Liberals to Dem leaders: Don’t even think about touching Social Security benefits

[ProSense]

Liberals to Dem leaders: Don’t even think about touching Social Security benefits

Posted by Greg Sargent

<...>

“Why are we doing this?” Dem Rep. Keith Ellison, a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said to me in an interview today. Asked which is worse, continued sequestration or a grand bargain that cuts entitlement benefits, Ellison said: “It’s like saying, `Which of your kids do you want to sacrifice to the monster?’ Neither one.”

Ellison is backed up by over 100 other House Dems who have pledged to fight any cuts to retirement benefits, including Chained CPI, a way of indexing Social Security benefits to inflation that amounts to a real benefits cut.

<...>

“Once we do that we’re already in the territory of bargaining away Chained CPI,” Ellison said. “We’re already saying we’re open to negotiating on Chained CPI. And we’re not.” Senator Bernie Sanders has similarly insisted that liberals must not allow the choice to be framed this way, and has instead called on the White House and Dem leaders to try to leverage public opinion to force Republicans to accept a long term deal that includes increased revenues and cuts spending judiciously without targeting entitlement benefits.

<...>

The sharp language from Ellison, Sanders and other liberals shows that Obama and Dem leaders will face a stiff headwind from the left if they stray too far on to “grand bargain” territory. The endgame here, however, remains murky. If Obama and Dem leaders do reach some kind of deal with Republicans in the Senate, some liberals might support it in the end if the President asks them to, just as liberals have previously proven willing to give away core priorities to advance his agenda. Or a deal might simply pass without liberals. Wherever this is headed, for progressives who want to make their opposition to any “grand bargain” benefits cuts known, the time is now.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/03/14/liberals-to-dem-leaders-dont-even-think-about-touching-social-security-benefits/

Pelosi: ‘Let’s Take A Look’ At Chained CPI
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022506742

[upaloopa]

1. The Dem leader has already caved.

[merrily]

23. Caved?

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-01-16/politics/36899872_1_barack-obama-key-economic-priority-items-entitlement-reform

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/07/29/1000282/-Conyers-spills-the-beans-on-Obama-SS-jobs-bill-call-for-WH-protests

Video http://www.crewof42.com/news/conyers-on-jobs-weve-had-it-lays-out-obama-calls-for-protest-at-white-house/

[HiPointDem]

26. 'leader'? i'd call her something else but they'd ban me.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

2. SUPER-RICH TO DEM LEADERS: Make your bones, audition for us, and you don't need to stay in gov't

Last edited Thu Mar 14, 2013, 05:01 PM - Edit history (1)

Bill Clinton got rich after signing NAFTA and the Gramm–Leach–Bliley bill. You can too.

Why not? What do you otherwise want to do? Return home and retire like Harry Truman?

Here's a guy who was not a sell-out, but he didn't get rich:

[sangsaran]

7. Or they could be like Jimmy Carter...

And get kicked out of office by someone bent on destroying the country.

[merrily]

24. Reagan? Whom both Hillary and Obama named as one of the ten best Presidents of all time?

Reagan? THE moderate Republican of the 1980s?

http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/obama-considered-moderate-republican-1980s/story?id=17973080

[99Forever]

3. Don't these people understand 11 D chess?

Oh well...


... ain't quite crowded enough under the bus yet.

[RC]

5. Those that support Obama using this n dimensional chess reminds me a whole lot of those that say

"God works in mysterious ways". And for the same bullshit reasons. Trying to justify the unjustifiable.

(And BTY, It's a big bus. Plenty of room under there for many more.)

[Cha]

4. It's Good they're speaking out. Pres Obama needs this

left flank to show gopricks how we feel about their attempt to destroy our earned safety nets.

[Dragonfli]

6. It is good we are speaking out, but ironically it is the gopricks that have yet to sign off

On this attempt to destroy our earned safety nets. With any luck they will continue to protect these earned safety nets, I would have thought the Dems would be the ones not to sign off on it.

There is one moderate that is quite serious about entitlement cuts that is trying to earn GOP support for the cuts as well, we need to stop this guy before he talks them into it, glad to have you aboard in the fight to preserve our safety nets!

[JDPriestly]

8. They should not "take a look" at chained CPI.

It would be a disaster for the country. Social Security gives seniors just enough to live on. That is especially true of women who may have taken a few years from work to raise children. The baby boomers do not have the pensions that their parents had. I have seen what happens when parents have to ask their children for help. It is not uncommon today among unemployed people in their 50s.

And if the parents are sick or need a lot of medical care, the burden is especially heavy on the children who are probably trying to raise their own children and care for their parents.

