Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

madfloridian

(88,117 posts)
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 11:00 AM Apr 2013

Obama's support for Social Security cuts allows GOP leaders to become defenders of safety nets.

Here is the Republican campaign chairman accusing the president of balancing the budget on the backs of seniors.

This really angers me more than I can say. Health care givers and facilities for seniors are overwhelmed as it is, and President Obama seems unaware.

The fact that the head of the NRCC is right makes it all the more infuriating.



GOP campaign chairman calls chained CPI trying to balance the budget on the backs of seniors

BLITZER: Well, let's talk about these proposed changes that the president is putting forward when it comes to Social Security and Medicare, the shocking proposals that you say the president's putting forward that could affect seniors. What's so shocking about changing that CPI, that consumer price index the way that you would determine how much inflation would go ahead with increases for Social Security recipients, for example?

WALDEN: Well, once again, you're trying to balance this budget on the backs of seniors and I just think it's not the right way to go.

And here he is on the Medicare cuts:

Well, I thought it very intriguing in that the budget really lays out kind of a shocking attack on seniors, if you will. And we haven't seen all the detail yet, and we'll look at it, but I'll tell you, when you're going after seniors the way he's already done on Obamacare, taking $700 billion out of Medicare to put into Obamacare, and now coming back at seniors again, I think you're crossing that line very quickly here in terms of denying access to seniors for health care in districts like mine, certainly, and around the country. I think he's going to have a lot of pushback from some of the major senior organizations on this and Republicans, as well.


I would like to know why in the world the Democrats think this is going to work? Last night David Axelrod was pathetic on Rachel's show. His talking points were against the progressives, and he almost showed contempt.

I wonder whose bright idea this was? Wait, I think I know.

Guess what. Chained CPI is the bright idea of Third Way, the Dem policy shop.

Yesterday, the organization Third Way released a plan outlining several Social Security reform proposals meant to ensure the program's solvency over the next 75 years. The plan, called Saving Social Security, makes several fundamental changes to the program and cuts $2 in benefits for every $1 it increases taxes. The authors of the plan describe it as "savings-led" and say that by approaching Social Security reform in a progressive way, it's possible to come up with "a solvency plan that would make Franklin Roosevelt proud".


Now the Republicans can pretend to become the defenders of the elderly when that is very far from what they really are. That's what happens when Democrats latch on to Republican policy and make it our own.

