Top Senator: Dems Better Not Give An Inch In New Social Security Fight

[kpete]

Top Senator: Dems Better Not Give An Inch In New Social Security Fight :

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/d...

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee's Social Security subcommittee, said that Democrats shouldn't be willing to negotiate after House Republicans have stated outright that they want to pursue changes to the program.

Brown also expressed confidence that President Barack Obama would hold strong on Social Security, despite concerns among Social Security advocates that the president has shown a willingness to negotiate over the program in the past.

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"This is a bunch of people, congressman and senators, they're paid well, who have good government benefits, and they don't know many people who are on disability," Brown said. "They talk about them that way, and it's pretty shameful."

"The way to beat this stuff back is to shine a light on it and let people draw their conclusions," he continued. "Why would members of Congress go after disabled people? I think they lose the public debate decisively on this."



MORE:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/sherrod-brown-social-security-fight

[BlueCaliDem]

1. Well, this is what we get when we don't go out and vote and Republicans win more power.

They don't give two shiites about tax cuts for Americans who are not at the upper echelons of society. They don't give two shiites about jobs or the environment or peace or equality in any way. They only care about $$$ for themselves, and what they get through their exuberantly wealthy moneymasters when they come through on their promises to give them a larger share of taxpayer dollars.

Can the American people understand now why it's so important to vote Democratic Party even when we don't always agree with the Democrats in Congress?

Elections have consequences. When Republicans take control of Congress - and it's no secret that they've been trying to dismantle Social Security and Medicare from the moment these programs were signed into law - they're going to go after every social safety net program they can with razor-sharp carving knives until nothing is left over.

Democrats, no matter how conservative or "moderate" we opine them to be, will NEVER do that.

So next time we hear people hemming and hawing that "both Parties are the same", disabuse them of that myth by reminding them of the above.

[jwirr]

3. Oh, IMO it is going to take a bit more losing before those who think not voting is a form of

protest to see what staying home gets them.

[Bandit]

5. Americans had a great hope in 2008 that fizzled "Big Time" and since then have just plain

given up... They came out in droves and voted overwhelmingly for a Democratic form of governance. They did not get it even in the slightest. Now they have given up. It just does not seem to matter to them. No matter what they try they still get Republicans demanding everything done their way and Democrats knuckling under... wish it weren't so but the evidence does not lie..

[BlueCaliDem]

6. Really? They gave this president two years to undo thirty years of crap policy?

Because they punished him only two years into his first term by giving the House and many State gov'ts to Teabaggers and Republicans, putting themselves even further away from their liberal goals, right? How stupid is that?

Americans need to learn that instant gratification isn't the way to go or they'll always be disappointed in slow-moving gov't. It's also unrealistic and immature to expect instant change because contrary to myth that Barack is a Magic N***o, he's not.President Obama doesn't really own a magic wand. Trust me.

Nothing "fizzled", as you propagate. President Obama's priorities changed. There's a difference.

When he came into office he was faced with just how horrendous our economy was failing. Despite that, he still got health care reform through, killed bin Laden, stopped the war in Iraq and pulled us out, stopped other attacks on us, eradicated DOMA and DADT permanently (as opposed with a temporary E.O.), kept his Justice Dept from fighting the challenge before SCOTUS to nullify Prop 8, brought the economy back with 58 consecutive months of positive job growth, watched as the DOW reached unprecedented heights at 18,000, stopped deporting DREAMers, put single-payer into ObamaCare for citizens to petition their State gov'ts to implement, expanded Medicare to include more people, cut taxes on the working poor and the middle class, saved and/or created jobs with his Stimulus, raised taxes on those making $400k per year...I mean, really? Fizzled out "Big Time"?? Come on.

[Bandit]

7. It wasn't the President they "punished"

Democrats simply did not deliver, so people that voted for them gave up. There was no "punishment", simply no longer willing to play the game...Obama can not do much all by himself. It takes the entire Party and together their actions were deemed a failure.. Gitmo remains open to this day and a majority of "Democrats" voted to keep it that way. Bush*/Cheney get a free pass on their war crimes. Bush*'s tax cuts for the wealthy stayed in place the entire first term of Obama. No single Payer or even Public Option.. Almost EVERYTHING the Democrats ran on in 2008, they neglected to do when they had large majorities.. Name something besides Obama care that Democrats ran on that they actually accomplished or even tried to accomplish.. One thing....

[BlueCaliDem]

8. Yeah. Gave up. After two WHOLE years. Those Dems were sloooooow. Couldn't do it in a day?

Couldn't turn a recession into peace and prosperity within 24 hours? Yeah. Democrats deserved to lose power in the House because the Republicans would do a MUCH better job, right?

Again, the American people need to stop demanding unrealistic things from their government - like a speedy recovery. That was on the American people's minds as they watched jobs die by the hundreds of thousands per month in 2008-2009. This is why they voted overwhelmingly for Democrats in 2008 - it was still all about the economy.

Unfortunately, that wishlist expanded the moment Dems got majorities in Congress and the White House, and unfortunately too many still don't understand that the slow pace had everything to do with focused obstructionism from the GOP who were still in both chambers of Congress that hamstrung the president's agenda. Nancy Pelosi passed 440 bills that were very liberal and good for the country, but those bills died in the Senate through parliamentary tricks and the abuse of filibusters.

Name something besides Obama care that Democrats ran on that they actually accomplished or even tried to accomplish.. One thing....

I gave you plenty of things Dems ran on and actually accomplished, and you still ask for one more? It'll never be enough for you, will it, Bandit? It'll never be good enough. There's no satisfying a perpetually dissatisfied person, so I'm not even going to try anymore. Reread my last post to you to brush up on what Dems, without any help from Republicans, have ran on and have accomplished although I doubt it would change your mind, even a little.

[Bandit]

9. I reckon most voters feel quite differently than you do.

They are the ones that matter, not you.. I am confident you will vote but I am not confident many others will follow suit. You want to place blame on me, well go ahead. I am only saying what millions feel..They feel let down. Maybe you do not and that is great. But there is more to America than just you.

[TheNutcracker]

2. The congressional seats are gerrymandered. Congressional seats cost so much to win.

You are also asked to 'sell out' once you win the primary. If you don't play ball, you won't get elected.

[TheNutcracker]

4. PS. Maybe we should have real liberals run as republicans? Once in office, VIOLA!