Clinton did not categorically rule out Social Security benefit cuts or raising the retirement age

[portlander23]

Dems have ‘strong disagreement’ on Social Security, Sanders says
Alex Seitz-Wald and Kailani Koenig
MSNBC

Drawing another distinction with Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton on Friday, Sen. Bernie Sanders told seniors here that he supports expanding Social Security benefits and raising the payroll tax cap on the program – two days after the former secretary of state declined to endorse a similar proposal in the first-in-the-nation primary state.

“I think Secretary Clinton and I have a difference of opinion on this,” Sanders said at a local senior center. “I think she and I have a strong disagreement on this.”

“I do not believe in raising the retirement age for people who have been on Social Security,” Sanders continued. “I am categorically against what many of my Republican friends are talking about, cutting Social Security benefits.”

Clinton on Wednesday raised some eyebrows on the left during her own appearance in the Granite State when she did not categorically rule out Social Security benefit cuts or raising the retirement age. And she declined to endorse an across-the-board expansion of benefits, as favored by many progressives.

“If there were a way to (raise the retirement age) that would not penalize or punish laborers and factory workers and long distance truck drivers and people who really are ready for retirement at a much earlier age, I would consider it. But I have yet to find any recommendation that I would think would be suitable,” she said.

Clinton added that she would “look at raising the (payroll tax) cap,” but did not endorse it, saying she did not want to increase the tax burden on middle class families.

That led some progressive activists to wonder about Clinton’s plans for Social Security.

“We know exactly where Senator Sanders stands on Social Security, he has been a champion in the fight to protect and expand Social Security for years … Martin O’Malley has released a detailed plan on how he would expand Social Security,” said Alex Lawson, the executive director of Social Security Works, which works to defend the program. “We have a sense of where Secretary Clinton is based on her public statements, but without a specific plan her comments leave a possibility that she would be open to cuts for some people.”

“Democratic primary voters deserve to know exactly where Secretary Clinton stands on Social Security,” said Murshed Zaheed, the acting political director of the progressive online organizing group CREDO. “Sec. Clinton needs to draw a line in the sand and make it clear that she will veto any bill that cuts Social Security benefits or raises the retirement age.”

Related:

Say It Ain't So, Hillary Clinton - You're Open to the Idea of Raising the Retirement Age?

A Trojan Horse In Clinton’s Pledge To “Enhance” Social Security?

Why It's Misleading to Swear to Protect the Poor's Social-Security Benefits

Seems like "The Third Way" is another way to describe what is popular among Democratic Party voters.

[PoliticAverse]

1. Here was her comment concerning the retirement age...

Thirdly, we do have to consider ways to make sure that the funding of Social Security does maintain the system. I think we have a number of options; this would be something that I would look at, I would not favor raising the retirement age. And I don’t favor it because it might be fine for somebody like me, but the vast majority of working people who have worked hard and have had a difficult, maybe last couple of decades trying to continue to work, it would be very challenging for them. If there were a way to do it that would not penalize or punish laborers and factory workers and long-distance truck drivers and people who really are ready for retirement at a much earlier age, I would consider it. But I have yet to find any recommendation that I would think would be suitable

From:
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/say-it-aint-so-hillary-clinton-youre-open-idea-raising-retirement-age

[Agschmid]

3. Hey looks it's the whole quote!

Not a cherry picked section to support on side or the other...

In fact aren't we all on the same side?

Yup we are.

[portlander23]

5. This is what MSNBC ran with

I included a link to an earlier post with the entire quote:

Say It Ain't So, Hillary Clinton - You're Open to the Idea of Raising the Retirement Age?

In addition to other postings for context.

[CharlotteVale]

4. IOW if you're an office worker, teacher, etc., she thinks you've had a relaxing,

unstressful career and you should be A-OK with working longer than a worker who performs manual labor.

Way to pit different 99%'ers against each other, Hillary.

[riversedge]

12. Where did you get THAT silly idea from??

[CharlotteVale]

17. I agree, Hillary's words are pretty silly. And they are her own words.

Quote c/ped from #1 and emphasis added.

Thirdly, we do have to consider ways to make sure that the funding of Social Security does maintain the system. I think we have a number of options; this would be something that I would look at, I would not favor raising the retirement age. And I don’t favor it because it might be fine for somebody like me, but the vast majority of working people who have worked hard and have had a difficult, maybe last couple of decades trying to continue to work, it would be very challenging for them. If there were a way to do it that would not penalize or punish laborers and factory workers and long-distance truck drivers and people who really are ready for retirement at a much earlier age, I would consider it. But I have yet to find any recommendation that I would think would be suitable

Spin away.

[riversedge]

19. I did not say Hillary's words were silly. You need to learn to read. bye

[CharlotteVale]

20. You're the one who needs to learn to read. I see you have zero defense

of Hillary's words, though, so maybe you did read them!