There is no one now really standing up for the left and the liberals. They are all too busy playing their political games.
64 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Obama's support for Social Security cuts allows GOP leaders to become defenders of safety nets. (Original Post) madfloridian Apr 2013 OP
Kabuki. Both corporate parties want to alsame Apr 2013 #1
Obama apparently does (N/T) vi5 Apr 2013 #4
Yes, under the guise of 'saving' it. But the Third alsame Apr 2013 #14
Great job, Mr. Prez Lifelong Protester Apr 2013 #2
Yep. That it does. Autumn Apr 2013 #3
How could ANYBODY have seen that coming?! markpkessinger Apr 2013 #5
Thanks for that information.. I also saw Rachel debate Axelrod last night...He was pathetic. whathehell Apr 2013 #6
Raising the cap is a nonstarter with RebupliCONs, they consider it just xtraxritical Apr 2013 #27
Fine....Then lets just leave it the fuck ALONE whathehell Apr 2013 #39
Hey, I'm the choir! xtraxritical Apr 2013 #48
Good to hear, because, as you may have heard, not everyone's "on board" whathehell Apr 2013 #55
Yes, she did a great job with him. madfloridian Apr 2013 #41
I heard several pundits saying the President was eager to make a deal with Republicans. . . markpkessinger Apr 2013 #7
Amen to that. madfloridian Apr 2013 #43
that sums it up Douglas Carpenter Apr 2013 #59
Yep, that's the game. woo me with science Apr 2013 #8
Thanks for the picture of the "don't vote/donate/volunteer in 2014" crowd. I'll put it to good use. patrice Apr 2013 #36
That angers me when you say that. madfloridian Apr 2013 #47
You know ProSense Apr 2013 #9
Do you see the position we democrats are in now?? We have our Republican 'friends' sabrina 1 Apr 2013 #15
Calling out Repubs for their bullshit doesn't invalidate Democratic bullshit. progressoid Apr 2013 #16
No ProSense Apr 2013 #19
NEWSFLASH --- Touch the third rail: expect to get shocked. progressoid Apr 2013 #21
So both of us are posting DKos articles. They are speaking up over there about cuts. madfloridian Apr 2013 #24
Just as we predicted. I saw that and was not in the least surprised. sabrina 1 Apr 2013 #10
Totally infuriating. madfloridian Apr 2013 #12
Who's the "stupid" party now? no sarcasm. xtraxritical Apr 2013 #28
K&R Jakes Progress Apr 2013 #11
Amazing I got censored for saying just that on another thread. Katashi_itto Apr 2013 #20
It all depends on Jakes Progress Apr 2013 #42
Agree! Katashi_itto Apr 2013 #45
It could be that xtraxritical Apr 2013 #53
The denouement Jakes Progress Apr 2013 #64
Maybe this is some of that Obama "3-dimensional-Chess" I've been hearing so much about. 1-Old-Man Apr 2013 #13
The Left and Liberals are supposed to stand up for themselves in a way that WORKS, instead of patrice Apr 2013 #17
Social Security works and works well. madfloridian Apr 2013 #22
I agree with everything the Left/Liberals say about Social Security. & You are using talking points patrice Apr 2013 #31
What have we gained on the party's journey rightward on education and safety nets? madfloridian Apr 2013 #34
We've gained each other & many more besides, but that's NOT going to work without SOLIDARITY. patrice Apr 2013 #37
It's hard to have solidarity with so many being harmed. madfloridian Apr 2013 #38
They want to behave like the GOP and then are shocked Rex Apr 2013 #58
Why would anyone want solidarity with someone like you that Rex Apr 2013 #57
Exactly - obedience to the leader is the basis of all true SOLIDARITY Douglas Carpenter Apr 2013 #60
nothing to better to change someones mind on an idea is to let them think they thought of it first hockeynut57 Apr 2013 #18
Yes, it is theater matt819 Apr 2013 #23
What's outrageous, but which lots of us saw coming Babel_17 Apr 2013 #25
No, it was not worth it to see that image damaged. Good point. madfloridian Apr 2013 #49
But what about this thought Dyedinthewoolliberal Apr 2013 #26
It proves once again--the Repubs are against ANYTHING that Pres. Obama wants to do. asjr Apr 2013 #33
AND...if the Republicans are now trying to tout themselves as the saviours of SS Sheepshank Apr 2013 #40
I agree. Democrats have never offered to cut Social Security and Medicare since it was created jwirr Apr 2013 #29
If he's serious, then it's not chess anymore. madfloridian Apr 2013 #52
Yes, I wanted a president I could support and work with to get this mess fixed instead I have an jwirr Apr 2013 #61
I'm looking at the crawl on that screen. It says that the President thinks his budget will sabrina 1 Apr 2013 #30
Agree he's a very smart man. But he has lousy advisors. madfloridian Apr 2013 #46
LOL!!! They were talking about privatizing it before! Spitfire of ATJ Apr 2013 #32
Obama has allowed himself to be surrounded Third Doctor Apr 2013 #35
the dems are laying the ground for jeb in 2016. could there be any better demonstration that HiPointDem Apr 2013 #44
And... madfloridian Apr 2013 #50
Daily Kos on top of this issue. Another great McJoan diary today. madfloridian Apr 2013 #51
William Greider has a great article on this issue up at The Nation. madfloridian Apr 2013 #54
And we're supposedly the stupid ones for not understanding what a brilliant political move this HiPointDem Apr 2013 #56
It will be interesting to see how much he will be willing to compromise on this issue? usGovOwesUs3Trillion Apr 2013 #62
kick woo me with science Apr 2013 #63

alsame

(7,784 posts)
14. Yes, under the guise of 'saving' it. But the Third
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 11:50 AM
Apr 2013

Way wants it privatized eventually, just like the GOP. This is the first of the death by 1000 cuts.

Lifelong Protester

(8,421 posts)
2. Great job, Mr. Prez
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 11:03 AM
Apr 2013

This:

Now the Republicans can pretend to become the defenders of the elderly when that is very far from what they really are. That's what happens when Democrats latch on to Republican policy and make it our own.


whathehell

(28,969 posts)
6. Thanks for that information.. I also saw Rachel debate Axelrod last night...He was pathetic.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 11:13 AM
Apr 2013

and I thought she handed his ass to him. I was especially happy

to hear her call him out, repeatedly, on "raising the cap", something

which he had NO good answer for.

