Rising Income Inequality Causes Republicans to Shift Rhetoric—But Not Policy

[applegrove]

Rising Income Inequality Causes Republicans to Shift Rhetoric—But Not Policy

by Sahil Kapur at Bloomberg

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-11-12/rising-income-inequality-causes-republicans-to-shift-rhetoric-but-not-policy

"SNIP............


With the Iowa caucuses less than three months away, the Republican presidential candidates have suddenly begun discussing income inequality a whole lot more.

During the first two debates, GOP candidates used words like “inequality,” “disparity,” “rich,” “poor,” and “middle class” just 0.06 percent of the time, according to an analysis by the communications and consulting firm Logos Consulting Group. That rate tripled in the Oct. 28 debate, the first one after the Democratic debate that featured more discussion of inequality. It rose again to 0.20 percent in Tuesday night's GOP debate.

But Republicans have resisted policy shifts to match the change in rhetoric, and remain committed to lower taxes and fewer regulations, which took hold under Ronald Reagan, when taxes were higher and the wealth gap narrower.

“The only possible reason Republicans ever talk about inequality is if their polling is telling them they are vulnerable on that issue,” said Bruce Bartlett, a former senior policy analyst for Reagan who has since grown highly critical of the GOP. He argued that Republicans generally don't fret about inequality. “Concern for inequality leads to redistribution, which all Republicans believe is evil.”



...............SNIP"

[wiggs]

1. So where are the journalists calling them out on this? nt

[applegrove]

2. I doubt it at the Fox debate.