David Gregory to POTUS on MTP "You gotta talk tough to seniors."

[nashville_brook]

Why does everyone want our Social Security, when it adds nothing to the deficit? Could it be that Wall Street sees our Social Security system as the last "real" pile of money to plunder?




Lindsey Graham to seniors: hand over your Social Security or we'll shoot the economy in the foot.

http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2012/12/30/video-lindsey-graham-turn-over-social-security-or-i-shoot-the-economy/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter


Ten Things Everyone Needs to Know about the COLA CUT:
http://strengthensocialsecurity.org/sites/default/files/Ten_Things_Members_of_Congress_Need_to_Know_About_the_COLA%2012.27.12_0.pdf

[Gman]

1. Fuck Gregory

Raise the cap on the income level FICA cuts off at. Make everyone pay SS and Medicare.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. Amen

The "fiscal cliff" should help take care of that. Regardless of what happens next year - we absolutely cannot continue that rate scheme. I have not paid into social security since June. January 4th it goes up 2% and the Fed can take out that 6% plus some for the entire year. It's not missed when I pay in and our Baby Boomers are going to need that so they don't go cold and hungry.


The rules changed on them circa 1980. It's not their fault that many of them are going to NEED this money for their survival as they age. A total non negotiable as far as I'm concerned.

[socialist_n_TN]

67. Thank you......

nm

[nashville_brook]

3. amen, twice.

[Last Stand]

37. MTP has lost it's remaining illusion of bi-partisan platfrom.

Gregory doesn't even hide it. I can't watch that asshole. At least Russet gave it a shot.

It's just another opportunity to hammer home the RW talking points.

Don't give em the ratings.

[Berlum]

39. Amen, indeed

Gregory is just parroting Republlican talking points,. As usual. What a waste he is.

[DirkGently]

40. Well put.

[840high]

77. +100

[hopemountain]

108. can't stand him either

his arrogance is too ugly.

[spanone]

4. would a non-biased reporter make such a statement to a sitting President?

oh, david gregory?, nevermind.

[tavernier]

5. He has to say it. Bush already spent it

and now it is up to Rove's flunkies to cover that up.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. What does that dick pull in per year?

[nashville_brook]

7. in 2007 he campaigned for an 8-figure salary...

http://donkeypath.blogspot.com/2007/07/david-gregory-campaigning-for-8-figure.html

[roguevalley]

88. too much, the ugly ape face

I could slap his parents

what is his email, the bastard

[AndyA]

8. David Gregory is a disgrace.

MTP has been horrible since he took over. Only the guests make it worth watching. Rachel Maddow would be so much better on MTP. At least she can ask intelligent questions and hold guests to inaccurate answers. I can't stand it when a guest lies and then nothing is said to correct it or hold them accountable for their statement.

I think Joy-Ann Reid would be good on MTP, too.

[Richardo]

30. Russert was exactly the same.

I watched him give a pass to Cheney and the rest of the Bush crowd until the day he died. He might ask a tough question, but NEVER challenged the answer.

MTP was great when it was a panel of reporters. "The Press" is not one person.

[RoccoR5955]

44. Russert thoroughly disgusted me when he hosted the Democratic debate

and his first and only question to Dennis Kucinich was, "Do you believe in UFOs?"
That really got in my craw. WTF does that have to do with being president, I asked myself.
I finally realized that "Press The Meat," is nothing more than more propaganda, as is ALL of the mainstream media.
There IS no news any more, it's ALL propaganda, unless you listen to, and read alternatives.

[Rex]

79. Russert was never a real reporter imo

just another propaganda mouthpiece/enabler for the BFEE. Most of them are just mouthpieces imo.

[appacom]

49. Agree totally. Russert was a rethug and his pompous son

is a shithead

[MADem]

101. Russert was a thousand times worse than Gregory. At least now the program isn't

"Meet the Republicans" and he does give people a chance to respond to his questions, be they bullshit or not. Russert would not only not challenge the GOP, he'd hector the rare Dem he had on and not allow them to formulate a cogent response.

MTP, years ago (decades, really) was a panel with a host; the panel (print and media) would take turns asking questions, the person being interviewed would be allowed to answer each question. The reporters--and often the host--did follow ups on their fellow journalists' questions so it was a well-rounded occasion. Sometimes, the host would do a one-on-one interview with a major newsmaker separate from the panel portion of the show; some of those are real gems.

Here's a beaut of an episode--note some of the scornful questions from the reporters:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. How about handing over the millions used to fund war

[WinkyDink]

20. "Millions"?? Add a ZERO.

