Hostage takers.

President Obama made a huge mistake by introducing the phrase "hostage takers" into his rhetoric. In reference to the Bush-era tax cuts that are due to expire at the end of the year, President Obama said this:

"It's tempting not to negotiate with hostage takers unless the hostage gets harmed... In this case, the hostage was the American people."

The President sought to indict House Republicans with the label. However, the President's own liberal peers are now quickly taking on the mantle of (you guessed it) hostage takers.

House Democrats have rejected a compromise between Republicans and the President in order to extend the Bush-era tax cuts for two years. Democrats argue that the compromise gives too much away to the already wealthy. This would be the norm for the federal government, but the problem for Democrats is that they are putting President Obama's bid for reelection on the line.

If Democrats continue to play the part of obstructionists and the Bush tax-cuts expire on January 1, Americans won't look at the Republican party as the ones who screwed up and allowed yet another blow against the economy- the blame will lie squarely with Obama and the Democratic party.