Democrats are eyeing the “fair tax” as a wedge issue in the 2010 elections, hoping to force Republican candidates across the country to take a stand on the conservative proposal.
The so-called fair tax — which would replace the current income tax system with a 23 percent national sales tax — has been a campaign plank for some conservatives for years, but it has gained prominence with the rise of the Tea Party movement. The Tea Party “Contract from America,” released last week, calls for a “single-rate tax system.”
Republican leaders in Washington have voiced general support for the Tea Party platform but have shied away from endorsing its specific proposals. For Democrats, highlighting the “fair tax” issue is a component of their strategy of trying to splinter the GOP from the Tea Party movement.
Full story: ‘Fair Tax’ seen as wedge issue to split Republicans and Tea Party – TheHill.com