Santorum: Trim Social Security now even if painful

[Faygo Kid]

Keene, N.H.— Risking the wrath of older voters, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is calling for immediate cuts to Social Security benefits and says the country can't wait to phase in reductions as most of his rivals have advocated.

"We can't wait 10 years," even though "everybody wants to," Santorum told a crowd while campaigning in New Hampshire Friday, breaking with opponents who say immediate cuts would be too big a shock to current and soon-to-be retirees.

Calling for cuts in Social Security often triggers strong opposition, and politicians typically suggest phase-in periods of up to a decade when broaching the topic.

Santorum, who was trying to leverage his strong Iowa showing in New Hampshire, argued that everyone must sacrifice now because the nation's "house is on fire" with soaring federal debt. He argued that he is being courageous and honest by telling Americans they can't afford to wait to rein in Social Security's growing costs. And he said he anticipated possible attack ads on his position, four days ahead of New Hampshire's GOP primary. . .

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120106/POLITICS03/201060438/1361/Santorum--Trim-Social-Security-now-even-if-painful

This is unbelievable. Or maybe nothing is unbelievable from this crowd anymore. Needless to say, he rules out any tax hikes whatsoever or other adjustments - just cuts, and now.

[southernyankeebelle]

1. This man has lost the election. But then again he never had a chance.

[jberryhill]

2. Serious question - who does he think is a "Santorum voter"?

Every time he opens his mouth, he alienates someone.

I just really don't get it.

[Joe Bacon]

39. Somebody who is stupid

Sad truth is there are plenty of fools who will vote for Frothy.

[Cleita]

3. Well, I guess if all the old people die from neglect and starvation,

then it won't be a problem anymore.



Really, is that their agenda? Get rid of all the old people except the rich ones and those whose family can afford to take care of them?

When did this country turn into a societal sewer?

[a simple pattern]

9. Yes, and 1980

[liberal N proud]

4. If American voters fall for the republican shit this election...

They will deserve everything they get.

These monsters don't even pretend to be for the people.

[jwirr]

62. Absolutely. Unfortunately that means we get it to even if we tried to fight it.

[mysuzuki2]

5. Santorum is getting harder and harder to swollow.

[alp227]

38. eww...is it even edible to begin with?

[Blacksheep214]

6. Dear Korea and Vietnam Veterans

We obviously didn't fuck you hard enough in those useless 'wars', you lived.

So here comes one last reaming! You can be homeless because SS won't pay enough to live. Your healthcare is also gone.

Now do have the good graces to hurry up and die!

USMC Vet.

[hamsterjill]

17. +1

Hadn't really ever thought of it that way, but you are certainly right on target. It's disgusting!

[sulphurdunn]

47. No, I do not have the good grace

to hurry up and die, but I do have certain dormant skill sets. The kinds you try and forget about but never forget how to use.

[whathehell]

53. Yes. Harshly worded, but true.

[Blacksheep214]

63. We represent the failed commitment

our government promised us after coming home, and our many numbers count as a negative against the Republicans. The right being the war mongers and profiteers. The MIC.

By hastening our passing they can bullshit a new generation, the desert vets, who will eventually see the lies for themselves.

Sure we'll take care of you.

People forget that SS is more than retirement benefits!

These insane ideas must be stopped.

[whathehell]

65. I am with you a Thousand percent!...I'm not a vet, but have friends who were, and I'll be

damned if I'll let them take away your Vets benefits, all of our Social Security or Medicare...That is REALLY the

last friggin' straw, in my book.

[tabasco]

7. Does he mean everybody?

Or just the blah people?

[freshwest]

16. No, that was Newt. Keep your demagogues straight, LOL!

Well, Rick did talk about 'blah' people in Iowa, though...

[freedom fighter jh]

8. Social security is not a driver of the debt nt

[cstanleytech]

27. Could you link that please?

I am just wondering because I have seen some claim it is and others claim it isnt and I am just wondering if you happen to have a link from an unbiased source that would answer the question, thanks.

[karynnj]

29. Social Security took in more than it paid at least since 1986 when they "fixed" SS

The surplus went to the treasury and SS has IOUs.

