The President recently announced one of the most comprehensive economic stimulus plans in many years. Income taxes will be reduced for more than 92 million taxpayers, the child tax credit will be more than doubled, benefits for the unemployed will be expanded, double taxation of dividends will be eliminated and the marriage tax penalty on couples will be abolished — all very worthwhile and needed measures.

The Democratic boo birds were out early, chanting their mantra: “The plan benefits only the wealthy” or, “It doesn’t help the lower income brackets.” Democrats never let facts get in the way of their attacks. You will never hear them define just who the wealthy are, because I’m not sure they know. They don’t seem to care that the top 10 percent of taxpayers pay 67 percent of total income taxes, so why shouldn’t they benefit more? They choose to ignore the fact that the bottom 50 percent of taxpayers pay less than 4 percent of taxes. Therefore, their benefit from the proposed tax cut is less, as it should be. Since we have a progressive tax code in this country, and since income taxes are paid as a percentage of taxable income, should not the benefit of a cut in taxes follow the same principle, or is this too logical?

It’s becoming increasingly apparent that most of the liberal Democrats (Clinton, Kennedy, Daschle, Edwards) oppose almost anything President Bush proposes that might help the economy. Their playbook says that unless it happens when they’re in power or is a plan they can take credit for, find something wrong with it.

The Democrats need a new mantra. The current one has become a little shopworn and isn’t working because it is no longer credible.

Dave Edmunds