I love that woman!

whathehell

(28,969 posts)
39. Fine....Then lets just leave it the fuck ALONE
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 02:59 PM
Apr 2013

You know -- The way 80 percent of Americans in both parties want it!

markpkessinger

(8,381 posts)
7. I heard several pundits saying the President was eager to make a deal with Republicans. . .
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 11:17 AM
Apr 2013

. . . because he is thinking about his "legacy." It occurred to me that the last time a Democratic President started worrying too much about his legacy, we wound up with NAFTA and the repeal of Glass-Steagall.

woo me with science

(32,139 posts)
8. Yep, that's the game.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 11:20 AM
Apr 2013

Buy both parties, polarize the fan bases for them, and then let the divided lemmings take turns defending the unconscionable. It's deviously clever, as long as there are always enough useful idiots* to pull it off.

We will be urged to be all upset about it again when Republicans are in power, but then it will be THEIR turn to circle the wagons and ensure that the bipartisan corporate takeover is protected.

Ever feel like we have been mistaken for lemmings?



*"Useful idiot": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Useful_idiot:

madfloridian

(88,117 posts)
47. That angers me when you say that.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 03:36 PM
Apr 2013

We have always done all of the above. Stop assuming, and stop being so critical when you assume too much.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
9. You know
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 11:27 AM
Apr 2013

"Obama's support for Social Security cuts allows GOP leaders to become defenders of safety nets."

...it's still possible to callout Republicans for their bullshit, that is unless the plan is to help them with their talking points.

But now that Obama has included those things in his budget, Republicans are not only still unwilling to contemplate new revenue; the chair of the NRCC is signaling that Republicans will us it to attack Democrats for “coming back at seniors,” just as they did in 2012 and 2010. In other words, even as Republican Congressional leaders continue to claim we need to cut entitlements, the chair of the committee charged with electing Republicans to the House is simultaneously making it all the harder for this to actually get done by signaling that Dems will pay a heavy political price if they agree to actually do anything along those lines.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/04/10/fiscal-frauds/


sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
15. Do you see the position we democrats are in now?? We have our Republican 'friends'
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 11:55 AM
Apr 2013

telling us that their party is protecting SS and as one of them said, they are 'shocked that the President would harm seniors this way'??? So what do we say to that? Do we lie and say he IS protecting Seniors by cutting their benefits?

Sorry, but I won't lie to defend anyone who proposes cuts to SS and who falsely ties SS to the Deficit.

I used to be able to defeat right wingers on the issues with no problem because we ARE the party of the people, the party that implemented those great programs, SS, Medicare and Medicaid. Now, I will simply not bother engaging them. Let those who think this is some great strategy to show how awful Republicans do so.

This is the third Republican to now claim they will protect SS from Democrats. There will be more, what a great campaign issue for them.

This is what the Third Way has done to the Democratic Party. This has to be what we focus on from now on, ridding the party of these faux democrats.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
19. No
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 12:07 PM
Apr 2013

"Calling out Repubs for their bullshit doesn't invalidate Democratic bullshit."

...it doesn't, but helping them push their talking points isn't exactly calling them out, is it?

House GOP campaign chief doubles down on attack against Obama budget's Social Security cut
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022653873

progressoid

(49,827 posts)
21. NEWSFLASH --- Touch the third rail: expect to get shocked.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 12:20 PM
Apr 2013

I'm not pushing any RW talking points. Unless, FDR was a right winger.

Republicans are attacking this because it is politically expedient. Liberals are attacking it because of the harm it will do to Americans.

madfloridian

(88,117 posts)
24. So both of us are posting DKos articles. They are speaking up over there about cuts.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 12:39 PM
Apr 2013

You posted Jed's diary, I posted Joan's.

Two good articles in support of Soc. Sec.

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
10. Just as we predicted. I saw that and was not in the least surprised.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 11:31 AM
Apr 2013

What would any politician do when handed such a magnificent opportunity they could have only dreamed of up to now???

He and Bachmann now claiming the Republicans will NOT harm seniors.


He is SHOCKED, he said, that the President would 'harm Seniors' and that they will NEVER do such a thing!!

Did we not predict this, it was so obvious a result of this insane proposal.

I agree with you Madfloridian, it is totally infuriating that Democrats have worked so hard for this party only to be placed now in this position of being accused of wanting to harm seniors. Unbelievable.

Jakes Progress

(11,121 posts)
11. K&R
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 11:35 AM
Apr 2013

As always, insightful and germane.

The only question is whether the president and his advisors are too dumb and too inexperienced to have seen this or whether they are part of the right wing program. Stupid or evil? Don't you just hate when that happens?

(Of course their is the very possible alternative that they are both.)