The difference in the claims depends on definitions.

1) It is true that in 2011, SS took in less than it paid out.

2) It is also true that part of the difference was paid from general funds to make up for the payroll holiday. Any additional deficit was paid out of general funds, reducing the IOUs.

If you accept that the IOUs are real, SS will NOT run out of money for decades - and with very minor changes will be good for this century!

However, some - including Alan Greenspan, who argued for the higher rates to deal with the baby boom retirement- argue that it would be too much a burden on the future generations to honor all the IOUs. Yes, Greenspan is a hypocrite. These people are the ones saying that SS is running a deficit. (In essence, if the IOUs are not real, they raised the comparatively regressive payroll taxes and used that revenue to lower income taxes - especially for the wealthiest.)

There are some in the middle who are saying that SS is solvent for decades, but who admit that under the current tax code, the payments that will have to go from general funds to SS and Medicare and the interest payment on our debt will leave very little money for any discretionary programs (most of which help the needy) They are the ones saying we need to not extend the Bush tax cuts (at least for the wealthy) and we should raise taxes.

(Not a link - but an explanation)

[cstanleytech]

31. Thats good enough, thanks. nt

[Sherman A1]

44. Thank You Kindly

That was a good & simple to understand explanation!

[whathehell]

54. Exactly...These pricks need to be reminded of this at EVERY turn. n/t

[PSPS]

37. You're right. The SS fund isn't part of the general ledger. Plus, it runs a hefty surplus.

The Social Security Trust Fund has never contributed a penny to the national debt, so "cutting social security" won't have any effect at all on the budget deficit or national debt.

[workinclasszero]

10. Lets see this fucking idiot run in the general on this platform!

PLEASE oh PLEASE let Santorum be the teabagger nominee!

750 military bases around the world, massive military takes about 3/4 of the entire budget I think, never-ending wars and no taxes raised to cover the costs so...

Lets push Grandma and Grandad off a cliff! Yeah! Thats the ticket!

[harun]

18. Nothing like backing positions 90% of people HATE. Santorum wouldn't get over 30% of the vote.

[alp227]

41. haha is it better for Santorum to talk himself down the hill or Romney to be too moderate?

Brent Bozell's latest column "Santorum vs. the Meat Grinder" complained: "Clearly, Romney is the opponent that Barack Obama and the liberal establishment want nominated." But you have a better idea. Bozell quoted ABC's Jake Tapper commenting: "...in order for Santorum to succeed, he really needs to expand beyond those base Republican voters." I doubt that a homophobic pig like Santorum would appeal much to moderate/independent voters.

(ETA) one comment on the newsbusters post of the Bozell piece wrote: "I am no Romney fan because I feel he is not very honest, but I prefer him to Santorum. Independents came out in droves for Obama last time because of their dislike of George Bush and the youth voted in droves last time because they wanted A Black President

Independents overall do not like Santorum very much because of social stances and ditto for the youth. Not too long ago, people dislike for Obama would have anybody beating him. That might not be the case anymore. The unemployment rate dropped to 8.5 in December. Combine that with capturing OBL and the end of the Iraq war and you have a formidable opponent in Obama."

[DCKit]

50. "...the youth voted in droves last time because they wanted A Black President "

Such BS and totally dismissive of young adults.

[monmouth]

11. Is he receiving applauds at these events? He's so disgusting..n/t

[freshwest]

15. Poor coordination. Newt had the senior center gig. Instead of taking this approach, he talked about

Those 'blah' people...

Not that he doesn't do that, too...

Sigh...

[onehandle]

12. Well, He's done. nt

[livetohike]

13. He won't last until the PA primary, but if he did, he would be toast

Great message Little Ricky

[wandy]

14. I sure hope Santorum wins Tusday. You see,,,,

Since his recent moment in the 'lime light', Santorum appears to have gone on a one man campain to piss of everyone and anyone. You got to figure the longer he keeps winning the more people will be discusted with him.
I'de like to see it won by 'a vote for Obama'. But if people come out in droves, I won't turn down victory by 'a vote aginst Santorum'.
Could you imagin car pooling with this creep?