[Aerows]

25. A zero?

More like exponents.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

75. seems that the military does what it wants

bottomless pit. We seem to hand over millions to 'other countries' no bother yet our elderly are the ones that have to pay? I guess JFK wanted to change this a number of years ago but.....

[MADem]

103. All authorizations and appropriations start in the House of Representatives.

They--not "the military"--hold the checkbook.

Anyone can ask, but it's up to the House to take the initial steps that determine how the money is spent. They CAN say NO.

Eisenhower's commentary re: the military-industrial-Congressional complex are as valid today as when he drafted those remarks.

[TransitJohn]

104. Add three or four

It's more than tens of millions, too.

[forestpath]

10. And the POTUS response was....?

[nashville_brook]

57. Obama's response was to point out that he is throwing seniors under the bus w/chained CPI

[forestpath]

70. That's just what I figured he'd do. And yet people are blaming Gregory. Go figure.

[PoliticAverse]

78. "David, as you know, one of the proposals we made was something called Chain CPI"

GREGORY: You've got to talk tough to seniors...

PRESIDENT OBAMA: But...

GREGORY: ...don't you about this? And say, something’s got to give?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: ...but I already have, David, as you know, one of the proposals we made was something called Chain CPI, which sounds real technical but basically makes an adjustment in terms of how inflation is calculated on Social Security. Highly unpopular among Democrats. Not something supported by AARP. But in pursuit of strengthening Social Security for the long-term I'm willing to make those decisions. What I'm not willing to do is to have the entire burden of deficit reduction rest on the shoulders of seniors, making students pay higher student loan rates, ruining our capacity to invest in things like basic research that help our economy grow. Those are the things that I'm not willing to do. And so...

Transcript:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50314590/ns/meet_the_press-transcripts/t/december-president-barack-obama-tom-brokaw-jon-meacham-doris-kearns-goodwin-david-brooks-chuck-todd

[DJ13]

81. in pursuit of strengthening Social Security for the long-term I'm willing to make those decisions

I'm sorry, but Obama is either a total idiot or he's been bought off by his buddy Pete Peterson.

Raise the cap, leave benefits untouched.

Keep the cap where its at, and cut the only income many seniors live on.

Only an idiot would see the second option as the only choice.

[abelenkpe]

85. +1000 nt

[The Wielding Truth]

92. In the face of being fair. It would be fair just let the Bush tax cuts expire for those who really

will not be harmed by it, the upper 4%. That is fair since they have profited unfairly over the last 10 years.

[Dirty Socialist]

11. Obama should have called "bullshit" on that

Because it is BS.

[nashville_brook]

59. oh, but he didn't. instead he used it as an opportunity to "sell" the Chained-CPI

[Oilwellian]

12. How did Obama respond?

Did he agree as his actions indicate?

[nashville_brook]

61. see 5:15 on the video -- he agrees and says Chained-CPI is the gift i give to you

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/david-gregory-president-obama-youve-gotta-ta

[Tuesday Afternoon]

13. whatever happened to Respect Your Elders? Fuck Off, Gregory! Go work for minimum wage the rest of

your life.

[Dirty Socialist]

15. Yeah, I would like to see

Him tour various retirement homes, talking tough to the old folks. What a tough, courageous American!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

14. "You gotta talk tough to the Pentagon.".....

Oh wait,...that would be from an Amy Goodman....

[nashville_brook]

106. +1

[wryter2000]

16. OMG

Did that bastard actually say that.

[nashville_brook]

18. from C&L...with video

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/david-gregory-president-obama-youve-gotta-ta

David Gregory to President Obama: You've Gotta' Talk Tough to Seniors, Don't You?

I don't think David Gregory can make it through an interview without pushing the Villagers' favorite theme during these so-called "fiscal cliff" negotiations, which is that Democrats had better be willing to inflict some pain on the elderly and the working class, or they're just not being "serious." He was at it again this Sunday when he asked President Obama about whether he was going to just have to "talk tough" to seniors about Social Security and Medicare.

Of course no such tough talk or pain is ever required of the rich or of our bloated military industrial complex. Gregory also did his best to try to place the blame for Republican obstruction during these negotiations on President Obama's back, asking him "What is it about you, Mr. President, that you think is so hard to say yes to?" About him... really David Gregory? We've got one party that's lost its mind and cares about obstruction above all else and is willing to take us down in flames to get what they want and another party that's willing to bend over backwards to try to negotiate with them, and you want to know why the side that's too willing to compromise hasn't done enough to make the Teahadist happy? Spare me.