 

xtraxritical

(3,576 posts)
53. It could be that
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 07:51 PM
Apr 2013

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.

Jakes Progress

(11,121 posts)
64. The denouement
Mon Apr 15, 2013, 03:41 PM
Apr 2013

will be biggest campaign issue for republicans in the midterms. They have already begun. Their strategy is to tell seniors to vote in more republicans to keep Obama from cutting SS. It was a stupid move on the part of the administration.

patrice

(47,992 posts)
17. The Left and Liberals are supposed to stand up for themselves in a way that WORKS, instead of
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 12:07 PM
Apr 2013

trying to destroy everything and EVERYONE else in order to build their own base for an agenda THAT THEY CAN'T DELIVER FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF DECADES, ****IF**** THEN.

madfloridian

(88,117 posts)
22. Social Security works and works well.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 12:25 PM
Apr 2013

I am so tired of hearing about the "liberals" and their outrageous expectations. That is just right wing talk which has crept into the Democratic party speak via DLC and Third Way false centrism.

This stuff happens every time we the people of the Democratic party expect common sense things to happen.

You are using talking points that are geared to keep the left in its place.

patrice

(47,992 posts)
31. I agree with everything the Left/Liberals say about Social Security. & You are using talking points
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 01:13 PM
Apr 2013

Last edited Thu Apr 11, 2013, 02:16 PM - Edit history (1)

that reward people for staying home in 2014, IOW, "My way or the highway" and the highway IS what you and everything that you want (which, BTW, is pretty much exactly what I want too) are going to get.

The ends DO NOT justify the means and when YOUR means hurt people who did not get a chance to make their own free choices about the pain that YOU are delivering, that makes you no better than the oppressor you claim to be struggling against.

....................

Read up on alternative energy news, madfloridian, NOTHING is going to work except: 1. GET RID OF A BUNCH OF PEOPLE (& I'll give you just one guess who THAT'S going to be); and/or 2. As many people as possible need to move in together to reduce and share energy resources.

WHICH of those two solutions is quicker and more feasible politically and economically?

OBVIOUSLY 1. is, so that's what destruction of the basically socialistically* inclined "democracy" that we have going on right now will produce and destruction of the socialistically inclined "democracy" (that IS being fucked over by corporate personhood) is what will be delivered by what calls itself "the Left", under the AUTHORITARIAN influence of Libertarians and Anarchists, WILL DELIVER.

Mark my words, there ARE those amongst what calls itself "the Left" who see 1. as a perfectly justifiable means to the end of "saving Earth" and oh so coincidentally, themselves, which they'll actually fail at because they and their very own citizens of the archipelagos will throw away so much value that it is possible that what comes next also will not be viable, or it will be viable for less and less and less and richer and richer and richer people, eating up yet another whole class of SERFS, until Earth's climate stabilizes.

In short, what calls itself "the Left" is selling BULLSHIT under popular marketing labels directed at younger generations' responses to FADS. It's another "man behind the curtain" with its own objectives that you and a bunch of other people are ASSUMING are the same as yours and, whereas some short term stuff may look satisfactory to you, the END GAME is the same as the 1%'s. They're just buying a different set of serfs.

...............................

What we need is TIME! Time to make 2. happen and people who pedal propaganda from what calls itself "the Left" and actively promote staying home in 2014, or working AGAINST Democrats, ARE THROWING AT LEAST A COUPLE OF DECADES AWAY. They are not admitting that. You're supposed to believe "Presto Chango = Egalitarian Paradise with exactly whatever your dreams are about all of that in full effect." Don't believe me? Press them on these issues and see how much you're included with the in-kids "Leftie" hipsters after you ask the wrong QUESTIONS.

Just like the oppressor, what calls itself "the Left" will tell you whatever you want to hear AND very likely WILL fail at what they say they are up to anyway, because whatever they create will STILL run on nothing but MONEY and OIL.

.................

* And if you doubt that we are a socialistically inclined "democracy", look up figures on how many people in the entire population receive some form of GOVERNMENT/TAX money of somekind (haven't seen this stuff for a while, but I recall it being something close to a quarter of all individuals, throw in the way that we subsidize Wall Street and we have nearly full on socialism going on, socialism that's schizoid because of capitalist leeches who are LYING about how things work). I'm NOT against individuals receiving government support, but ours is a WARPED kind of socialism, with the WRONG kind of power structures because of FLAWS IN OUR CONSTITUTION that allow things like government subsidized Corporate Personhood LIARS, so the socialism is tilted toward corporations, and gets called capitalism, a lie (hence the Libertarian angst).