[Little Star]

19. Nice christian attitude there Ricky.

[marmar]

20. Idiots on soapboxes.

nt

[safeinOhio]

21. He left something out

"argued that everyone must sacrifice now because the nation's "house is on fire" with soaring federal debt." Except the 1 %.

[Faygo Kid]

25. +1

[fascisthunter]

22. unfeeling evil sociopath

[unkachuck]

23. "...Rick Santorum is calling for immediate cuts to Social Security benefits...

....dickie, dickie, dickie....I have greatly over-estimated your political ability and your desire to become president....even a die-hard lintball-lovin' bagger on Social Security won't vote for you now....why do you say such things?

....you're making that rich Mormon look good....

[OnlinePoker]

24. Here's an idea

Being Canadian, I can't be sure of this info, but I read that South Carolina and New Hampshire are open primaries where anyone can vote, not just Republicans. If all the Democratic supporters go and vote for Sanitarium so that he wins both primaries, maybe the Republicans across the country would think he was a viable candidate and be duped into voting for him in their state primaries. He wins the nomination and then Obama slaughters him in the election based on his platform.

[DCKit]

51. I think that will happen a lot in the states with open primaries. nt

[Auntie Bush]

71. Good point/idea. I think/ hope that's just what will happen. nt

[AlbertCat]

26. Can't they just put back

the money they "borrowed" from SS?
Talk about debt.

The corporations that pay no taxes while getting billions in profits can sacrifice to achieve this.

[donco]

28. He can kiss off Florida. nt

[Mojeoux]

30. "S" is for the Sanity he's lacking

"A" is for the Asshole things he says.
"N" is for his Nasty implications.
"T" is for the Tightass plans for the poor he has.
"O" is for the Froth and where it goes.
"R" is for his blatant Racist pose.
"U" is for his Ugly homo-phobic rants
"M" is for the Mutherfucking Koch bros and all the money in their murky, moldy pants.

Put them all together they spell Google
and a creepy "non Mitt" guy with half a chance.

[Historic NY]

32. Everything is cut, cut, cut..with this crowd.....raise the cap solve the problem

expand it out above the 110100.00 cap. It would take care of the present roll back on payroll taxes too.

[valerief]

33. I recommend we trim Mr. Frothy. nt

[DallasNE]

34. Everything Has To Be Punative With Santorum

With talk like that he will be lucky to come in 3rd in Florida. And it raises the question, why does Santorum hate Americans?

[CarmanK]

35. IT IS CLEAR,SS IS STILL A PRIMARY TARGET ON THE REPUG agenda to enrich Wall street1

Wall Street wants all that investment money to RISK and play with. They are not interested in securing the people's future. And if they make mistakes, well that is just the breaks. BULL. The common good has to be protected and WALL STREET is a very bad CARE TAKER or protector.

[whathehell]

55. +1 n/t

[Blue Owl]

36. Who listens to this fucknut and his fake crises?

Santorum is full of shit.

[Joe Bacon]

40. Plenty of Preachers are flocking to Frothy!

They love to preach that Pie in the Sky When You Die shtick.

[jmowreader]

42. They talk about "touching the third rail" being deadly to a political campaign

Santorum didn't "touch" the third rail. He coated it with the grease they put on defib paddles and grabbed on with both hands.

If Rick Santorum wins the general-election nomination, he will have the most significant negative coattails of any Republican in the last 50 years. Not only will Frothy Rick lose, tons of downticket Republicans will meet the same fate.

[area51]

43. It never ceases to amaze me how much republicans hate the human race,

and especially the disabled and elderly.

Why don't they just come clean and say they want to rename this country the "United States of Sparta" or "The Fourth Reich"?

[Kahuna]

45. freepers are having a 400+ thread meltdown over this...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2829774/posts?q=1&;page=51

The consensus is they don't like it and think santorum just sealed his fate.

So, somebody tell me again why they support republicans at all????? They're all talking about limiting SS.

