WASHINGTON--White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod hit the morning news shows on Wednesday to defend the tax deal President Obama cut with Republicans--drawing criticism from his own Democratic base, including Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.)

On CNN, Axelrod said, "I think what -- I think it is a good deal in the sense that not only are we extending the Bush-era tax cuts for the middle class, but also we're extending tax cuts that we passed two years ago to help people with their college tuition, to help families with children. And there are additional things in here that will -- there's an additional payroll tax cut for -- that will help middle class people across this country.

"So what I'm saying is at a time when our economy needs additional energy, when people are struggling, that this is enormously helpful and the opposite would be true if we don't do it."

On MSNBC, Schakowsky said, "I think that we still feel that it is not a done deal, and we're going to work toward making some changes.

".... But I still think that we might be able to make some changes. I think if we get rid of the estate tax changes, if we, perhaps, add to $250 for Social Security beneficiaries who haven't seen a COLA increase for the last two years.

"In other words, I think there is still some negotiating to be done and still get it all done by the end of this lame-duck session. "