Instead of fighting a phony mommy war over what Hilary Rosen said about Ann Romney, we should face the fact that most families these days cannot afford to have one parent stay home with the kids. This is not about "lifestyle" or "values." This is an economic struggle highlighting yet again the social costs arising from decades of stagnating or declining wages and growing income inequality. There is a profound class bias in our discussion of what mothers should or should not do. The public debate seems premised on the idea that all two-parent families have a choice as to whether one or both work. That's still true for the better-off. But this choice is denied to most American families. They have had to send two people into the workforce whether they wanted to or not.

So how do we re-create the American middle class? Making our loopy tax code more equitable appears to be off the agenda, what with Senate Republicans’ refusal Monday to allow a vote on a tax hike for millionaires. And even if the “Buffett Rule” were enacted, it would do nothing to alter the rocketing inequality in Americans’ pre-tax income. With the Southern wage for manufacturing — roughly $14 an hour — becoming the national norm, and with hiring more prevalent for low-wage restaurant and retail jobs than for positions in higher-paid industries, the incomes of most Americans will continue to stagnate, if not decline.

A new Quinnipiac poll shows President Obama holds a thin 46% to 42% lead nationally over Mitt Romney in the presidential race. Said pollster Peter Brown :"Obama has a big lead among women and is seen as the candidate most in tune with their needs. He is seen as more in touch with average Americans. Republican Romney seems to hold an edge on the economy - the top issue of the campaign - and holds his own against the incumbent on being a strong leader. His opening is that by 56% to 38% voters disapprove of the president's handling of the economy."

The post-election budget wars suddenly felt closer Wednesday, as the White House threw down the gauntlet on appropriations and House Republicans voted to shift tens of billions of dollars from poverty programs to help stave off automatic cuts threatening the Pentagon in January.