The Hill News

The White House launched an online offensive against Republicans for the second straight day this week, accusing them of "out of whack priorities" when it comes to the economy.

Deputy Communications Director Jen Psaki took to the official White House blog to question congressional Republicans' push to extend tax cuts for all Americans â€" including high earners â€"after having opposed some initiatives favored by Democrats such as extending unemployment benefits or tax benefits, like the Making Work Pay credit.

"Republicans in Congress are arguing that we have no choice but to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest, despite the fact that extension would cost upwards of 700 billion for ten years and the nonpartisan Congressional Budget O! ffice makes clear that tax cuts for the wealthiest rank at the bottom of the list of best ways to stimulate the economy," Psaki wrote.

The post marked the second straight day that a top administration official has used the White House blog to launch an attack on the GOP. On Wednesday, Jared Bernstein, the chief economic adviser for Vice President Joe Biden, went on the offensive against House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) over his opposition to the administration's stimulus bill. 

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said that there was no particular reason for the consecutive days of posts taking on the GOP.

"It hasn’t been and I think if look back over the last year, particularly during the healthcare and Wall Street Reform debates, you will see a consistency of tone," he told The Hill in an email when asked if there was any concerted effort behind the two days' worth of posts.

"The White House blog serves many communications purposes, including periodically engaging in the debate over the President’s agenda and the direction of the country," he added.

The blog is frequently used for more mundane and public interest pieces, but sometimes has taken on a bit more of a political edge, especially including messaging that President Obama or top administration officials might not always voice in public.

That messaging included Psaki's attack on Thursday against Republicans.

"Let’s not forget that this same group of Republicans blocked the extension of unemployment insurance for Americans who needed it most and voted against the Making Work Pay tax cut â€" that gave a tax break to 95% of working Americans," she wrote. 

Updated 2:52 p.m.