Democrats on the Super Committee have no excuse for supporting cuts to Social Security or Medicare

[ProSense]

Roll Call

Despite public calls yet again for a "grand bargain" on deficit reduction, some Democrats — particularly in the House — are beginning to concede privately that a super committee failure would be preferable to a bad deal.

<...>

But Republicans have walked away from negotiations on tax agreements multiple times, and Democrats are skeptical that their GOP colleagues will be able to deliver on what Democrats believe is the "balanced" part of the deficit reduction equation.

Democrats have repeatedly said they cannot support a super committee deal that does not include revenues, which might leave them with their next best option: mandatory across-the-board cuts, known as sequestration, which were built into the original debt limit agreement approved in August. The bill calls for automatic spending reductions to take place in January 2013 if the panel fails to construct a plan or if Congress does not pass what it produces.

From the Democratic perspective, $1.2 trillion in cuts will happen regardless of whether the super committee succeeds, according to sources tracking the issue. But if sequestration kicks in, top Democratic priorities such as Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and unemployment insurance — which were exempt from the trigger — would be left untouched. Approximately half of the mandatory cuts would come from defense spending. It's a prospect that concerns the GOP so much that top Republicans such as Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.) and Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) have said they would work to nullify the sequestration agreement.

<...>

Not only were Social Security and Medicare exempt from the trigger, but the deal also mandated that tax increases be a part of any proposal submitted to Congress for a vote.

[TheWraith]

1. The committee has been pretty much guaranteed to fail since the beginning.

Even assuming that they can come up with something out of the committee, trying to get it actually passed through the House and Senate would be supremely doubtful. Just look at how hard it was to pass the debt ceiling limit, something every reasonable human being could see was necessary, then multiply that by ten.

[ProSense]

2. There is

absolutely no way Republicans are going to support closing loopholes and increaing taxes on the rich as outlined by the President.

[defendandprotect]

19. And we have a Dem president who spiced up things for elites by extending their tax cuts -- !!

And then turned around and tried to tell us there was a "debt crisis" while

we had to go out and borrow the $120 billion he'd just given to elites!!


We need a challenger in 2012 -- a humanist, a liberal -- someone who cares about

the people -- someone not pre-bribed and pre-owned by corporations/elites!!

[TheWraith]

23. Yes yes, our daily dose of Nader-type bullshit.

And it's just as wrong and destructive as it was in 2000.

[defendandprotect]

3. Super Congress is a scam -- and Obama put this in motion -- All Dems who support it s/be targeted!!!

[ProSense]

5. Well

"All Dems who support it s/be targeted!!!"

...good luck with that!

[defendandprotect]

9. Why? Isn't that what the vote is about ... ? Supporting those who support democratic ideals?

Are you going to contribute to anyone who wants to cut Social Security?

Or any other safety net?

[ProSense]

13. Hmmm?

"Are you going to contribute to anyone who wants to cut Social Security? "

Got anyone specific in mind? See this is the problem with outrage based on hypotheticals.

[defendandprotect]

14. dupe

[defendandprotect]

15. Eh ... it's no "hypothetical" that Obama put Social Security "on the table" ----

take your time, but it tends to look like you don't want to answer!!





Here's some other stuff that might help you think it thru -- ROFL


Did Obama put the Cat Food Commission in place despite Congress voting "NO" --

Did Obama put Social Security, Medicare, Medicare "on the table" --

Did Obama make back room deals with Big Pharma and the private H/C industry?

Did Rahm "crow" about Obama having "preserved the private H/C industry" and how

grateful business should be to Obama?

Are you going to subsidize a pro-business agenda by the Dem party and Obaqma --

or are you going to not subsidize it --


and, btw, the Dem party is now under the control of the Third Way -- which will

move the party even further to the right. Jonathan Cowan, Pres. Third Way on

C-span two weeks ago, advising America that their policy/stance is that "the base

of the party is to be ignroed" -- and that "populism or populist discussions/

debates are the equivalent of Karl Rove propaganda of extremism" --


Are you going to financially support Third Way and that agenda?

[ProSense]

16. Let me

"Eh ... it's no "hypothetical" that Obama put Social Security "on the table" ----"

...suggest rereading the OP.

[defendandprotect]

18. Are you saying Obama didn't put Social Security "on the table" ... ????

:nuke:


PS -- re read my post -- I added info to it --

But what is most obvious about the rush by both parties to pick a nominee is

that they need to get to the money raising part.

So again the question -- are you going to support a party controlled by Third Way

and their agenda?

[ProSense]

21. Hmmm?

PS -- re read my post -- I added info to it --

But what is most obvious about the rush by both parties to pick a nominee is

that they need to get to the money raising part.

So again the question -- are you going to support a party controlled by Third Way

and their agenda?

Well, it would help your stress level if you stopped assuming things to be true that are likely not.

[defendandprotect]

22. Let me know when you're up to give a straight answer ....

I'll take you off IGNORE again -- !!!


ROFL

[krawhitham]

25. Has Obama ever signed anything that cuts Social Security?

Just wondering

Or do the Obama haters always scream he is going to and it never happens

[woo me with science]

43. ...

