President Obama's relentless call for higher taxes discourages spending by businesses and households.
Except for closing some loopholes and deductions that Martin Feldstein would probably support as part of a broader deal, the only tax increases he's supported would hit 2% of the population, and be trivial amount for most of those hit. But, yeah, that's what's wrong with the economy, not the fact that the other 98% don't have any goddamn money.