Sen. Bernie Sanders ‘Deeply Disappointed’ With Obama’s Social Security Cuts, Vows To Block Them

[ProSense]

Sen. Bernie Sanders ‘Deeply Disappointed’ With Obama’s Social Security Cuts, Vows To Block Them

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Friday joined the liberal pile-on of President Barack Obama's proposed Social Security cuts, saying he's deeply disappointed in the White House and vowing to do "everything in my power" to block the proposal.

The independent senator and avowed socialist followed a host of liberal groups such as MoveOn to criticize Obama's proposal.

“I am terribly disappointed and will do everything in my power to block President Obama’s proposal to cut benefits for Social Security recipients through a chained consumer price index. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I also am especially concerned about the impact this change would have on disabled veterans and their survivors.

“The Senate just last month went on record in opposition to the president’s approach. In poll after poll, the American people are overwhelmingly against cutting Social Security. And organizations representing a broad spectrum of millions of Americans from the AFL-CIO to the American Legion to AARP to NOW have urged the president not to make this terrible mistake.

“This is not a minor tweak, as its proponents contend. Under Obama’s proposal, according to the Social Security Administration, 65-year-old retirees would lose more than $650 a year by their 75th birthday, and more than $1,000 a year would be cut from their benefits once they reach 85. The proposed change would also affect more than 3.2 million disabled veterans receiving disability compensation benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans who started receiving V.A. disability benefits at age 30 would have their benefits reduced by $1,425 a year at age 45, $2,341 at age 55 and $3,231 at age 65. Benefits for more than 350,000 surviving spouses and children would also be cut.

“I remember when Obama said he was concerned about retirees struggling to get by and was unequivocal in his opposition to cutting cost-of-living adjustments. On September 6, 2008, then Sen. Obama spoke to the AARP 50th anniversary convention. ‘John McCain’s campaign has gone even further suggesting that the best answer for the growing pressure on Social Security might be to cut cost-of-living adjustments or raise the retirement age. Let me be clear. I will not do either.’

“I also hope the president follows up on another suggestion that he made during that campaign and gets behind my legislation to raise the cap on income subject to the payroll tax, extending the life of Social Security for generations to come without the need to cut benefits or raise taxes on the middle class.

“Yes, we must move forward on deficit reduction, but it must not be done on the backs of some of the most vulnerable people in this country.”

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/sen-bernie-sanders-deeply-disappointed-with-obamas-social

[Skittles]

1. so - the people don't want them and Democrats/Independents don't want them

so - who wants them besides Obama and republicans?

[Dragonfli]

5. Pete Peterson and groups of billionaires he works with that have think tank sounding names

[antigop]

11. Corporate Dems want them...don't kid yourself

http://blog.ourfuture.org/20130326/senate-kicks-the-chained-cpi-to-the-curb-but-leaves-the-back-door-open

[MrSlayer]

38. The owners do.

And they always get what they want. Our whole political system is a farce.

[jsr]

53. It's on the to-do list from corporate headquarters

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Atta boy, Senator Sanders!

I stand with you.

I am not just terribly disappointed......I am pissed off.

We have been betrayed by someone we thought was on our side.

[awoke_in_2003]

30. Did you hear that noise, Peggy?...

It was Bernie being thrown under the bus.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

31. I don't follow what you're saying...

Can you clarify?

Who's throwing Bernie under the bus? Obama? And why?

[awoke_in_2003]

35. He critiqued the president...

so many very vocal people here are going to throw him under the bus.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

39. Ah, OK.

I haven't seen it. Most folks here support Bernie.

And most importantly, the voters in VT. support him!

[awoke_in_2003]

43. Someone will be along...

to tell us that the pres is doing this because repukes won't accept it- it is 3D chess, after all

[forestpath]

3. K&R

[byeya]

4. Good for Bernie and good for VT for electing him

[Liberalynn]

6. You Go Bernie

FILLIBUSTER ALL THE WAY

[HiPointDem]

7. kr

[ohheckyeah]

8. “Yes, we must move forward on deficit reduction"

I was of the understanding that Social Security has nothing to do with the deficit. If not, why is everyone tying it to the deficit?

