Sam Seder: 2012 Beto Has Some HORRIBLE Ideas For Social Security

[Power 2 the People]

Anybody know if Beto has evolved on this issue? I hope so because I like him.

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread Power 2 the People.

[crazytown]

2. We know what Beto said in 2012 about Social Security

It’s been reposted as many times as Bernie’s statements on tax returns.

[Power 2 the People]

3. Respectfully,I had never heard it prior to seeing this video.

[crazytown]

5. OK. Well It's worth knowing.

I’m sick to death of the tax returns stuff. I wish Bernie would release them and get it over with. I don’t care if he’s in the top 1%. FDR was loaded.

[Power 2 the People]

8. I agree 100%. It's ridiculous that he won't release them.

[crazytown]

10. I have no doubt he will release them.

I would prefer to debate policy and prospects without endless questions about tax returns that’s all.

[Power 2 the People]

11. Agree.It's such a stupid thing to leave hanging out there for no reason.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. Has he changed his stance?

[crazytown]

7. It's ... fuzzy :)

In 2018 Beto was up against Cruz who called Social Security a Ponzi Scheme, so He didn’t need to say too much. Beto is like a low resolution photo. The more you zoom in, the blurrier it gets.

[Celerity]

39. +1

I also think there is close zero chance he can deliver Texas. He lost to an incredibly weak (for a Texas Rethug) candidate in a Dem blue wave election.

That state needs a decade or more of demographic change to go purple.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

40. Hardly... not even close!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[crazytown]

56. Now would I exaggerate?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. Somehow I don't think his kids will be relying on Social Security.

He’s worth $9 million and his father in law is worth $500 million.

A republican PAC spent $250,000 dollars in attack ads against his 8 Term DEMOCRATIC incumbent opponent during the primary.

[Power 2 the People]

9. Good point Hassin.

[Hassler]

12. More effective to make the case for your candidate than to criticize someone you may need to vote fo

In 2020

[Power 2 the People]

14. I agree.That's why I don't criticize any of our candidates.Examining their positions on the issues

is not criticizing.If Beto still feels this way about Social Security he doesn't have my vote. If his position has evolved I'd sure like to know what it currently is.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

41. What happened to vetting... or does that only apply to Bernie?!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[George II]

13. Why are all these anti-Beto OPs showing up recently? Any connection to getting $6.1M in 24 hours?

[Power 2 the People]

15. Nobody is anti-Beto George II.

Is this still his position on Social Security?

[George II]

18. Really, under the title "2012 Beto Has Some HORRIBLE Ideas For Social Security"?

Remember, 2012 was 7 years ago. He has articulated his current position on SS several times, Sam Seder should have done his homework before putting out that video. It took me only 15 seconds to find that O`Rourke scores 100% Alliance for Retired Americans in their latest "scorecard".

I hope people aren't going to hold politicians to things they said many years ago in the heat of a campaign, or not in a campaign..

[melman]

26. "He has articulated his current position on SS several times"

Then why can't you say what it is?

[George II]

27. Why do you ask?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

31. I'd be curious to know how, when and why he changed his mind.

He hammered the 8 term Democratic incumbent opponent pretty hard with that social security issue. Why the change of heart?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

44. I'm sure Beto has "evolved" on this issue also, seeing how it's starting to get vetted.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[MyNameGoesHere]

57. That's a good one!

Laughably unbelievable, but a good one.
I like jokes too.
I will release my tax returns. Hahaha. That punch line almost makes me pee my pants.

[aikoaiko]

37. Suddenly opposed to vetting, eh?

People have gone way further back to vet other candidates.

I think its a fair question to see if he still believes raising the age to receive SS and if he still believes in a relationship between SS and national debt.

Hopefully he has evolved.

[George II]

38. No, not at all. But presenting information that isn't current OR 100% accurate is not "vetting".

Sam Seder did both.