[Oilwellian]

22. Snagged

[forestpath]

24. "I offered to make significant changes to our entitlement programs"

That sure puts the lie to those who claim Obama isn't throwing seniors under the bus.

[nashville_brook]

46. bingo.

[theKed]

51. It would make me applaud

if Obama gave the real, honest answer when Gregory asks: ""What is it about you, Mr. President, that you think is so hard to say yes to?"

"It's because I'm black."

[nashville_brook]

19. how come there's no tough talk for Wall St., or defense contractors?

[senseandsensibility]

21. And what did the POTUS say?

That's an important part of the equation here, you know. David Gregory will shill because a shill's gotta shill, but the President could use this question as a chance to educate the viewers.

[nashville_brook]

27. he agreed and offered the Chained-CPI as the sort of "tough talk" GOP/Gregory would like

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/david-gregory-president-obama-youve-gotta-ta

it's around the 5:15 mark on the video.

[PoliticAverse]

45. "David, as you know, one of the proposals we made was something called Chain CPI"

David, as you know, one of the proposals we made was something called Chain CPI, which sounds real technical but basically makes an adjustment in terms of how inflation is calculated on Social Security. Highly unpopular among Democrats. Not something supported by AARP. But in pursuit of strengthening Social Security for the long-term I'm willing to make those decisions.

Transcript:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50314590/ns/meet_the_press-transcripts/t/december-president-barack-obama-tom-brokaw-jon-meacham-doris-kearns-goodwin-david-brooks-chuck-todd

[proverbialwisdom]

32. He also said the public must weigh in and ultimately hold their elected officials accountable.

The clear implication to me is that if some compromise feature the public opposes (chained CPI) passes, THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO GET ON IT, MAKE IT AN ISSUE THAT MATTERS, USE LEVERAGE TO REVERSE IT, although that was not explicitly stated. Great advice!

[Oilwellian]

47. Yes give us one more thing to reverse

because it appears he's more than willing to force that extra work on us.

[nashville_brook]

63. precisely. his gift to us is a fight we have no way to win.

the whole reason to elect representatives is for THEM to fight for us. putting this back on us is cowardly bullshit.

[Doctor_J]

105. Yes, he offered to cut SS benefits, and now will blame us

when they are actually made. As if he didn't know going in that we were dead set against the cuts.

Yipes. I am afraid the president fooled me twice. Shame on me.

[Doctor_J]

82. We already have weighed in

60% oppose ANY benefit cuts. So Obama is bullshitting us

[cal04]

34. Might have some errors but here's a rush transcript

DAVID GREGORY: You've got to talk tough to seniors--

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: But--

DAVID GREGORY: --don't you about this? And say, something’s got to give?

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: --but I already have, David, as you know, one of the proposals we made was something called Chain CPI, which sounds real technical but basically makes an adjustment in terms of how inflation is calculated on Social Security. Highly unpopular among Democrats. Not something supported by AARP. But in pursuit of strengthening Social Security for the long-term I'm willing to make those decisions.

What I'm not willing to do is to have the entire burden of deficit reduction rest on the shoulders of seniors, making students pay higher student loan rates, ruining our capacity to invest in things like basic research that help our economy grow. Those are the things that I'm not willing to do. And so--

DAVID GREGORY: Would you commit to that first year of your second term getting significant reform done? Telling Congress, "We've got to do it in--"


PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: No, no, no--

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50314590#.UOB4Vr_ZfUg

[nashville_brook]

100. ^^well done, thanks.

[kenny blankenship]

23. One more for the chipper shredder.

[DirkGently]

26. Someone needs to talk tough to David Gregory.

This is a conversation we shouldn't even be having. Republicans and their rich sponsors can hop around all they want. That doesn't somehow make the crazy, destructive things they want a reasonable proposition.

[Bluenorthwest]

66. That someone could have been Barack Obama this very morning.

nt

[nashville_brook]

98. +1 -- instead he agreed.

[bvar22]

109. ....and THAT will be the epitaph for the Obama Administration:

[font size=4]Oh, What could have been.[/font]

[Aerows]

28. Social Security is a pot of money

That is sitting there, and Wall Street can't wait to steal it. It is as simple as that.

[nashville_brook]

33. eggsactly. if the sequester happens, the world won't end.

but it end this particular campaign of the plutocrats. they will have to take another stab at it with a new congress.

