Clinton on Social Security and raising taxes in 2008

[cali]

Trust? She hasn't earned it on economic issues.

During her 2008 presidential bid, Clinton was relatively non-committal about reforms to the Social Security program. She said in 2007 that certain reforms such as cutting benefits, privatizing the program or raising the retirement age were "off the table." There were some articles at the time that gave mixed signals on whether she would be willing to increase payroll taxes.

One account from the Associated Press featured a conversation between a campaigning Clinton and an Iowa voter in which the candidate said she might consider committing more of workers' income to Social Security. "She told him she didn't want to put an additional tax burden on the middle class but would consider a 'gap,' with no Social Security taxes on income from $97,500 to around $200,000. Anything above that could be taxed," according to the article.

Ultimately, Clinton officially shied away from the increase in taxes, and stuck with official comments that revolved around improving the economy overall.

Source: Megan R. Wilson in TheHill.com weblog, "Clinton vs. Warren" , Aug 24, 2014
http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Hillary_Clinton_Social_Security.htm

This kind of crap is why so many of us here at DU don't trust her, or her purported evolution on issue after issue.

And then there's this from the 2008 debates:

<snip>
http://michael-hudson.com/2008/04/resurrecting-greenspan-hillary-joins-the-vast-rightwing-financial-conspiracy/


OBAMA: Well, Charlie, what I’ve said is that I would look at raising the capital gains tax for purposes of fairness. We saw an article today which showed that the top 50 hedge fund managers made $29 billion last year – $29 billion for 50 individuals. And part of what has happened is that those who are able to work the stock market and amass huge fortunes on capital gains are paying a lower tax rate than their secretaries. That’s not fair.

… I want businesses to thrive and I want people to be rewarded for their success. But what I also want to make sure is that our tax system is fair and that we are able to finance health care for Americans who currently don’t have it and that we’re able to invest it in our infrastructure and invest in our schools.

CLINTON: … I don’t want to take one more penny of tax money from anybody.”

MODERATOR: Would you say, ‘No, I’m not going to raise capital gains taxes’?

CLINTON: I wouldn’t raise it above the 20 percent if I raised it at all. I would not raise it above what it was during the Clinton administration.

… I don’t want to raise taxes on anybody. I’m certainly against one of Senator Obama’s ideas, which is to lift the cap on the payroll tax, because that would impose additional taxes on people who are, you know, educators here in the Philadelphia area or in the suburbs, police officers, firefighters and the like. So I think we have to be very careful about how we navigate this. So the $250,000 mark is where I am sure we’re going. But beyond that, we’re going to have to look and see where we are.

[NYC_SKP]

1. Read my lips....

CLINTON: … I don’t want to take one more penny of tax money from anybody.”

[boston bean]

2. Did you read your OP?

She said in 2007 that certain reforms such as cutting benefits, privatizing the program or raising the retirement age were "off the table."

If she was against it then, how can you say she is still for raising the retirement age?

[MineralMan]

8. Downthread, she says she "read it wrong."

That happens, I guess...

[MineralMan]

3. In your own post, she said that raising the age was "off the table"

Nowhere in what you quoted did she say anything else about raising the age for collecting Social Security.

Did you leave something out? Did she ever say that she thought the age should be raised?

Please be consistent in your posts. If you claim something in the title, at least support your claim in the content. You have not done that in this case.

ETA: Thank you for changing the title of your post, at least.

Here is your original title, just for reference: "Does HRC still think raising the retirement age for SS should be on the table?"

[cali]

4. yes, I read it wrong. I've corrected it.

Now how about her answers on taxes?

[MineralMan]

6. Maybe you read that wrong, too.

I don't know.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. Pardon my French but I come here for shit and grins and to meet some nice folks

Pardon my French but I come here for shit and grins and to meet some nice folks... I give the comments here as much credence as the comments I see at Bleacher Reports, ESPN, and Yahoo Sports.

[MineralMan]

17. I tend to take political discussion seriously.

I don't like inaccurate comments, altered statements and post titles that are directly contradicted in the actual quoted material.

Sometimes such things are simple errors. Other times they're intentional. I will point them out whenever they happen, though. Accuracy is important.

OTOH, there are plenty of shits and giggles to be found on DU, to be sure.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

20. Sports is my other passion.

I see the same irrational adoration and hate for sports figures on message boards that I see here.

[MineralMan]

21. My interest in sports is minimal.

My interest in politics is very strong.

[sabrina 1]

30. You don't like inaccurate comments or altered statements?

You won't mind then, since you intend to 'point them out' as you say, if we see some statements that appear to be questionable, that we point them out also?

Cali, eg, with whom I do not always agree, has a long reputation here of posting honestly, and when she makes an error, will correct it. I have never known her to distort, delete in order to hide anything that might be embarrassing, or provide false statements intentionally.