[Dragonfli]

23. They need an excuse, Pete Peterson wants that trust fund NOW!!!! Damn it.

They also have no real emergency regarding SS and they know it, so in order to shock doctrine it they have to tie it to the OMG budget emergency, which is itself less of a problem than the fact that they want less spending rather than more during a recession, these brain dead policies will double dip us likely into a full on depression.

[ohheckyeah]

24. I get the feeling,

and I hate to say this, that both parties are just slobbering over getting to cut Social Security.

[whatchamacallit]

9. It's like you just changed uniforms and ran back on the field

[redqueen]

10. Play the ball, not the man.

Also K&R

[Cha]

12. I'm sure he is.. These jounalists are looking beyond the obvious..

Obama Offers Republicans A Deal on Social Security That He Knows They’ll Never Accept by Jason Easley
http://www.politicususa.com/obama-offers-republicans-deal-social-security.html

I Doubt That Obama Really Expects a Grand Bargain With Republicans by Kevin Drum

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/04/i-doubt-obama-really-expects-grand-bargain-republicans

Greg Sargent: Liberals who oppose Chained CPI need to start thinking right now about how to answer this question: Which is worse, a Grand Bargain, or continued sequestration? It’s unclear to me that there is any other likely outcome. Either Republicans will decide to weather sequestration or they will agree to some kind of a deal to replace it. So liberals need a good policy answer to that question…..

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/04/05/the-morning-plum-why-
obama-wants-a-grand-bargain/

Michael Tomasky: I Think Obama Is Bluffing

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/04/05/i-think-obama-is-bluffing.html

http://theobamadiary.com/

[ZombieHorde]

14. A rich guy gambling with the lives of the poor. nt

[Cha]

17. There's no gambling involved.

[meow2u3]

19. That's not gambling. That's stealing

Taking the food out of Granny's mouth is not the way to fix the deficit.

Soaking billionaires and cracking down on tax dodgers is how to fix the deficit. Pete Peterson is cruising for a bruising.

[stupidicus]

47. I agree -- those arguments are BS imo, and here's why

if they were to accept the deal, there's no doubt BHO would sign it.

Furthermore, the concern/criticism of it from the beginning has first and foremost not been what the result might inevitably be, because none of us could know that for sure, BHO included unless we're being tag teamed, but rather the fact that he as a dem pres has expressed a willingness to sign it into law as part of a deficit-reducing "grand bargain" it has no impact on/contributes to. His willingness is what has damned/will damn him, whether it is ever used or not. It will only get worse if they call his bluff.

The "bluffing" angle so many are promoting has no impact on that because those that are objecting on the aforementioned grounds disapprove of it being used for "bluffing" purposes, which is why Bernie and crew are mounting an assault, and many phones are ringing off their hook in DC.

All a victory for the good guys on this can do is limit the amount of tarnish his legacy now has. I won't erase the memories of his "willingness" to kill the juice to the third rail, as only a dem, if any, pres could.

[ZombieHorde]

48. Exactly. nt

[danbeee46]

63. Great post

Right on target.

[GoCubsGo]

18. I'm sure he knew Bernie Sanders would fight it, too.

Along with Sherrod Brown, Tammy Baldwin, Sheldon Whitehouse, and other Senate Dems. Sen. Sanders has been saying all along, "You'll cut it over my dead body", and I think President Obama knows him well enough to know that he is serious about that. I agree with Michael Tomasky, he's bluffing. Not only does the president know the House and Senate republicans will never go along with the revenue aspects to which this "grand bargain" is tied, he knows the Big 3 cuts will never get past the Senate Democrats.

[Cha]

21. Thanks, I was thinking the same thing, GoCubsGo n/t

[Maven]

45. He shouldn't even be making it part of the conversation.

Enough of this bullshit argument that he keeps proposing it because he knows they'll never accept.

What has he gained by it???

