The Big Question: Will environmental incentives give liberals a reason to vote for the Obama-GOP tax deal?

Some of the nation's top political commentators, legislators and intellectuals offer some insight into the biggest question burning up the blogosphere today.

Today's question:

Will environmental incentives give liberals a reason to vote for the Obama-GOP tax deal?

Some background reading here.

Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, said:

An ethanol tax credit? Even environmentalists are not that gullible.


Bruce E. Gronbeck, professor of political communication at the University of Iowa, said:

Liberals don't need reasons to vote: They need justifications, ways to save face. With the president reiterating again and again that he's rescuing 2 million unemployed workers from destitution and creating jobs with the payroll tax holiday, he's hitting at liberals right where they're vulnerable. Can liberals refuse to vote for middle-class and lower-middle-class relief and help? Their stands on making the elite pay for that relief and help pushes them toward a negative vote. But, if they can argue that they got even more pieces of liberal candy in their holiday package, that they in fact won, then they can assure the public that they're not two-faced. They can grit their teeth, express their reluctance, and vote yes. " 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the House and Senate ... "