How utterly ABSURD to attempt to use as a defense of this President that he has not cut anything yet, when he is the one who put 650 BILLION dollars worth of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid cuts on the table in the first place and begged for them to be accepted.

Good grief, we are in Wonderland now. :rofl: :eyes:

[karynnj]

39. You forget that Obama was essentially forced to create this or have the US default

Sending the economy into a second 2008 like plunge would only make the situation worse. There are Democrats ON THE COMMITTEE who said that the deal struck was not what they would have chosen.

[Vattel]

4. The basic Medicare benefit structure was exempt,

but there would be automatic cuts to what is paid to Medicare providers.

[flamingdem]

6. What would motivate these particular Democrats to cave

to the GOP?

[Jakes Progress]

8. They aren't really Democrats.

That would be my guess. Just putting a D by your name doesn't mean you are really a Democrat. Maybe a reagan democrat.

[defendandprotect]

10. Dem masks are falling off like leaves -- !!! All these years of Koch Bros. DLC funding ....

and corporate money flooding the party have taken their toll -- !!

[Jakes Progress]

17. Here we spent all that time despising reagan democrats only

to have them take over leadership of the party.

[defendandprotect]

20. +1000% -- !!!

[Scuba]

24. Bingo!

[krawhitham]

26. John Kerry is no longer a Democrat?

[Jakes Progress]

35. Why obfuscate? Did John Kerry vote to cut Medicare and Social Security?

Is that something he thinks is good now?

Why would you defend the ghouls who call themselves Democrats so they can get elected and then serve corporate and fat cat masters by lumping John Kerry in with them?

[vaberella]

30. John Kerry isn't a Dem?

I think it's off that he supports cuts...but he's definitely a Dem.

[politicasista]

33. That is definitely off n/t

[karynnj]

38. You are all too willing to believe that Kerry backs cuts - though there is not a single link

to a direct quote saying so - and nothing in any of the public hearings of the committee. But why wait for facts, when anonymous people post things on the internet.

From Kerry's actual questions and comments on the committee, he seems to be an advocate for raising taxes on the wealthy, a stimulus package - as one cause of the deficit is that we are so far below full employment. (Creating jobs reduces unemployment and welfare benefits, while raising tax revenues.) He also is for tax reform to eliminate loopholes.

[politicasista]

42. Haven't said anything negative about the Senator in this thread

Was just replying to the link that ProSense posted. :shrug:

His staff has not posted responses to this claim as his Facebook page is semi-overran with Spam posts.

And the Senator is still a good Democrat.

[Jakes Progress]

36. Are you saying he supports the cuts?

I don't believe he does. But those are who the post was obviously referring to. Just being contrarian or just not reading clearly?

[Enrique]

7. then Obama has no excuse not to veto any such cuts

right?

[ProSense]

11. Well

"then Obama has no excuse not to veto any such cuts right?"

...that's true, but in what reality should Congressional Democrats supporting cuts to Social Security be ignored until their bill reaches the President's desk?

Is the idea to save the outrage until then? Wait and see?

In fact, does anyone see 13 Democrats supporting these cuts and allowing such a proposal to go unchallenged by a filibuster. There should be easily 40 or more Democrats willing to filibuster such an atrocity if Reid put it up for a vote.

[defendandprotect]

12. Obama put Social Security, Medicare "on the table" .... and we're looking to him

for help?

[krawhitham]

27. When?

When has Social Security & Medicare really been on the table?

Social Security & Medicare was used to call the GOP's bluff on raising taxes and nothing more

[AtomicKitten]

40. I agree. It was an illustration of how unreasonable the GOP is in negotiations.

It was punctuated by a question put to the Clown Car in a subsequent debate. When asked if they'd be for revenue increases in the amount of 10-to-1 (cuts/revenue increases), every single one of the presidential wannabees was proud to reject it. It was like shooting fish in the barrel.

[SkyDaddy7]

28. This is exactly why I approved of the deal...

in the first place! Many of the bashers here on DU were ready to hang Obama for signing the this deal but it was win in my opinion. Either the republicans agree to balanced approach or their precious defense spending gets huge cuts.

We will see what happens...I don;t see how they can change the LAW & prevent the trigger defense cuts unless they follow the LAW & agree to a balanced approach to deficit reduction.

[politicasista]

34. It won't be Obama that gets hanged

IMO, the Dems on the Supers will take heat (they already have in this thread and past threads) because it looks like they are caving (again) to the GOP and having their (some) Dem, liberal, creds questioned. JAO.

We shall see what happens though.





edit to add words

[opihimoimoi]

29. The Big 3 better be SAVED and if any DEM votes to change them....it will be Hell to pay

[woo me with science]

31. ROFL!

DEMOCRATS have no excuse......when their DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT put the cuts on the table in the first place?

What a surreal world we live in.

:rofl: :puke:

[politicasista]

32. Kick. Looks like knives are out in this thread

Being on the Super Committee looks like a no win situation for everyone involved with a price to pay. :shrug:

[karynnj]

37. Including yours - I note

[politicasista]

41. Not stabbing anyone

Though there is an angry one that is that worked for him in Ohio on 04 on his Facebook page. His staff should respond to that though.

Don't know much about the information, so reacted to above. Have been out of the loop b/c education duty calls, so will just wait and post next time.