President Obama Reacts to Debt Commission Report: "We're Going to Have to Make Some Tough Choices"

[jefferson_dem]

:hide:

President Obama Reacts to Debt Commission Report: "We're Going to Have to Make Some Tough Choices"
November 11, 2010 1:38 AM

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – President Obama refrained on Thursday from addressing specific proposals to reduce the debt put forward by his presidential Debt Commission, but he called on politicians to hold their fire and work in a bipartisan way to solve the momentous dilemma of the nation’s $13.7 trillion debt.

“I have not seen the final report from the Deficit Commission,” the president said at a joint appearance with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, after a reporter asked him for reaction. “I have said very clearly until I see the final report that I will not comment on it because I want them to have the space to do their work. They are still in negotiations.”

Mr Obama pointed out that the two co-chairs of the Commission – former Clinton White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles and former Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyoming -- are trying to secure 14 out of 18 votes on the commission for their recommendations to go forward, “and I want to make sure they’ve got the room and the space to do so.”

The draft report by the co-chairs presents some painful and politically unpalatable recommendations, not merely $2 trillion in spending cuts and $1 trillion in tax increases over the next decade, but also means-testing Social Security, raising the retirement age to 69, expanding the payroll tax, closing one third of overseas US military bases and raising the gasoline tax.

There is something in the proposal to offend everyone, whether doctor (reducing Medicare fees for doctors), lawyer (enacting tort reform to “reduce the cost of defensive medicine”), or Indian chief (ending payments to Native American tribes for abandoned mines).

The president said he convened the commission “precisely because I am prepared to make some tough decisions” but he “can’t make them alone.”

“I need Congress to work with me,” he said. “We’re going to have to make some tough choices. The only way to make those tough choices historically has been if both parties are willing to move forward together.”

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http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/11/president-obama-reacts-to-debt-commission-report-were-going-to-have-to-make-some-tough-choices.html#tp

[msongs]

1. delusional obsession with bipartisanship again "I need congress to work with me...." nt

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Or they're letting him do exactly what he wants

I've come to believe the latter, unfortunately.

[donco6]

2. So he's going to give them free reign to influence the rest of the committee.

And we already know what their recommendations are. Sorry, folks, this is a done deal.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. His speech is ready

There are those on the Left, idealists, who believe Social Security is beyond change. That it must return what was promised, to those who contributed over their many years of hard work. Make no mistake: Social Security is a cherished and vital program, and it must be saved. According to projections that have historically way-underestimated the health of this program, in just 27 years benefits will have to be reduced slightly, if we fail to take action.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x517752

[fasttense]

5. It includes tax cuts for corporations and the uber wealthy.

While it proposes to eliminate the homeowners tax deduction. Just what we need in the middle of a housing bust.

It of course recommends that all old folks eat Cat Food once they retire. It seriously cuts benefits and increases the age of retirement for Social Security. Hey, you might have paid double Social Security taxes to cover both your parents and your own retirement (thanks Raygun) but that money is going for tax cuts for our corporate masters. Let's throw boxes at Wal-Mart until we're 70, oops I mean 69, yeah!!!

That'll teach you to never, ever, trust the gubermint. When they said you were paying double to cover your own and your parents Social Security, they meant you would be paying double Social Security taxes to cover your parents retirement and our corporate master's tax cuts. Don't you just love how that all turned out. Thank a RepubliCON.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. No tough choices for corporations and the uber wealthy

Surprise!

[unhappycamper]

7. Start with the low-hanging fruit:

[eridani]

8. This is disgusting. Tax CUTS proposed in a deficit reduction plan?

I guess Obama wants the space to start killing off old people, which is what raising the retirement age will do.

[GOTV]

10. I know. Disgusting. Why TAX CUTS in a defecit reduction plan?

How more obvious can the goal to shift wealth from the poor and middle classes to the wealthy be?

[GOTV]

9. Oh no Obama. You will not make hard choices. The poor and middle classes will ....

.... have to make the hard food vs. medicine, home vs. education, heat vs. Christmas gifts choices.

Compared to that, your choice of which Republican priority to enact first is easy.

[dgibby]

11. Wish I could recommend your post. n/t

[Autumn]

12. Tough for who? I bet not a single one of "our leaders"

and I use the term loosely sacrifice one damn bit.

[avaistheone1]

13. Precisely

It's painful when you listen closely to this stuff.

[Autumn]

16. The toughest choice these jokers will

have to make is, which ivy league college do I want to pick for my kids. That's pretty sad for us.

[donco6]

14. What is that but a signal that it will be enacted?

Blech.

[BklnDem75]

15. “I have not seen the final report from the Deficit Commission,”

Weird to call it a reaction to something he hasn't seen. I'll wait for something a little more solid.