So I take exception to such an accusation against someone we have known for a long time with a long record we can look at.

I believe you owe her an apology for your implications especially considering, and I am sure you will agree, that she has far more credibility here than some of those who are jumping on an honest mistake.

Sometimes it's best, and I believe this was stated before, not to point fingers at others unless we ourselves are perfect.

[AJH032]

5. When did HRC consider privatizing social security an option?

And just that she was willing to consider privatizing Social Security, is horrifying.

I have no recollection of this, and I have been following politics for a very long time. Honest question, I just don't recall that.

[MineralMan]

7. She never considered that. It was "off the table."

Apparently the OP misread the quote she posted. "On" and "off" start with the same letter, after all.

[AJH032]

12. Got it, thanks

[sabrina 1]

31. Where does Hillary stand on the Chained CPI?

Bernie we know has spoken passionately about what a moral failure it would be. I have looked for Hillary's position on this but could not find it.

[NYC_SKP]

10. Nowhere does the OP say that she did.

Last edited Tue May 19, 2015, 01:58 PM - Edit history (1)

Do a word search for the word and here's the singular mention of it:

During her 2008 presidential bid, Clinton was relatively non-committal about reforms to the Social Security program. She said in 2007 that certain reforms such as cutting benefits, privatizing the program or raising the retirement age were "off the table." There were some articles at the time that gave mixed signals on whether she would be willing to increase payroll taxes.

Her problem is that she thinks that ~$100,000 to ~250,000 is "middle class", and that's in 2008.

She mentions educators. Well, that simply isn't true for school teachers, that's an admin salary.

The candidate doesn't even know what middle class is.

She's a loser. She is going to lose. She lost me and I hope that she loses other ordinary and smart voters.

This is primary season and we need to pick a winner. Sanders.

EDIT to add video:

https://vimeo.com/128282984

[AJH032]

11. It did originally; post was edited

I did a copy/paste. Confusion has been cleared.

[MineralMan]

13. Here's the original title of the OP:

"Does HRC still think raising the retirement age for SS should be on the table?"

The post has been edited, due to people pointing out that she had it wrong. If you click "Thread Info" under the OP, you can see all of the edits.

Replies in this thread were made after reading the original version. I'm not about to go back and change my replies. What was said is still available to read.

[NYC_SKP]

22. Good, OP is a good DUer. Now WTF with Hillary Clinton who thinks that $245K/year is middle class?

Back to the discussion.

You might want to Google Search for video of Hillary: Flashback 2008 Hillary Clinton Opposes Obama's New Tax Plan

Obama wanted to raise the cap, Hillary did not, fearing for those poor middle class educators making up to $250,000 per year.

Yah, all the teachers I know are rolling in dough.

Get real, she ain't one of us.

[MineralMan]

23. I only entered this thread to correct the OP title.

I'm not a huge fan of the OP, frankly, as you may already know. I correct her errors when they occur.

At this point, I'm waiting for Hillary Clinton to address all issues as of 2015, not 2008. Currently, I'm supporting Senator Sanders. I do not know her position on the SS cap in 2015. Seven years is an eternity in politics.

[sabrina 1]

32. And as I said, we will correct yours. You wrongfully accused the OP of being dishonest. That is

false. I have vehemently disagreed with her and will in the future I am sure, but have NEVER found her to be dishonest. She does not need you to follow her around 'correcting' her. I find that to be very creepy frankly.

[progree]

25. You will have to ask Bernie. He's for the upper middle class no-SS-tax gap too

(or lower upper class gap -- anyway in his bill there won't be any SS tax on income between $118,500 and $250,000)

Sanders Files Bill to Strengthen, Expand Social Security
Thursday, March 12, 2015

“The most effective way to strengthen Social Security for the future is to eliminate the cap on the payroll tax on all income above $250,000 so millionaires and billionaires pay the same share as everyone else.”

... Sanders’ measure would make the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share. Under current law, the amount of income subject to the payroll tax is capped at $118,500. That means someone making millions of dollars a year pays the same amount in payroll taxes as some making $118,500 a year. The legislation would subject all income over $250,000 to the payroll tax. Doing so would impact only the top 1.5 percent of wage earners, the Center for Economic Policy Research has estimated.

The bill also would subject unearned household income above $250,000 to the same 6.2 percent tax as applies to most earned income. The top 0.1 percent of Americans gets about half of all capital gains income.

Asking the wealthiest Americans to contribute more into Social Security, would not only extend the solvency of Social Security through 2060, it also would allow Social Security benefits to be expanded for millions of Americans.

...The bill would:

Increase Social Security benefits by about $65 a month for most recipients.

Increase cost-of-living Adjustments for Social Security recipients.

Provide a minimum Social Security benefit to significantly reduce the senior poverty rate.