Do you think we should throw away ALL of the ground we have gained and start over with nothing? That's what calls itself "the Left" wants and it has it's own corporate persons to make that happen.

madfloridian

(88,117 posts)
34. What have we gained on the party's journey rightward on education and safety nets?
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 01:31 PM
Apr 2013

Those are two vital issues for me. We are going backwards in those two areas.

You put a lot of stuff on me that I have not said. Things I have not advocated at all.

My big gripe here is setting the stage for Republicans to pretend to stand up for things Democrats have stood for traditionally.

madfloridian

(88,117 posts)
38. It's hard to have solidarity with so many being harmed.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 01:57 PM
Apr 2013

I think it's a mistake giving the GOP this opening.

I am seeing the public education of America being quickly taken over by corporations. I am seeing my party advocate cuts for seniors when none are necessary.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
58. They want to behave like the GOP and then are shocked
Fri Apr 12, 2013, 03:17 AM
Apr 2013

when we laugh at their 'big tent' garbage and bullwhip. Many don't want the Left at all involved. Fine. Be losers, I think I am about done caring for Centrist-Righters on this site or the RAH RAH crowd. They seem to have nothing to add to the conversation.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
57. Why would anyone want solidarity with someone like you that
Fri Apr 12, 2013, 03:14 AM
Apr 2013

sounds like they hate the Left? The main problem is we won't shut up about reality and you cannot handle it at all.

Sorry if these notions are beyond your understanding.

matt819

(10,749 posts)
23. Yes, it is theater
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 12:37 PM
Apr 2013

And you can just picture the GOP campaigns in 2014: Obama doesn't care about you, my constituents; he wanted to cut SS.

Are we ever in Bizarro world??!

Babel_17

(5,400 posts)
25. What's outrageous, but which lots of us saw coming
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 12:40 PM
Apr 2013

is the respect the media shows to Republicans advancing the argument that they are the protectors of SS.

That's how our MSM has been operating for a long time, Republicans don't get called out on living in their own reality, and it's gotten worse since Bush II.

KISS (Keep IT Simple, Stupid): We, the defenders of our safety net. Them, ruthless slashers of the safety net.

Was it worth it to see that damaged?

madfloridian

(88,117 posts)
49. No, it was not worth it to see that image damaged. Good point.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 04:37 PM
Apr 2013

Democrats ARE the defenders of the safety nets....and yes that image is now damaged.

Dyedinthewoolliberal

(15,485 posts)
26. But what about this thought
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 12:51 PM
Apr 2013

that now the Republicans, trying to prive they are not heartless bastards, have started to publicly defend SSI and Medicare, how can they deny keeping those programs healthy now? ALl along they have hated those programs, now they are defending them.
It could be more veiled strategy on the part of the White House. It IS possible is what I'm saying.

asjr

(10,479 posts)
33. It proves once again--the Repubs are against ANYTHING that Pres. Obama wants to do.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 01:26 PM
Apr 2013

I feel this is his strategy. I do not think for a minute he is going to mess with SS. And those Republicans who jumped on it prematurely are being laughed at.

 

Sheepshank

(12,504 posts)
40. AND...if the Republicans are now trying to tout themselves as the saviours of SS
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 03:09 PM
Apr 2013

they will be relying on the fact that Ryan NEVER said he would try and privitize it (watch that talking point be re-visited).

In a addition, as the new found saviours of the program, how can they possible vote to do anything but protect it?

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
29. I agree. Democrats have never offered to cut Social Security and Medicare since it was created
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 01:06 PM
Apr 2013

and we have now lost the high ground even if he is playing chess with it and has no intention of cutting them.

madfloridian

(88,117 posts)
52. If he's serious, then it's not chess anymore.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 06:18 PM
Apr 2013

Surely is putting us in a bind trying to support his position.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
61. Yes, I wanted a president I could support and work with to get this mess fixed instead I have an
Fri Apr 12, 2013, 01:59 PM
Apr 2013

austerity president who i cannot trust.

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
30. I'm looking at the crawl on that screen. It says that the President thinks his budget will
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 01:10 PM
Apr 2013

cut the deficit by 2 trillion. What part of his budget will do that? Cutting SS will do nothing to cut the deficit because it had nothing to do with the deficit. Is it possible he doesn't know this? And if he does, then why did he include SS in any budget with the goal of reducing the deficit??

