Schumer accuses GOP of 'war on seniors'

[babylonsister]

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/chuck-schumer-gop-war-on-seniors-231951?cmpid=sf


Schumer accuses GOP of 'war on seniors'
By Burgess Everett
11/29/16 04:09 PM EST


Future Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer trotted out a new messaging attack on Donald Trump and congressional Republicans on Tuesday, accusing the GOP of "plotting a war on seniors" with its plans to repeal Obamacare and potentially privatize Medicare.

Faced with having to swallow Rep. Tom Price's (R-Ga.) nomination as Trump's secretary of health and human services, Schumer is hoping that unified Democratic opposition to privatizing health care plans for seniors can be a rallying point — as well as a political shield to save endangered Democratic senators. Senate Democrats are defending five Senate seats in deeply conservative states in 2018, but Schumer vowed that his entire caucus will oppose any effort to change the current single-payer Medicare system for seniors.

"Between this nomination of an avowed Medicare opponent and the Republicans here threatening to privatize Medicare it's clear that Washington Republicans are plotting a war on seniors next year. Every senior, every American, should hear this loudly and clearly: Democrats will not let them win that fight," Schumer said. "Democrats from blue states, purple states, red states are going to link arm-and-arm to protect Medicare for our seniors and ensure that Republicans don't succeed in putting our seniors healthcare at risk."

A bid to make changes to entitlement programs is most likely to start in the House, where House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has suggested that a repeal of Obamacare should be paired with changes to programs like Medicare. Price has likewise listed Medicare reform as a key priority for Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) declined to address the matter on Tuesday and Trump has not voiced support for changing Medicare to a private insurance program.

Given the lack of GOP unity on the issue, along with the voting strength of seniors, Medicare offers Schumer an opportunity to go on the offensive after Democrats were crushed on Election Day. And while Democrats retain the power to filibuster legislation in the Senate, Republicans could conceivably force through entitlement reforms via budget reconciliation, which allows passage of some legislation by a simple majority.

But that would be far more difficult if Schumer and congressional Democrats are able to mount a sustained campaign against the GOP's "war on seniors," a strategy reminiscent of their "war on women" messaging of past election cycles as well as the party's opposition to President George W. Bush's efforts to privatize Social Security.

"Just as their efforts failed then, they will fail now. We say to our Republicans who want to privatize Medicare, we say: go try it. Make our day," Schumer said.

[Achilleaze]

1. #RepublicanWarOnSeniors

Behold the hashtag of the future.

And whatever became of #WarOnChristmas ? You don't mean to suggest that was just a big bag of Republican horseshit, do you?

[gordianot]

2. As a senior many have brought this on themselves.

......and for those I have no god Damn sympathy or patience.

[madokie]

3. Idiots voting based on wedge issues is why we're where we are right now

god, guns, gays and abortions are wedge issues that the gop uses to win elections with.

[heaven05]

4. I hope Schumers

words aren't just hot air and bluster. Medicare, Social Security, my V.A. benefit for being poisoned while in Vietnam, "in harms way". Allegedly, according to kissinger, to keep the "dominos" from falling. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the many thousands from republiKKKan shrub bush's wars, especially Iraq, in danger of seeing funds cut for their on going treatments for both physical and mental wounding in a war based on PNAC lies. Fuck!!!