The Fix is in at National Public Radio on SS & Medicare cuts

[99th_Monkey]

I was listening to NPR while on a recent road trip, but I don't remember
the exact program. It was a witty, urbane, hour-long hodge podge of
music, poetry, skits and political commentary, aired during the day.

The anchor introduced a guy they said was the "past administrator for
Social Security Administration who is also a poet"; saying that he had
a poem to share, but first he has this to say, "Obama is doing the right
thing regarding SS and Medicare, and he won't be hurt politically by
supporting the chained CPI"; then later he shared a 4 line mediocre
haiku poem he'd penned. I couldn't believe my ears.

Not that I am under any illusions about NPR still being "progressive" but
still, it was the slick easy insertion of this guy into a radio program so
obviously aimed at intellectuals and hipsters that was stunning to me,
like they were slipping a mickey into my drink, hoping I didn't notice.

[limpyhobbler]

1. You mean this piece of crap...?

The lies are even embedded in the wording of the questions.

http://m.npr.org/news/Politics/176670289

MARTIN: Overall, you have been - at least since you left office - you've been critical of the way national leaders have addressed the question of Social Security in general. For people who haven't been familiar with your earlier conversation with me or other interviews you've given, could you just tell us overall what is the problem and why is it that people like yourself feel that our national leadership, both Democrats and Republicans, both in the White House and in Congress, need to take this more seriously?

ASTRUE: Sure. Social Security is the most successful government domestic program ever, in my judgment. And it's gone a long way toward eradicating poverty among the elderly, which was well over 50 percent in 1935. And so I think it deserves a look as a system. You know, I give President Obama some credit for taking on a hard issue and I don't want to be unduly critical.
...
And it's overdue and I really think that the president and the Congress should be doing this and I think the media and the public should be pressing Congress and the president to take on Social Security reform.

MARTIN: What's your sense of what the politics are of the president putting this proposal forward? I mean, as we know that some of his allies in the Democratic Party, among progressives, are not pleased with this, don't really know whether people on the other side of the aisle will find this credible. What is your sense of the politics of this going forward?

ASTRUE: Well, certainly, the politics from the president's point of view are relatively unproblematic. The president had that off-mic moment where he thought he was off mic with the president of Russia last year where he said, well, I can do certain things in a second term that I can't do now. And he was right about that. He was right about that in foreign policy. He's right about that in domestic policy.

So, right now, you know, the groups can complain and they will, but there's really, I think, very little consequence for the president taking this step at this moment. The groups that are most upset and are most adamant that there never be any cuts - they're not going to walk away from the president and they're probably not going to be voting for, say, Marco Rubio or Rob Portman in 2016, so there'll be a lot of public vitriol, but I don't think there's any real risk to the president, politically.

[99th_Monkey]

5. Yep. You nailed it. Thanks for posting this in it's entirety ~nt

[diabeticman]

2. NPR at least in my area has been right leaning for a few years. We only listen to

weekend shows

[Cleita]

3. Some of NPRs major contributors are billionaires like the Koch Bros, PBS too.

That is why many of the shows slip in a propaganda message here and there bolstering Heritage Foundation talking points. Don't believe them. Enjoy the witty chit chat but question every political statement made.

[Vinnie From Indy]

4. I heard the same broadcast on my headphones while hiking.

I remember sitting down on a rock overlooking a beautiful stream and saying out loud 'bullshit"! That poet guy they had on was full of shit. I think it was Terry Gross that hosted the discussion. The elephant in the room was the fact that nowhere in the discussion of altering Social Security did anyone mention raising the cap on income taxed nor did anyone mention that SS does not take money from the national budget.

The lack of including hugely relevant aspects of the discussion of SS is quite noticeable. One would think intelligent broadcasters like Gross would bring these issues forward.

Cheers!

[99th_Monkey]

8. Exactly

NOR was there ANY mention of the fact that SS has NOTHING .. NOTHING to
do with the deficit; rather it was focused on like it was THE problem threatening
to bankrupt America. This guy must have been an Bush appointee.

[QC]

6. NPR = Nice Polite Republicans.

[marions ghost]

7. And THIS insidious messaging is why

we must NOT be quiet about this.

Call Dem congressionals and 202-456-1111 (White House comment line)

RIGHT FFFFING NOW

[carolinayellowdog]

9. Diane Rehm is still good, but ATC especially and Morning Edition somewhat have become unlistenable

She had Dean Baker to discuss CPI.