[whathehell]

59. Correct. He's changed things for the WORSE just by putting it out there. n/t

[valerief]

13. If Bernie's disappointed, you know the prez is WRONG on this. nt

[gateley]

15. WE have to do our parts -- contact the WH and your reps!

[lark]

26. I talked to Bill Nelson's staff on this a month or so ago.

They said Senator Nelson was absolutely opposed to cutting social security or Medicare benefits, including no chained CPI. Hope he stays firm.

[gateley]

29. I think (hope) a lot of Dem Senators will balk. I'm so glad you talked to his office regarding this

[RKP5637]

16. K&R !!! n/t

[WillyT]

20. K & R !!!

[santamargarita]

22. Go Bernie!!!

[bahrbearian]

25. What's with all the Obama bashing? He's got this.

[Beacool]

27. That was said in Sept. 2008.

He's now in his second term. He's done campaigning.

“I remember when Obama said he was concerned about retirees struggling to get by and was unequivocal in his opposition to cutting cost-of-living adjustments. On September 6, 2008, then Sen. Obama spoke to the AARP 50th anniversary convention. ‘John McCain’s campaign has gone even further suggesting that the best answer for the growing pressure on Social Security might be to cut cost-of-living adjustments or raise the retirement age. Let me be clear. I will not do either.’

Talk is cheap for all politicians.

[democrank]

28. I stand with Bernie Sanders

because he ALWAYS stands with the "little guy" and veterans. He`s the real deal and his actions prove it. President Obama could learn a lot from Bernie.

[stupidicus]

32. That makes him an obvious Obama-hater/ODS-sufferer doesn't it?

like all of us around here who have been concerned about/critical of such a move since well before the election?

how did all those denials on the part of the those that have long hatefully charged such things work out by the way?

oh that's right, they were the dupes left holding the bag, and who are now trying to pretend that they didn't needlessly, shamelessly, etc, etc, etc, insult those that got it right for merely stating the obvious as Bernie long has.

never mind

[bahrbearian]

40. "how did all those denials on the part of the those " defenders

They are starting OP's like that never happened.

[stupidicus]

42. lol -- you know it

I wish I had kept a list of them all.

I don't and never did have a problem with them having long been wrong on the matter, and not much of one with the reasons why they got it wrong, (although blind support can be dangerous, I hope they learned a lesson here), just the way in which they treated everyone that got it right, and often in a concerted way.

I guess the "he won't/wouldn't" union has changed their name to "shouldn't".

[AnotherMcIntosh]

64. x2

[AzDar]

33. Bernie!

[CapnSteve]

34. Senator Sanders truly is "America's Senator"!

...but let's not get our knickers too much in a twist over this: The big Boehner has already rejected the idea. Once again, we Dems look reasonable and the GOP continues to look like the assholes they are...

Net result: nothing gets done. And in 2014 we show the bums the door and give Pres. Obama the majority he needs to get the job done. Then Pres. Clinton can finish the job in her two terms!

[dotymed]

62. CapnSteve

"...but let's not get our knickers too much in a twist over this: The big Boehner has already rejected the idea. Once again, we Dems look reasonable and the GOP continues to look like the assholes they are..."
This sure as hell does not make the democratic party (us?)look reasonable since he majority of Americans oppose a chained CPI.....it makes the DLC (us?) look like a bunch of corporatists (fascists, oligarchs) and I agree with that assessment of the DLC ("they sure as hell were not representing "us"

"Net result: nothing gets done. And in 2014 we show the bums the door and give Pres. Obama the majority he needs to get the job done. Then Pres. Clinton can finish the job in her two terms!" Get real..the repub's new talking point: The democratic party has shown it's willingness to undermine it's own "sacred cow", social security...sure as hell "won't play good in Peoria" or anywhere. This may very well oust "us&quot ?) for the election in 2014 and beyond. As a lifelong "FDR Democrat, it sure as hell makes me want to vote for a third party candidate.

I do agree with one thing in this post: Senator Sanders truly is "America's Senator"!" and I would love to help him become
America's President!

[M_A]

37. Keep the message going Bernie.

No surprise, Obama's made no secret this was on his agenda. Really glad I did not cast a vote his way either time.

[Aerows]

44. Hostage negotiation

"Either we cut Social Security benefits, or you can't have an abortion under any circumstances, we will revoke minimum wage, gays can't get married, and the militia movement will be waving guns at your schools."