[rhett o rick]

25. So I am guess with that remark that you have plenty of evidence to the contrary.

[Fumesucker]

9. Interesting that she does not consider herself to be hard working

[PoliticAverse]

11. Maybe she watches Mellissa Harris-Perry's TV show. n/t

[CharlotteVale]

2. Even if she did categorically rule it out I wouldn't buy it.

But her constant and relentless equivocation precludes her ever making an unequivocal statement on just about anything.

[upaloopa]

6. If she said the sky was blue you wouldn't buy it.

[CharlotteVale]

8. She wouldn't give a straight answer and say the sky is blue.

She'd say something like we have to consider all the number of options of different shades to make sure of the color of the sky. I think we have a number of options; this would be something that I would look at to ascertain the correct hue. But I have yet to find any recommendation that I would think would be suitable.

She can't give a straight answer on anything.

[bvf]

16. ^This, this, this.

Verbose, squishy, and practically content-free--that's her style.

[SoapBox]

33. + a billion!

I don't trust anything she says.

The Weathervane just spins and spins and spins.

[840high]

35. +10

[rhett o rick]

27. So what is her stand on "enhancing" SS? nm

[SoapBox]

34. I heard the answer!

Crickets!

[Thinkingabout]

7. I happen to like a plan which starts the extra taxes on those making over $250,000

But others wants to tax ever one with an income and then add another tax on Federal income of .2%. These taxes will not be taxing those with capital gains and royalties of which are mostly the top 10% of wealth. More taxes on the working people, more burden.

[Broward]

10. Of course not. She doesn't want to disappoint her Third Way buddies.

[riversedge]

13. Well, portlander23--seems she will have to use the word "categorically" then all will be fine. But

you will have to do some more work and find another issue. ha ha.

[portlander23]

14. Post her plan

Seriously. I can't find it. Not being snarky. I've looked for statements on this as I've been posting analysis over the last week of her stances on Social Security.

According to her website, this is the most specific policy position I can find:

As president, Hillary will defend against the efforts to privatize Medicare and Social Security, and will work to enhance both programs for our most vulnerable seniors.

And from what I've been able to find, she has consistently opposed privatization. Every other stance is all over the map, and she has historically been against raising the cap and for calling for a commission to solve the problem.

[sabrina 1]

15. Hillary's having a bad day. First she supports the DP, then opens the door to extending Retirement

Age, then is interrupted by BLM and has them escorted out.

Her supporters are having a hard time defending all of this.

That's why I'm happy to be a Bernie supporter. His record is HIS defense.

[CharlotteVale]

18. Pretty comical after all the crowing this week.

[sabrina 1]

21. Absolutely. And the hypocrisy is ALMOST laughable. Do they really think they are fooling anyone?

I'm always curious about that.

[CharlotteVale]

28. Since they only personally attack anyone who dares to criticize Hillary on her own actual

words and record, without even bothering to counter the actual facts presented, I'm guessing no.

[bvf]

22. The political calculus probably went:

"Nobody gives a shit about the death penalty enough to change their vote. Nobody really paid attention to my social Security doublespeak. Look! I stood up to some thugs!"

She's not angling for any votes around here with any of this, but she's sure got plenty.

[riversedge]

23. Hillary has had a great day. Did very well with BLM--and 2 great polls. Yup. Great

day for Hillary. PLus Rep. Lewis officiallly endorsed her and initialed the African Americans for Hillary. oh--and deBlasio endorsed her.

Have a nice evening.

[rhett o rick]

29. I notice that HRC supporters are adverse to actually speaking to issues. This thread is a great

example. Where are your opinions on her stand on SS? What is her stand on SS? Is it secret?

[KittyWampus]

24. this is like Warren didn't "categorically" rule out a run for potus.

[bvar22]

26. Raising the Cap does NOT penalize the Middle Class. It HELPS them.

"Clinton added that she would “look at raising the (payroll tax) cap,” but did not endorse it, saying she did not want to increase the tax burden on middle class families."


Looks like she learned NOTHING from the 2008 debates:

[rhett o rick]

30. The conservatives are attacking SS, What Would Clinton Do?

Raise the cap? lower the retirement age? No, she wants to "Enhance". At first I was excited because "enhance" sounds good, but then my jr high neighbor kid told me it was just rhetoric and really didn't mean a thing.

This is another issue where HRC is in a real pickle. She really in her heart wants to help the 99% (maybe cake) but not at the expense of her friends in the 1%. Maybe she has a way of getting part of the 99% to help the other part of the 99%.

[onecaliberal]

31. What a surprise, NOT

[NorthCarolina]

32. Raising the retirement age, means testing, and chained CPI ARE Hillarys' positions regardless

of what she, or her followers say to the contrary. I know it, and any of you that have been paying even the slightest bit of attention to Corporate Dem style politics should know it as well. If solutions such as those are acceptable to you then vote for Hillary, but if they are NOT acceptable to you, you would be a fool to cast a vote for Hillary. That's it in a nutshell.