Maddow Calls Out Axelrod for Support of President's Social Security Cuts

[kpete]

Maddow Calls Out Axelrod for Support of President's Social Security Cuts
By Heather
Crossposted from Video Cafe

MSNBC analyst and former Obama advisor David Axelrod may not have been too happy with Rachel Maddow for her response to President Obama putting Social Security cuts on the table with his budget proposal, but she was exactly right here. The White House seems to want a fight with the left, because if what they were really worried was solvency of the system, they'd put raising the income cap on the table.

After Axelrod did a terrible job of attempting to explain why the administration actually believes this is somehow a good idea and claiming that what they're worried about is preserving the programs and economic growth, Maddow responded:

MADDOW: I believe you that he believes in his budget, but I think that if what he really believes in is Social Security benefit cuts, he's going to feel the ground beneath his feet give way. And I think this is the start that ends badly on the Democratic party (crosstalk).


After Axelrod tried to pretend that progressives “want to do nothing” and just leave the programs exactly as they are now, Maddow shot back.


MADDOW: Nobody's saying do nothing. That's not fair. Nobody's saying do... nobody's saying do nothing. First of all, Social Security isn't the problem with the deficit. Second of all, there is a way to fix it that has nothing to do with starving old people now or in the immediate future.

You have people pay more. And then your system is solved. If you wanted to approach it toward just solvency, that would be one of the things that's on the table. For the Democrats to not put that on the table and say it's all about solvency and not the politics, I just don't buy it.

video & more:
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/maddow-calls-out-axelrod-support-president

[magellan]

1. "I just don't buy it"

Neither do I, Rachel.

k&r

[myrna minx]

2. This exchange was very telling and chilling. K&R

[SugarShack]

3. This is the propagana machine they are all a part of - 72% say lift the pay cap!

They don't even mention it. Thanks Rachael and bye bye dem party.

[santamargarita]

4. There is no defense for this dangerous and reckless...

proposal. And any senator that dares touch SSI will face direr political consequences.
It's time kick ass and take names!

[tularetom]

5. If you still believe in multi dimensional chess after reading this post you are incredibly naive

It's pretty obvious to me that Obama buys into all this deficit bullshit and was just waiting for the right opportunity to inject SS cuts into the dialogue.

I doubt that the budget as currently proposed will get anywhere in the house because of opposition from the republicans but if it does and my Dem congresscritter votes for it, I will do anything I can to get rid of his slimy ass in the 2014 primary.

And my opinion of the President right now is about on a level with whale shit.

[newfie11]

10. Agreed [phone]

[HarmonyRockets]

23. +1

[Scuba]

6. I watched this morning. Axe had nothing. Less than nothing. Very disappointing.

[beerandjesus]

7. My favorite part

At the end of the interview, Rachel told Axelrod he was a "good sport".

That's what Rachel always says to right-wingers who come on her show... and seems to be Rachelese for "You're completely full of shit".

[Glaisne]

15. seems to be Rachelese for "You're completely full of shit".

I love it! That's what I'll think from now on whenever she says it. Thanks for that .

[AnotherMcIntosh]

27. Thanks for pointing it out. I missed it.

[NCTraveler]

8. Some in this administration.....

Some in this administration are saying this was some sort of good faith effort to make a "grand bargain" with the republicans. That they were trying to give them a concession in order to get a deal. Others in the administration are saying that reform is necessary for the health of social security. The fact that they are spinning like mad and making multiple arguments for their actions leads me to believe that this is something they want.

[xtraxritical]

16. A "deal" for what? The country still runs without a budget.

The onus could have been on the RepubliCONs but now Obama has thrown Democrats under the bus. There's nothing Axlerod or anyone else can say, Obama has made a BIG error and he knows it.

[Rilgin]

19. I think he does not know or does not care.

Yes, Obama has made a BIG error. The problem is that he does not know it. From the very beginning of his adminitration he has consistently made the same error.

He had potential to be a great president. Only because he had the people on his side. However, rather than fight for them and against the ideas and political and business forces that have caused and are causing this country to die, he has made back room deals and tried to reach "compromise" that gives the people scraps but moves the overall direction of this Country in the wrong direction.

He either does not care or does not know this is a long and short term error.

[xtraxritical]

25. Well, there is also the possibility that it is not an error.

If Republicons reject this budget (which includes 98% of what they asked for) the President and Democrats can squarely lay the pain of sequester at their feet. If they further refuse to raise the debt ceiling this summer, after rejecting this offer, the Democrats can hammer home the theme of RepubliCON obstructionism. I hope this will be the denouement.

[upaloopa]

26. We've been doing that all along only now we shot ourselves

in the foot and got nothing for it. What Obama did has much more political ramifications then calling the Repubs the bad guys.

[forestpath]

9. Good for Rachel. This helps make up for her coddling of Cory Booker.

[William769]

11. kick & recommended.

[zeemike]

12. She made him babble on and babble on..

And just repeated all the talking points in no particular order...
Quite revealing really.
The strategy seems to be to just pretend the facts she just said are not facts at all...and go right on with the spin as if it was never said.

[GoneFishin]

13. I don't believe Dems won't vote in 2014

I know that no matter how many times we are f&*cked by the Dem leadership I won't attempt to express my severe disappointment or attempt to hold my party accountable to the democratic values of the base because I am a "fucking retard" (Rahm Emanual) and besides "where else are (we) going to go" (also Rahm Emanual). So I will just go on defending my team (rah, rah) no matter how many times I am thrown under the bus in favor of big banks, wall street, health insurance companies, and lobbyists. I am a good little democrat. And anybody that doesn't agree with me must not be a real democrat.

[malthaussen]

14. And just a few days ago the DU pundits

... were arguing that Rachel wasn't addressing the budget rumors because she "knew it didn't really matter."

It appears she was just waiting for a concrete proposal instead of rumors.

-- Mal

[lark]

18. Rachel addressed this absolutely brilliantly!

She was so spot on and Axelrod was such a floundering fish that it was ridiculous. He was so lying thru his teeth every time he spoke, it was really obvious and sad.

He and his ex-boss are so on my shit list. Any Dem who votes for this is insane or not a Democrat to begin with. Obama isn't insane, he's a trojan horse moderate republican.

[supercats]

17. I Saw This Segment

Rachel did great...Now she needs to continue with this every night on her show. She needs to scream it until it picks up momentum with her colleagues throughout the media. She needs to be our Edward R. Murrow, our Walter Cronkite. She can change their thinking.

[AgingAmerican]

20. I think that if what he really believes in is Social Security benefit cuts, he's going to feel the"

"... ground beneath his feet give way. And I think this is the start that ends badly on the Democratic party"

Rachel is right. If Obama makes his bed with this the Democratic party will have to sleep in it.

[Liberalynn]

21. Go Rachel

[WillyT]

22. K & R !!!

[lovuian]

24. It is an example of a one party system which is for Corporations

Any democrat who votes for Social Security cuts or any Republican who votes for Social Security cuts
won't be elected periodin the next election

Obama just gave Republicans whose party is dying a few minutes of air
but it still is a dying party on its last gasp

[Please proceed]

28. Axelrod loves to be on Morning Joe

No better way than be a closet republican. I've defended obama to my friends for years. Not any more. The republicans play him like a drum.

[Babel_17]

29. I saw the show, Axelrod looked dyspeptic

at having a weak, even to his own ears, argument.

He was using force of will, imo, to carry on. I wonder if his fingerprints are on the early drafts so now he's obliged to carry the fight.