If Social Security had not been created, we would need to create it now. The benefits at the low end are just barely enough as it is. People who have income besides Social Security pay taxes on their income just like everyone else and probably more because they are not likely to have some of the deductions that working people, especially self-employed people, have.

[maddiemom]

12. YES! I very much agree.

[merrily]

25. An average of $1000 a month is considerably less than enough to live on.

[ananda]

9. Hear hear!

..

[forestpath]

10. Feels like Bush is still president.

[FogerRox]

11. KnR

[sangsaran]

13. I think we'd be a lot better off

if we'd stop giving the "entitlement" nonsense term a free pass.

Calling it entitlement is promoting GOP propaganda, and allowing them to frame the discussion.

[Capt13]

20. I am so sick of that BS

Dems need to start framing things better Now,instead of letting the RW Propagandists frame the language for them. Shaping the speech in the political arena has been a coherent strategy for them for close to 2 decades. SOCIAL SECURITY is an "entitlement" that every worker bought and paid for with (another RW epithat) "Payroll taxes", Otherwise known as
Federal Insurance Contribution Account.....
It is an insurance policy all workers contribute to hoping to live long enough to collect whats put in with interest. I'll bet 7 out of 10 on the street aren't aware of that or the fact that SS does not contribute one penny to the deficit as it is totally separate from the federal budget. (aside from the fact the treasury has borrowed against the surplus and is unwilling to pay it back).
I wonder how many Congressman know.
I didn't hear the righties whining about the solvency of "entitlement programs"
when the had the "payroll tax holiday"
I haven't heard any talk of means testing or cutting insurance (ENTITLEMENT) payments to banks that made poor choices.
Remove the cap on FICA, including capital gains, negotiate drug prices.

[merrily]

27. I believe Bill Clinton was the first Democratic President to call them "entitlements."

Report of the Bipartisan Commission on Entitlement and Tax Reform

http://www.ssa.gov/history/reports/KerreyDanforth/KerreyDanforth.htm

Speaking of Commissions, the DLC recommended that Obama appoint a Sunset Commission to review federal programs to see which can be eliminated..

http://www.dlc.org/ndol_cicb73.html?kaid=86&subid=84&contentid=254871

While he did not ask the Cat Food Commission to eliminate Social Security, he did appoint the Commission right about when he signed Obamacare into law.

[John2]

14. I think people on the other

side are underestimating Liberal Dems this time. Obama might has won a second term but don't count on his preference being coronated in a Democratic Primary next time if he continues down this path. Even Ellis will have a potential to run against Obama's choice. Democratic voters are not the sheep people think they are. Obama should know that himself when he defeated Hillary Clinton. It was not because of the color of his skin like some on the other side really thinks. They really care about issues and Hillary's acceptance of sending this country into an illegal War was damaging to her. Obama clubbed her over the head with that issue. Respect the voters that put you in office. They did not put him there to cow tow to the extreme right. He will definately get opposition and it has the potential to divide a united Democratic Party. So they better set him straight for their own good. And I'll say Pelosi and Harry Reid can also be replaced in the leadership.

[merrily]

29. Obama promised to "reform" entitlements before he ever took office.

Then he appointed the Cat Food Commission.
Then, he put Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare on the table before Boehner or Cantor asked for them.
Then he got the Grand Bargain Commission formed.
Then he arranged for the sequester.
Then he got re-elected.

A politician could care less if you hold your nose while you vote for him or her, as long as you do vote for him or her.

[AnnieK401]

15. I think Chained CPI is what is causing Obama's approval rating to slide downward.

It's not as dramatic as the media is portraying, but it is hurting him.

[99th_Monkey]

34. and I thought "Obama not having to worry about getting reelected"

was going to usher in a New Progressive Renaissance politically.

oh well.

[AnnieK401]

35. I'm not saying he is worrying about polls.

He doesn't have to worry about getting reelected but he does have to worry about getting things done and running the country. Unfortunately the R's still control the house, I hate it but it's a fact. Nothing he can do about it. He seems to be trying to work with them to try and get some necessary things done. But the two sides seem to be too far apart. No way the R's are going to work with him, and people are blaming him.

[JEB]

16. Let's take a look

at Pelosi's obscenely huge bankroll. Let these rich MFer's get by on $800 a month.

[FiveGoodMen]

17. Dem leaders to liberals: "We don't care about 'professional leftists' who should be drug tested...

...anyway.

When we want your opinion, we'll tell you what it is.

If fact, scratch that, just give us your money and your vote and shut the fuck up."

[madville]

18. I'll never understand

How the Left as a (D) base gets crapped on at every turn and the Right as an (R) base gets sucked up to nonstop by their respective parties.

Go ahead and piss off the left before 2014 elections, it's like they are following a script.

