The Hiller Instinct: Unemployment Benefits

When there's blood in the water in Washington, and a key election coming up, even the unemployed become political pawns.

Democrats and Republicans both say they support extending jobless benefits, but Democrats want to borrow the money to pay for them, while Republicans want to cut other budget programs to get the money.

Everything else is spin:

"It's time to do what's right, not for the next election, but for the middle class," the president said.

How many ways can you say, "spare me?"

If the president wants Democrats to win the next election, he must first win back the middle class.

One recent poll shows, right now, the only income group giving Obama majority approval is the poorest Americans, those making less than $2,000 a month.

While another Gallup poll shows a majority of all Americans--51%--disapprove of the way he's controlling federal spending.

So the president needs to deflect responsibility for increasing the deficit.

Which means, cue George Bush:

"This is going to be a choice between the policies that got us into this mess, and my policies that are getting us out of this mess," the President said.

The President and the Democrats want you to think they're compassionate; the Republicans want you to think they're responsible.

In November, which party voters decide is telling the truth should wind up controlling both the House and Senate.

I’m Andy Hiller, that’s my instinct.

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