[DirkGently]

35. It really is. Pensions disappeared into 401(k)s for exactly this reason.

[Aerows]

93. Yep

and 401K's have been repeatedly decimated.

[nashville_brook]

99. [phone]

[Little Star]

29. These f***ers! I want SS strong & here for future generations!

[doc03]

31. Well what the fuck did the president say? n/t

[Oilwellian]

41. What we knew already

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: --but I already have, David, as you know, one of the proposals we made was something called Chain CPI, which sounds real technical but basically makes an adjustment in terms of how inflation is calculated on Social Security. Highly unpopular among Democrats. Not something supported by AARP. But in pursuit of strengthening Social Security for the long-term I'm willing to make those decisions.

[doc03]

50. Well why is Gregory an asshole for asking the question

when the president agrees? hmmmm

[nashville_brook]

65. it shows how destructive the Chained-CPI actually is --

"you want tough talk, I'll give you tough talk. Under my proposal, a senior who turned 60 in 2001 will lose a WHOLE MONTH of benefits per year IF they to live to be 90. but really, few will actually make it that far b/c poverty kills, so no big!"

[juajen]

73. Am I wrong, or will this hurt more women than men retirees?

I need all of my SS and this is distressing me beyond belief. We have not been receiving increases as we should, so our checks are already smaller than they should be; and, with the increase in medical expenses, we get nowhere, not to mention, food prices. Five pound bags of sugar are now four pounds; One pound of coffee is now 12 ounces, etc. They are hitting us from all directions.

I am so disappointed in Obama's acquiescence. I depended on him to do the right thing, and it looks as if the elderly will take this one on the shin; the shin that is already in pain and swelling. God help us! I am too tired to fight.

[Doctor_J]

83. So Obama admits he will defy Dems and Seniors

to kiss up to Wall Street and the Repukes.

He's getting sickening

[loyalkydem]

36. MTP used to be my favorite show until he took over, then it went to crap

[otohara]

38. Then There's Tom Brokaw - Yuck

Tom, since you have all the answers, run for POTUS and kiss the asses of the GOP

[jwirr]

42. That should make seniors think twice about listening to faux.

[nashville_brook]

64. MTP is NBC

[juajen]

76. There are millions who do not ever turn on Fox News, thank you.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

43. David Gregory is an elitist prick.

Let him try to live on what many seniors have to.

[FlyByNight]

48. David Gregory: establishment hack

No doubt he won't need SS when the time comes, so he, simply, doesn't care.

He is, essentially, a spokes"person" for sociopaths and he's paid pretty damn well to vomit forth DC/Wall St.-centric talking point after talking point. I wonder for how much a conscience can be purchased?

Fuck you David Gregory.

[nashville_brook]

54. and Obama agrees with him.

says the Chained-CPI is exactly the kind of "tough talk" Gregory likes.

[ananda]

52. This senior is talking tuff to DG.

STFU!

[forestpath]

72. This senior has called the WH several times and it's righ there in the transcript,

Obama doesn't give a good goddam what we think about him cutting SS.

[nashville_brook]

95. you haven't been alone in calling, either!

protecting SS has been a priority since the day after the election b/c it was known to be on the table. a broad coalition of unions and non-profits have been working on this.

[yortsed snacilbuper]

53. The repubuliKKKans own gregory!

[nashville_brook]

56. doin' the dance, the karl rove dance...

[Faygo Kid]

55. Go back to dancing with Karl Rove, you f***ing tool

I despise David Gregory.

[mark eagledove]

58. All the MSM shows are blaming Democrats for the impasse Pushback at fullthrottle

Candy Crowley "there are noted divisions among the Republicans but I think this masks the REALLY significant divisions between the Democrats" unreal horsesheet. and all her guests deflecting from the Re-blame-icans, MSNBC is saying Obama should do more. Every station has the same message. Those Democrats who blame Obama take note: See what happens when he attacks the guilty party who is backed 100% by the MSM?
I'm still amazed he was reelected with the antidemocracy propoganda thats on the TV 24/7

[Doctor_J]

60. To which the president responded, "No, david, I don't.

Seniors who depend on Social Security are American men & women who have worked hard for 4 decades to make this a better country, and now are collecting what we as a nation owe to them. They're plenty tough enough already. The ones I need to talk tough to are the billionaires who got rich, in large measure, off of the labor of SS recipients, and to people like yourself who amke a lot of money shilling for those same billionaires. And that tough talk is coming very soon, as soon as this current deal is finalized. Consider this a head's up".