[merrily]

28. The right base has proven it will put you out of office unless you kowtow to them.

The right base does not have much of a choice as to Democrats at the federal level because that cake is baked by the DCCC and the DSCC before the primaries even begin.

You know who headed the DCCC in 2006? Rahm Emanuel.

See also Reply 29.

[lib2DaBone]

19. Obama has been after Social Security since he appointed Simpson-Bowles

If Obama slashes Social Security...he will be the first DEM President in history to undo the New Deal.

And for what? What will he get in return from Boehner? NOTHING.

Dems need to watch Obama closely and hold his feet to the fire.

Obama has already gone beyond Jumping-the-shark with his drone strikes on innocent women and children, and it was Obama who promised us transparency as he signed the NDAA... one of the WORST assaults against our constitution.

Obama has the ability to Desroy the Democratic party... while no one is watching and no ne cares.

[merrily]

30. Since before his first inauguration.

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-01-16/politics/36899872_1_barack-obama-key-economic-priority-items-entitlement-reform

[woo me with science]

21. So fucking sick of having to fight a Democratic President

over his insistence on Republican policies.

[whathehell]

31. Yeah, I've been feeling that way since he first offered up our money for his "grand bargain"

I believe we've been had...This guy is a moderate repub, not a democrat.

[woo me with science]

32. He's not moderate. He is an extreme corporatist, like most of both parties now.

There is absolutely nothing moderate about what's being done to this country.

Indefinite detention, "kill lists" and drone wars, pre-emptive war as administration doctrine, spy centers for mining or surveillance of all phone calls and email and internet activity without a warrant, internet IDs and internet-censoring measures like ACTA, military drones in American skies, coordinated violent crackdowns against peaceful protesters, strip searches for any arrestee, corporate education deform, new drilling and selling off the Gulf of Mexico, job-killing free trade agreements, big agriculture appointments, bailouts and settlements for corrupt banks, austerity budgets, and attacking Social Security and Medicare in an economy that has already impoverished its middle class.....

.....These are not moderate or centrist positions. Not by a long shot.

These are extreme corporatist, neocon, and police state policies, not "centrist" or moderate at all. And they are coming from corporatists in both parties.


Obama, Democrats Push to Make Bush Spying Laws Permanent
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022084702

The Enemy Expatriation Act - another attack on legitimate protest and dissent like NDAA
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022072450

FBI Investigated 'Occupy' As Possible 'Domestic Terrorism' Threat, Internal Documents Show
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022061578

NDAA 2013 - Indefinite detention without trial is back
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014342985

Congress, at Last Minute, Drops Requirement to Obtain Warrant to Monitor Email
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014348022

Democratic-controlled US Senate approves...new $633 billion war bill
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022060449

Purposely aiming bombs at children: "It kind of opens our aperture."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021931748

Obama Administration To Offer More Than 20 Million Acres in Western Gulf of Mexico for Oil/Drilling
http://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1896005

Obama's (Corporate) Education Reform Push is Bad Education Policy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x221922

Trans Pacific Partnership is NAFTA On Steroids
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1914478

NYT slams the government for choosing not to prosecute HSBC top-bankers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021965407

Why is Social Security Under Attack from Obama, when it ADDS NOTHING to the deficit???
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022065493

Obama: "Too many of us have been interested in defending programs as written in 1938."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2069607




The Democratic Party's Deceitful Game
http://www.salon.com/2010/02/23/democrats_34/

It's well past time to give up the illusion of what we are really facing here. We have a *systemic* problem of corporate money deluging Washington and corrupting both parties. We are under assault by corporatists who pretend to represent us, and we had better figure out what we are going to do about it, because change is not coming from those who claim to be on our side.


This is the distribution of wealth in which our "moderate" President is trying to cut our social safety nets:

[JEB]

33. Thanks WMWS.

If this is chess, I don't like how this game is shaping up. Working people better brace for the wire brush treatment.

[woo me with science]

36. Did you see this one yet?

And here comes Keystone
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022518030

We knew it was coming all along, but it is described in our lying media as though it is a "retreat."

So sick of the propaganda that pretends this administration's agenda on behalf of the banks and corporations is not crystal clear and played out in front of our eyes *every single day.* As though the constant, relentless, outrageous parade of betrayals is merely a series of brief "retreats" from this administration's *real* positions.

The use of the word "retreat" here reflects the Orwellian chutzpah of the corporate propaganda we are fed, every single day. It is nothing short of insulting.

[whathehell]

37. I've seen the distribution of wealth chart, and it is jaw dropping. Having said that,

I agree that Obama is a "corporatist"...An extreme corporatist?...I don't know.

You wouldn't really put him in the same leagues as Romney/Gingrich and company, would you?

[grahamhgreen]

22. Thanks Pro!