That's what it has come down to. Pressure from corporatists on the middle class via social warfare.

[freshwest]

65. That is EXACTLY what they're doing, plus attacking the ACA, PP and promoting Keystone on EVERY bill.

Rand Paul, new darling of the Left, has attached personhood amendments to all budget negotiations. This extortion hurts millions and they are refusing to mitigate the Sequester. They still demand budget cuts on the poor, denying them food assistance anad medical care. And now they are passing federal ultrasound laws in the House. But there is no outrage from civil Libertarians at DU. They must not be affected by any of this.

[Aerows]

66. Apparently it's a big ol' yawn

that any of this gets attacked. Frankly, I'm kind of upset about ALL of it.

[freshwest]

67. There isn't much push, so I imagine it won't affect 'em. I hurts those I love, though. Thanx, Aerows

[Aerows]

68. Right there with you

FW

[brett_jv]

46. Anyone else feel this article is purposefully worded to make it sound like only the 'fringe' is mad?

Twice in the first two paragraphs they feel compelled to use the word 'liberal', then they throw in 'avowed socialist', and then the group they cite that's against the cuts is the right-wing boogeyman group 'moveon.org'.

I don't think this is a coincidence.

I think this is purposeful spin to marginalize this idea as a fringe notion, rather than acknowledging that really there's 10's of millions of Americans (of all political stripes) that are actually against this CPI nonsense, and feeling very betrayed by BO at this moment.

[Babel_17]

51. Could be, reports say 70% of voters over 50 oppose the chained CPI

http://www.salon.com/2013/04/05/new_poll_shows_many_hate_chained_cpi/

The AARP reveals that 70 percent of voters age 50-plus oppose the use of the chained CPI to cut benefits, and two-thirds of them – including 60 percent of Republicans — say they would be “considerably less likely” to support a congressional candidate if he or she backed a new way of calculating consumer prices. And 84 percent of voters over 50 say Social Security has no place in budget-deficit discussions, since it is self-financed.

On every single question, Republicans lag only a point or two behind Democrats in their opposition to Social Security cuts.

[LongTomH]

58. Democrats need to pay attention to this:

Though Democrats were buoyed by the higher turnout of young and non-white voters in 2012, the senior vote particularly matters in midterm elections. In 2010 they made up 23 percent of the vote, up from 16 percent two years earlier, while 18-29-year-old participation dropped from 18 to 11 percent in those same two years. Seniors helped trigger the GOP-Tea Party landslide that year, and it will take Democrats years to shovel out of it.

.......and this:

And without a bipartisan budget deal that backs these cuts, it’s possible Republicans just got an even bigger gift: that chained CPI becomes an idea associated with Democrats alone. That ought to play well in 2014. Of course, the Senate unanimously approved Sen. Bernie Sanders’ resolution opposing a switch to the chained CPI by voice vote, showing no senator in either party wants his or her name on the proposal. For now, publicly at least, Obama stands alone.

[ReRe]

49. I agree with Bernie Sanders 100%

All hands off the big 3. Why can't supposed "Democrats" not remember how we got into this big effing mess? Did the people who depend on those programs cause our financial nightmare? The answer is obvious. GWB, Wall Street and the 1% caused it. They are the effing takers in this society. And they are the ones who need to cough it up.

[rhett o rick]

50. .

[Bozita]

56. !

[Doctor_J]

52. i wish Obama would change parties

Then this disaster wouldn't be tied to my party, or to real dems like bernie

[Festivito]

54. Forced to compromise, with what WOULD we compromise?

The People gave Republicans the House. The House is holding our economy hostage.

So, do we give up on the economy putting people out of jobs now, or compromise on reducing payments later and let people live now?

It's a hard set of choices.

[dotymed]

55. Bernie, if you read this...

PLEASE run for the Presidency on "the peoples ticket," the Democratic Socialist, As an Independent...any"ticket", just please be a candidate.....we need you.

[840high]

57. +1

[Why Syzygy]

60. k/r n/t

[xtraxritical]

61. Great, where's Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein?

'Beats me.