Last night the Huffington Post sent out an email informing America that the White House was forced the give into GOP blackmail. The Republicans have made it clear that if the Bush Tax cuts for the wealthy weren't continued, then no tax cuts would be continued. The Huffington Post reported that Senior White House Adviser David Axelrod, speaking for the White House, told the Huffington Post "that the administration will accept an across-the-board extension of the Bush-era tax cuts, saying that it seems to be the only way for middle-class taxpayers not to have their taxes raised. 'We have to deal with the world as we find it,' said Axelrod, 'the world of what it takes to get this done... I don't want to trade away security for the middle class in order to make that point.'"

Progressives as myself were wondering, if this would be the first of many compromises? Or was this the only way to keep middle class taxes from increasing in this slow recovery from the Great Recession?

Then this morning, reportedly, Mr. Axelrod is singing a different tune. He told the National Journal, in an e-mail refuting the Huffington Post story, "that President Obama has not caved to GOP demands on the extension of the Bush tax cuts, despite a report from the Huffington Post to the contrary. The Journal quotes Mr. Axelrod as saying, "We're willing to discuss how we move forward, but we believe that it's imperative to extend the tax cuts for the middle class, and don't believe we can afford a permanent extension of tax cuts for the wealthy."

Well, either Mr. Axelrod spoke out of turn, out of school, or was launching a trial balloon. Who knows? But it was kind of strange that a major turn in policy would be announced with the POTUS out of the country. Anyway, I expect the POTUS to cave on the tax cuts before long. Maybe as soon as he gets back, if not soon afterwards.