraq to future generations, three senior House Democrats Tuesday offered a longshot plan to raise taxes to pay for the $150 billion bill for the war in 2008.

At the same time, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee announced they would delay action on the White House's war request for next year, saying he refuses "to continue the status quo."

The tax plan, unveiled by Reps. David Obey, D-Wis., John Murtha, D-Pa., and Jim McGovern, D-Mass., would require low- and middle-income taxpayers to add 2 percent to their tax bill. Wealthier people would add a 12 to 15 percent surcharge, Obey said.

Sponsors of the tax plan appeared more interested in making a point — getting people to focus on the cost of the war — than offering it as a serious proposal.
Top Democrats immediately shot down the idea, and it came under scathing assault from Republicans for linking funding for U.S. troops overseas with tax increases.

Why would anyone in their right mind agree to a lower-class tax hike to fund the war proposed by the same legislators who want to defund the war? This is such an obvious bait-and-switch that even "top Democrats" won't touch it with a 10-ft pole.