HOUSE GOP LEADERS ARE FRANTIC TO PORTRAY GOP AS ‘UNITED’  IN FAVOR OF PAYROLL TAX CUT …

“Republicans support a full-year extension of the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits …”  [Boehner-Cantor Joint Statement, 2/6/12]

CNN: “On the latest fight over payroll tax cut, Cantor pushes back on reports House GOP is again divided. ‘We are united.’” [Tweet by CNN’s Kate Bolduan, 2/7/12]

… BUT THEIR PARTY STILL HASN’T GOTTEN THE MESSAGE

POLITICO: ‘Payroll tax cut splinters GOP’

REUTERS: ‘Support has always been soft among Republicans for the payroll tax cut’

THE NEW YORK TIMES: ‘Republicans in Congress seem to have forgotten the embarrassment they suffered late last year for trying to block a payroll tax cut for millions of wage-earners’

SEN. BOB CORKER (R-TN): Extending the Tax Cut ‘A Very Slippery Slope.’ [Politico, 2/7/12]

SEN. MIKE JOHANNS (R-NE): Payroll Tax Cut ‘A Hard Sell.’ [Politico, 2/7/12]

REP. PAUL BROUN (R-GA): Payroll Tax Cut ‘Bad Policy,’ ‘A Gimmick.’ [Politico, 2/7/12]

REP. JASON CHAFFETZ (R-UT): Payroll Tax Cut ‘Bad Policy.’ [Politico, 2/7/12]

REP. JEFF LANDRY (R-LA): Payroll Tax Cut ‘A Terrible Idea.’  [Reuters, 1/13/12]

REP. JACK KINGSTON (R-GA): Payroll Tax Cut ‘Not Worth Our While.’ [Politico, 1/6/12]