When Is a Tax Cut Not a Tax Cut?

When spending doesn’t go down to match. Seen in that light, President Obama’s tax cut… isn’t. George Mason professor Russ Roberts just nails it over at Cafe Hayek:

an increase in spending coupled with lower tax collections is an INCREASE in taxes. AN INCREASE in taxes. NOT A TAX CUT. If I spend more money and collect less, the government is promising to collect more taxes in the future. It is not a tax cut.

Is that really so hard to understand? Judging by both parties’ reactions, apparently it is. Welcome to Washington.