benefit the dems in 2018, if it is in fact an historical precedent. I suspect O's tax cuts were a good deal less than the cuts many people are about to see. But more importantly, that was not voter focus. Voter focus was on Ocare, which from the campaign in 2008 until the end of O's presidency was held out as the key signature achievement. I distinctly remember O saying in debates in 2008 that the first priority even for the economy was HC. Messaging was not about taxes. It was about HC.

I think most observers think this tax cut will be greater for most people in 2018. Look, none of us can see the future, and we are still in the phase where gaps are being filled in the law itself - small changes in language could still have a big effect. My point is simply this - Schumer and Pelosi are all in on the big drag this will be on the repubs in 2018. And it just sounds like wishful thinking to me. A dem strategist would be wise IMO to assume that this tax bill will be quite popular in 2018, and design messaging that can beat the repubs in spite of that.

If somehow the bill is unpopular, nothing lost. But spending inordinate time and effort telling people that an increase in net pay is bad for them - likely to be a loser I think.