Oh, well. A guy can dream

[nashville_brook]

62. if only that were true.

these people are bullies with their 8-figure incomes telling us to starve so they can take our money. It's really simple aggression.

[geckosfeet]

68. There's the problem - it's right there.

SS spends way way too much. That money needs to go to the job creators so that.... well... for reasons that any intelligent citizen can understand.

[zeemike]

69. Yep...you nailed it

Wall Street sees it as a big pile of money to plunder....and with it they can keep the cprupt forces of the "market" going longer

[nashville_brook]

86. and the Dems are enabling it -- moments ago reported that OUR SIDE traded SS for debt ceiling

Sam Stein on Twitter -- check HuffPo later, I'm sure he'll blog it.

[santamargarita]

71. Fuck You David Gregory!!!

And kiss my ass you servile scum!!!

[raouldukelives]

74. And every dime invested in the market is a dime used by them to further that message. nt

[Rex]

80. Rich 1% enabler tells our POTUS

to fuck over old people...details at 10.

[MotherPetrie]

84. And the worst part was....

OurPOTUS was already perfectly ready and willing to to fuck over old people WITHOUT being told!

Hmph! Shows you just how much respect Gregory has for OurPOTUS!

[nashville_brook]

87. looks like this deal is going to happen -- that giant fucking sound you hear is

our senior citizens taking "one for the team."

[Honeycombe8]

89. I'm getting tired of this mentality of repeatedly attacking seniors AS IF THEY HAD ANYTHING to do

with the recession OR their benefits have any effect on the deficit.

I think the OP is right....the Republicans have been drooling for years to get their hands on the Social Security Fund. The want to steal it, to own it, to privatize it, to destroy it.

I don't think Obama is one who will fall into the trap of believing the lies. FDR was right...he could see their lies for what they were.

[nashville_brook]

94. Obama putting Chained-CPI on the table signals to the GOP that now all SS is "on the table"

and will be considered core to fixing the debt -- when, in fact, it has nothing to do with the debt.

[bvar22]

110. It is enough to make me wish THIS guy were still president. (sigh)

The leader of what passes for the "Democratic Party" today is FAR to the Conservative Right of Ronald Reagan on issues like Social Security.... among other issues.




You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their rhetoric, promises, or excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]

[Honeycombe8]

111. I know. That's pretty ironic, isn't it? nt

[Honeycombe8]

112. Wow....my font in this reply post is YOUR green bold font. How is that possible?

I've never seen that before.

Is your "Solidarity99" logo bold green? That 's what it looks like on my end, and that makes the DU parts of this reply bold green font, too (not my text that I'm typing).


This is what I see that's green:

Response to:bvar22 (Reply #110)



Forum or Group:General Discussion (Forum)



Reply title:

[DallasNE]

90. Obama Makes Gregory Look Like A Fool

And is giving him a lesson in economics. From Gregory's reaction he doesn't seem to be able to wrap his hands around the import of the dressing down he is receiving at the hands of the President. Obama understands Gregory's political leanings and is using that against him and Gregory is clueless as to what is going on. It will be interesting to see how the round table reacts to this interview. My guess is that there will be a sharp divide down party lines but that the talking points will not be equally effective.

[dsms0515]

91. Video of the full Obama Meet the Press VIDEO

Here's the full interview: http://uneditedpolitics.com/president-obama-full-interview-on-nbcs-meet-the-press-123012/

[pa28]

96. Every MSM interview comes off the same script.

The interviewer has to badger his subject with the same "both sides" BS over and over again. Then he has to sprinkle in a little of the fake orthodoxy that Social Security is somehow broken and must be cut because that's the only "serious" thing to do!

Scary that they all seem to be buying into the same fiction.

[nashville_brook]

97. the greed is insatiable. it's not so much a move to the right, as it is a move to plutocrats

these 8-figure income talking heads only care about their cocktail party buddies. the rest of us don't exist in any meaningful manner (not being rich, elite, influencers).

[DirkGently]

113. They can imagine what it's like to be affected by the economy, but

only in a distant, hazy kind of way.

[Zoeisright]

102. Fuck you, Gregory.

Let's have a little "tough talk" for you: you are an incompetent, biased asshole with the brains of a gnat.

[CTyankee]

107. This is why I don't watch MTP. My TV set would suffer damage inflicted by my rage...

sadly, I suspect he'll be on MJ talking about his bold, strong question to POTUS and "how it needed to be said" and Mika will nod and Joe will be all "I love you, man..."
And, sadly, that's when MJ gets zapped by my remote...