[Buzz Lightyear]

16. Sam Seder is a Bernie Sanders supporter

https://web.archive.org/web/20150817062708/http://ringoffireradio.com/2015/07/ring-of-fires-official-position-on-bernie-and-hillary-because-you-asked/

[Power 2 the People]

17. Has nothing to do with Beto's position on Social Security.

Does anybody know if Beto still believes that Social Security should be means-tested and eligibility age should rise to 70?

[George II]

20. Instead of asking people here what his position is.....

....why not ask his campaign or do a little looking around?

[Power 2 the People]

21. I am asking around. I guess you'd be the person to ask since Beto is your chosen candidate

What's the answer George?

[George II]

22. He has a 100% score from the Alliance for Retired Americans.

[sheshe2]

23. bingo!

[Power 2 the People]

24. OK. So you don't know the answer either. I'll reach out to Beto's campaign tomorrow and fill you in.

Beto's lifetime score with the ARA is 96%.That's encouraging.

[George II]

25. On the ARA site they get into how they establish their ratings. Position on SS is a big part of it.

His current rating is 100%, an indication of his current position on SS. They don't arrive at their ratings lightly.

[Power 2 the People]

28. I know that.That's why I support Bernie Sanders.He is rated 100% lifetime from the ARA.

Like you said,they don't arrive at their ratings lightly.

I'll let you know what I find out from Beto's campaign. Means testing and raising the retirement age to 70 would be disqualifying for a Democratic candidate. I'm sure he's evolved on the issue. I'll be in touch!

[George II]

29. I would have looked into his current position before I posted an old video of O'Rourke....

....under the negative heading "Sam Seder: 2012 Beto Has Some HORRIBLE Ideas For Social Security", but that's just me.

Good luck with your search.

[Power 2 the People]

33. That's the title of the video George. I posted it to see if anyone knew if it was still his position

Odd that you're so sensitive about an honest examination of this candidate's positions. As a Sanders supporter I have seen you in every Bernie Sanders thread,mostly as the OP, critiquing every aspect of Bernie's personal and political life. Any story, whether it be real or imagined was fair game. That's your right. Now all of a sudden it is only prudent to research,fact check and call the candidate's campaign before posting anything from a credible,respected Democratic source like Sam Seder.

I'll do as you asked and contact Beto's campaign.I sure wish you would have known your candidate's position on something as important as means-testing Social Security and raising the retirement age rather than just wanting to argue with me. It would have saved me a lot of time. But I'll do it out of respect for Beto and DU.

[George II]

36. I know his position. On the other hand, I surely wouldn't post an old video critical...

....of one who was not my candidate unless I knew it were true or not. And if not, I certainly wouldn't have posted it at all.

I also might have looked into who Sam Seder, his allegiances, is AND the date the he posted that 7-year old video. That's irresponsible "journalism" on his part since O'Rourke's position is completely different from what Seder is implying.

[Power 2 the People]

42. Sam Seder posted the video yesterday and clearly said Beto's speech was from 2012.

How is it irresponsible journalism when there has been nothing official from the O'Rourke campaign saying that his position has changed?

Even Beto's official YouTube channel still has a video espousing these same views. If Beto's position has changed he should remove this video and post an update. You shouldn't be disparaging Sam Seder because he reported Beto's last known official position on this issue. That's unfair.

Beto's district in El Paso is deep,deep blue. It has only been won by a Republican once since 1902. There's no reason Beto would have held this position unless he truly believed it. Don't get me wrong, if he still believes it, it's his prerogative and he should be able to hold any views he wants. If he has a persuasive case to make that would change my mind,I'm all ears.

[Power 2 the People]

43. I'm going to hold you to that standard next time a Bernie hit piece is posted.

[George II]

45. Ah, so that's it! In that case, since you posted O'Rourke's position on an "issue" from when....

....he was in his 30s, would you feel equally comfortable seeing Sanders' positions from when he was in his 30s?

I don't think you would.

[Power 2 the People]

47. No no no no

I'm just quoting a very wise man named George II who said the following:

I know his position. On the other hand, I surely wouldn't post an old video critical...of one who was not my candidate unless I knew it were true or not. And if not, I certainly wouldn't have posted it at all.

