The Democratic House leadership's gambit on middle class tax cuts worked, Republican lies about tax cuts for middle class families being a job-killer and un-American and a travesty notwithstanding. The bill just passed, 234-188, with three Republicans voting for us, and 20 "Dems" voting for the millionaires.

John Boehner, of course, whined about procedure Because, of course, Republicans would never use procedural tricks to get something passed, or to block legislation they oppose. Boehner's real problem? He was stymied in his effort to hold the middle class hostage for the wealthy. He was forced into and up or down vote on middle class tax cuts.

That "chicken crap," by the numbers, from Ezra:

There are 238,781 households in John Boehner's district. There are 2,824 of them with an income above $200,000. That's 1.1 percent. And that 1.1 percent is too large, as many of those people make between $200,000 and $250,000, and so every dollar of their income will be eligible for the tax cuts the Democrats are pushing. So in all likelihood, what separates a tax cut bill that's "chicken crap" from a tax cut bill that's great is its treatment of the richest 1 percent of households in Boehner's district. And $700 billion slapped right onto the deficit. If Republicans win this debate despite the unpopularity of their position and its violent contradiction to their stated concern for the deficit, it'll be one of the most impressive coups in recent political memory.

The House has shown that Republicans don't have to win this debate. It might make voting a little tough for the Blue Dogs and ConservaDems, but they've gotten enough consideration in the last few years. The Senate and the White House now have a choice: follow the House's lead, and force Senate Republicans and deficit peacock ConservaDems to make the same choice of standing up for the super wealthy or the rest of us; or continue the farce that is "negotiating" with Republicans.

Update: Here's the roll call for the vote.

Update II by kos: Put another way, Republicans just voted to raise taxes on 95% of Americans.