The House GOP tried really hard to avoid passing a middle-class tax cut. Most likely, they would have jumped at the chance to give that money to the rich, but they just could never get interested in working for the middle class. Eventually, though, a frustrated John Boehner reluctantly agreed to extend the payroll tax credit for the middle class.

Before Boehner caved, Karl Rove advised Republicans that this fight was not a good one for them:

Republicans “have lost the optics on it,” Rove told Fox News, “the question now is how do the Republicans get out of it.”

Rove is certainly right on that count. The “optics” are absolutely horrendous when doing something to help the 99 Percent is seen as a serious defeat for your party. Boehner and the GOP fully deserve the beating they’ve taken on this issue, for turning a no-brainer into a months-long battle royale. It’s truly amazing how hard they fight to keep the middle class down.