Social Security today has a $2.8 trillion surplus and will be able to pay all promised benefits until 2033, after which it will be able to pay around 75 percent of all promised benefits. The Social Security Expansion Act would increase revenue and extend the solvency of Social Security for the next 45 years.

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-calls-on-congress-to-strengthen-and-expand-social-security

[sabrina 1]

33. Hillary lives in a different world. I WISH that was middle class income. But many of our Reps are so

out of touch with the American people. After being inside the DC bubble for so long, I imagine it distorts one's view of the real world.

[NCTraveler]

18. Originally from the op.

"Trust? She hasn't earned it on economic issues. And just that she was willing to consider privatizing Social Security, is horrifying."

The truth has little significance.

[NYC_SKP]

9. Here's the actual video of the exchange regarding no new taxes and the SS cap:

She is so out of touch, it's unbelievable.

Out of touch then, even more out of touch now.

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=2yttnqu%3E&s=8#.VVtmZ-f3D0A

[NCTraveler]

14. Sounds good.

Pretty clear why she has so much support on our side.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. She is going to make a fine president

She marries toughness to common sense and compassion.

[NCTraveler]

19. She does. No equivocating with this line from the op.

"She said in 2007 that certain reforms such as cutting benefits, privatizing the program or raising the retirement age were "off the table."

Pretty sure that has support from 100% of posters on du.

[eloydude]

27. And there's this..

https://vimeo.com/128282984

[progree]

28. That sounds truly wonderful and all that, but, so, what's her plan to close the S.S. funding gap?

"She said in 2007 that certain reforms such as cutting benefits, privatizing the program or raising the retirement age were "off the table."

Pretty sure that has support from 100% of posters on du.

Not this poster on DU. Not for what's off the table, but that we're not hearing any possible solutions from her. There are other excerpts saying she doesn't want to raise taxes either -- the only remaining solution.

According to the Social Security trustees' latest report, the SS trust fund exhaustion is expected around 2033, at which time, benefits will be reduced by 25% unless the law is changed. (And the projected trust fund exhaustion date has been advancing in recent years, for example, in 2002 it was projected to occur in 2041).

So what is she proposing? Is she just going to blather wonderful-sounding drivel that says precisely exactly nothing, and by doing literally absolutely nothing, let benefits be cut by 25% when the trust fund runs out?

So far I haven't seen any proposals at all from her in this thread or in the thread "Hillary Clinton on Workers Rights, Labor Unions, and the Social Security Tax Cap" http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026689176

other than fleetingly telling an Iowa voter that she would consider raising the maximum income cap, but that

"Ultimately, Clinton officially shied away from the increase in taxes, and stuck with official comments that revolved around improving the economy overall." -- http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Hillary_Clinton_Social_Security.htm

[aspirant]

29. She marries who and what?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

36. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley and a Doctor Of Jurisprudence from Yale

She was the youngest member of the Senate Watergate Committee...

She wasn't about to work in a nail salon.

First Lady, two term senator from one of the most populous states of the union and the financial center of the world, Secretary of State, she is the most qualified candidate for president since Lyndon Johnson.

Next.

[sabrina 1]

35. Her support is shrinking. Down from the usual 80% or so we've been seeing for months here to

just under 60%. Those polls of course are only from the Dem base. No one can win an election with only half of their own base. Bernie's polls have been steadily rising as people get to know him. Again I'm only talking about registered Dems.

The largest voting bloc in the country is the Independent vote, now between 42% and 46% which is an historical level of non partisan voters.

THAT is what Sanders is going to get. No conventional candidate will get that vote since most of it consists of voters who have fled both parties.

Bernie is also showing he has crossover appeal. No polls on the Indy vote so I wouldn't be touting the Dem vote to show 'huge support'.

Only 32% of registered voters are Dems right now, down from over 40% in 2008. So 60% of one third of registered voters is not something to get excited about especially as it is a drop with the entrance of other choices in the race.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

37. Please show me one nationwide poll where...

Please show me one nationwide poll where eighty percent of Democratic voters said they would vote for Hillary Clinton against a named Democratic challenger.


Please show me one poll that suggests Bernie Sanders has "crossover appeal."


Thank you in advance.

BTW, party identification is somewhat fluid... It's not a fixed variable like race or gender. I assure you that 2016 exit polls will demonstrate that Democrats are more than 32% of the electorate.

[dawg]

24. To be fair, Clinton's positions in your OP are better than some of what we have heard ...

from President Obama since he was elected President.

[DonCoquixote]

26. to be fair

I really do not care what she said in 2008. I would love her to speak now.

Amd yes, even if she comp0letely totally did a 180 on this issue, i would be happy. Go ahead and pander to us, we asre so hungry we really do not care, we will take a win where we get it.

[Doctor_J]

34. But she will do another 180 once in office

Fool me once...