Because Clinton RAISED taxes then also. It didn't hurt as much then because the tech industry was booming and Newt was running Congress efficiently.
The Conservative commentators that you have mentioned are people who are very generous to charity and employ staffs of people will not be effected. And the companies that they work for a showing record ratings, so the 3% more they will have to pay will come out of their raises and revenue increases.
BUT what about the Liberal commentators like Obermann, Madow? That 3% will cause there staffs to shrivel based on their already low ratings. Oh well, I guess someone has to suffer from the tax hikes...