SPIN METER: Obama, Dems skirt issue on tax hikes

Obama Refers to Tax Increases as 'Cutting Spending in the Tax Code'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Call it eliminating an unfair break, or removing an unjust loophole, or even "taking a balanced approach." Just don't call it raising taxes.

As they work toward a must-do deal with Republicans on paring trillions from the deficit in order to raise the nation's debt limit, President Barack Obama and Democrats are saying almost anything to avoid the politically toxic pronouncement that they want to increase taxes.