Either he has extremely bad economic advisers or putting SS into the budget had nothing to do with the deficit. He's a smart man so the latter has to be true. And then the question is, what is trying to do here?

madfloridian

(88,117 posts)
46. Agree he's a very smart man. But he has lousy advisors.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 03:34 PM
Apr 2013

Methinks he is listening to the think tank policy shops too much.

Third Doctor

(1,574 posts)
35. Obama has allowed himself to be surrounded
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 01:41 PM
Apr 2013

by his rightfully pissed off base and now by his enemies. Whatever capital he had has slipped away. The GOP has actually for once done the smart strategic thing. A lot of idiots in this country don't remember that they have GOP people like Paul Ryan who wants destroy the safety net all together and will side the Repubs now. Even if Obama backs off the damage has been done.


If Obama had ran on this in 2012 he would have had a harder time being reelected. I can't defend him this time. Not this time...

 

HiPointDem

(20,729 posts)
44. the dems are laying the ground for jeb in 2016. could there be any better demonstration that
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 03:21 PM
Apr 2013

the parties trade the presidency back & forth between them?

madfloridian

(88,117 posts)
51. Daily Kos on top of this issue. Another great McJoan diary today.
Thu Apr 11, 2013, 05:29 PM
Apr 2013
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/04/11/1201044/-About-that-chained-CPI-bump-for-the-most-vulnerable

The White House is in damage control mode after President Obama's budget with its Social Security cuts has been greeted with near-universal scorn. (Joe Scarborough's on their side, so they've got that going for them.)

While they're regrouping at the moment, they'll soon be beyond the "Republicans made us do it" narrative and move on to why these benefit cuts aren't so bad and how they will protect the most vulnerable with a "bump" in benefits. How this works is that after so many years of retirement or disability payments (in the Simpson-Bowles proposal this was cribbed from, it's 20 years) along with years of compounded chained CPI cuts, the oldest and the poorest will get a "bump" in benefits. That's how they'll mitigate for the cuts that they say aren't really cuts. (Update: The WH fact sheet outlines that the bump will occur after 10 years for retirees, 15 for disabled.)

madfloridian

(88,117 posts)
54. William Greider has a great article on this issue up at The Nation.
Fri Apr 12, 2013, 12:18 AM
Apr 2013
http://www.thenation.com/blog/173771/will-voters-forgive-obama-cutting-social-security#

President Obama has riled loyal Democrats by tossing Social Security onto the table in his poker game with Republicans. Not to worry. I think I know how this story ends. A year from now, when the 2014 congressional campaigns are hot underway, Republicans will be running against Obama-the-slasher and promising to protect Social Security from the bloodthirsty Democrats.

By then, having lost on his too-cute strategy, the president will be reduced to lamely reassuring old folks. Really, he didn’t actually intend to cut their benefits, really he didn’t. It was just a ploy to get tightwad conservatives to give in a little on tax increases. Republicans can pull out the videotapes in which Obama and team explain their high-minded purpose—sacrificing the Democratic party’s sacred honor in order to get Republicans to play nice.

Forget about that. House Speaker John Boehner promptly brushed off Obama’s gambit. If the president wants to whack Social Security, Boehner suggested he can do it, but don’t expect the GOP to collaborate in such a plot. “If the president believes these modest entitlement savings are needed to shore up these programs, there is no reason they should be held hostage for more tax hikes,” Boehner said.

The president set this trap himself; now Boehner will spring it on him. Does Obama not remember how Democrats lost control of the House back in 2010? The party got very little credit for enacting health care reform because the Republicans had already demonized the accomplishment as a threat to the much-beloved program of Medicare. The rightwingers promised to save Medicare from bloodthirsty Democrats by repealing Obama’s new reform program. This was all a ridiculous lie, of course, but the White House declined to call out the liars. Instead, Obama responded with flowers. This time, he is taking Republicans out to dinner.
 

HiPointDem

(20,729 posts)
56. And we're supposedly the stupid ones for not understanding what a brilliant political move this
Fri Apr 12, 2013, 03:07 AM
Apr 2013

is, how Obama is going to turn this into a victory for the democratic party and the people if we just wait long enough.

SOMEONE JUST TOLD ME SO IN ALL CAPS.

 

usGovOwesUs3Trillion

(2,022 posts)
62. It will be interesting to see how much he will be willing to compromise on this issue?
Fri Apr 12, 2013, 02:46 PM
Apr 2013

Or, conversely, how much he will stick to his "guns"?

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Obama's support for Socia...