I'm just hoping that going forward we ALL can live up to the high standards of fairness,prudence and objectivity described in your words.

[George II]

49. I hope so too. You certainly don't have to worry about me, I've always done so in the past.

[Power 2 the People]

50. LOL.OK.

[melman]

30. That 100% rating is not current

It's from 2014 as I'm sure you know. Isn't that kind of a long time ago?

I mean, if 2012 is ancient history then 2014 isn't really all that recent either...don't you think?

[George II]

32. Oh melman.....................

https://retiredamericans.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Texas_v2.pdf

[Power 2 the People]

34. That's from 2017. 2018's ratings should be out soon.

[George II]

35. The 2017 ratings were released in May 2018. Probably a couple of months.

[lapucelle]

52. But Sam Seder says...

[lapucelle]

46. The ARA endorsed Beto in the senate race. N/T

[Power 2 the People]

48. Over Ted Cruz????????????? What a shocker!!

[lapucelle]

51. Sam Seder (among others) is concerned notwithstanding a 100% rating, an endorsement, and the record.

Today I became an original co-sponsor of the Social Security 2100 Act. This bill will:

- Cuts taxes for seniors by raising the threshold on taxation of benefits

- Protects against inflation for cost of living adjustments (COLA) by adopting the CPI-E formula.

- Ensures the Social Security Trust Fund remains solvent for more than 75 year by raising threshold on taxation of benefits.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1902/cosponsors

https://www.facebook.com/BetoORourkeTX16/posts/today-i-became-an-original-co-sponsor-of-the-social-security-2100-act-this-bill-/1450348378364344/

[Power 2 the People]

53. I should hope he co-sponsored it since every Democratic member of the House co-sponsored it.

Way to go Beto and all of our Democratic House members in your efforts to strengthen Social Security.

[lapucelle]

54. Bravo indeed, Beto. Poor Sam Seder...

...I wonder why he's so concerned about a 7 year old cherry-picked quote.

Weren't there more than 175 Democrats in the House in the 115th Congress?

[Gothmog]

19. Beto put Texas into play and could have won in a presidential year

Romney won Texas by 16%. Trump won by 9%. Beto lost to Carnival Cruz by 2.6%. If Texas is put into play, trump cannot win

These stats are interesting

Link to tweet

[TexasBushwhacker]

55. More than 400K who voted for Gov Greg Abbott

voted for Beto over Cruz. That's some serious crossover appeal. He got hundreds of thousands of newly registered voters too. Now he'll get more.

I don't think he is perfect but I do think he can learn. Even Obama admitted to evolving on issues.

[Amimnoch]

58. And did you see the HR bill that he wrote to introduce to raise the age!!??

You know, in the 6 years he was actually a representative after giving that thought.

Oh, that's right, he never wrote, sponsored, or co-sponsored any such bill.

There is this much more recent video, from only 2 years ago where he only discusses increasing benefits to meet more accurate cost of living measurements (using the consumer price index) than is currently used:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=934914503224927

He is on the record as being against privatization.

He has been rated 100% by the ARA. A politician doesn't get that rating by being for raising the age or reducing benefits.

He is a co-sponsor of H.R. 1902 - The Social Security 2100 Act. -

https://projects.propublica.org/represent/bills/115/hr1902
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1902

This bill would:
-use the consumer price index for determining increases (mentioned above)
- Across the board benefit increase.
- Increases the benefit for lifetime low wage earners based on years in the workforce.
- Increase the threshold amount and rate for inclusion of social security benefits in income.
- Holds SSI, Medicaid, and CHIP beneficiaries harmless

Just to name some of the top ones.

[SKKY]

59. I actually think raising the retirement age is not a bad idea...

...we're living longer so it makes sense. Now, it shouldn't be a blanket, cookie cutter deal for everyone. But, if you're like me and will probably never actually "retire", I think 70 is reasonable.