Trump could take some votes from Democrats

Brian Beutler, writing in The New Republic:

"In a better-controlled environment, Trump would be a less potent force. As the frontrunner, though, he is steering the policy debate . . . . [and] forced out into the open genuine policy debates among Republicans that had previously been shrouded in vagueness or imprisoned within party orthodoxy.

"Right now, Trump has his hand on the third rail of Republican politics. He’s arguing that wealthy people shouldn’t get a pass on paying regular federal income taxes. 'The middle class is getting clobbered in this country. You know the middle class built this country, not the hedge fund guys, but I know people in hedge funds that pay almost nothing . . . .'

"For almost any candidate, promising to reduce taxes on rich people is the price of admission into the Republican primary. Trump, by contrast, is poised not only to survive this apostasy, but to singe any of the more orthodox rivals who challenge him.

"Senator Marco Rubio’s tax plan represents the most pointed contrast to Trump’s middle-class populism. Rubio proposes not just to lower the top marginal income tax rate, but to completely zero out capital gains taxes. To escape scrutiny for offering such a huge sop to the wealthy, Rubio plans to fall back on his origin story -- as the son of a bartender . . . . 

"This might be an effective diversion against a Democratic politician promising to increase people’s taxes, but against a rapacious developer like Trump, it falls completely flat.  Trump would love nothing more than for a career elected official like Rubio to lecture him about the impact tax rates have on investment and growth."

Beutler then explains that:  "Republican base voters aren't as doctrinaire about taxes as Republican elites are, but they still support cutting taxes by a significant margin. In a smaller field, Rubio might be the standard bearer. Instead, the standard bearer claims to want to raise taxes on the rich."

Progressive blogger Digby, commenting on this article says:

"Here's something to ponder, however. If Trump keeps on this path of taxing the rich and defending social security, what are the chances that some white Democrats who are deeply distrustful of a woman in leadership and don't care much for immigrants themselves start to look at Trump and think he's talking some truths for them too. I don't know how many of those there are, but I have to assume there are a few. . . .

"This combination of bashing elites and minorities alike is a very potent argument for some people. Very potent. And I don't think they're all tea partyers."

What a roller-coaster ride we're on in this political drama.   But do keep in mind that we're still over a year from the election, and 4 months before the Iowa caucuses.   In politics, a lot can happen in less time than that.

Ralph