[Faygo Kid]

49. That's because many (most?) are on SS and now it's personal.

Pretty interesting on a Saturday morning over coffee. They are in contortions over there; they always want someone else's income/health care cut in favor of the 1%, but now it's their pocketbooks at stake. Their ideology vs. their well-being.

[Kahuna]

52. But why is it that they don't get that THIS is the party line..

from their sainted Paul Ryan? What makes them think any republican nominee would protect SS. Myth will do contortions to make it appear that he would protect SS, but when the times comes he will tow the party platform.

[Faygo Kid]

56. The only difference is that Santorum says cut now, not later

Paul Ryan says he wouldn't touch current beneficiary benefits, while Santorum would indeed cut their benefits now. That hits them in their own pocketbooks - and self-interest.

[Kahuna]

59. Got it. Thanks!

[workinclasszero]

69. This just in from teabagger central:

Last edited Sat Jan 7, 2012, 11:04 PM - Edit history (1)

I never believed that he could win, but that no longer matters... Santorum JUST LOST.

He is apparently both dangerous and stupid.



Even the jackasses at freakrepublic get it!

I for one hope Santorum defeats Mittens and grabs the rethug nomination! Obama will annihilate him and the dems will seize both houses of congress!

GO BROTHER RICK!! Lead your heretical and un-American army to complete and total defeat in the fall!!!

[BootinUp]

46. HaHaHa, its a gift to a Obama and the dems!

[sulphurdunn]

48. This comming from a guy

who made his fortune abetting Medicaid fraud after being booted from the Senate.

[AzDar]

57. Something's "on fire", all right...and I'm pretty sure it's Frothy's pants. He is vile.

[BeyondGeography]

58. Rick Sanitorium, evil political genius

[Moostache]

60. Read about 5 replies on the link to the Freepers...

What is stunning to me is their utter lack of ability to handle even basic math or comprehend the order of magnitude difference between MILLIONS and BILLIONS...

Cutting EPA, NPR, IRS and the rest of their favorite targets would be only short of solving the problem by, oh a few BILLION more than all of that combined. They have been sold a bill of goods that allows them to traffic in nonsense and delusion. Pick something they do not like, spin it to make it a case of those shiftless "blah" people getting some of the white man's money and then send them off to crusade like the idiots they are...

This is not hard to understand - Congress lacked the guts to make the choices they needed to, so they saw the pile of SS cash as being an easy way out. They paid for tax cuts and revenue reductions with money that was not theirs and now the bill is coming due and rather than face the music - the fact is that tax rates MUST rise to historical levels REGARDLESS of whether the programs and agencies of government conservative don't like are cut or not. There is a reason that income tax marginal rates used to be ABOVE 50% for decades and that prosperity was more wide-spread and even than it is now.

I just have little to no hope that ANY our so-called leaders will ever make the moves that could truly fix this nation; they will just keep on lying and kicking the can and hoping they get out of Dodge before the reality shit storm hits in full...

[eyewall]

61. Well said!

[Corruption Winz]

64. Yes, the house is on fire...

Quick, somebody get the gasoline! This guy, I've noticed -- and I'm going out on a limb here -- is not very bright.

[whathehell]

66. LOL...You are correct, sir....He couldn't even win back his senate seat in Pennsylvania. n/t

[LongTomH]

67. There's no real difference between the GOP candidates on Social Security or any economic issue

They all represent the 1% against the 99%.

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/01/02/395363/gop-economic-agenda-for-the-one-percent/?mobile=nc

[ProfessionalLeftist]

68. Not painful to HIM

Mr. 1% KNOWS he'll never need it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/07/santorums-income-has-soar_n_1191153.html

[yurbud]

70. Dems will have to try awfully hard to lose to people who keep shooting themselves in the face...

But they will do their darnedest to try, I'm sure.

[opihimoimoi]

72. He is toast...never will win this oval thing....too much stuuupidity

[wordpix]

73. spoken like someone whose net worth is $1M-$2M

Who needs SSec. when you have $$$ like this? And Sanitorium's worth is what's known about now---the unknown worth is another thing. And Faux News commentator is an accomplishment???

http://xfinity.comcast.net/slideshow/news-networthrepublicancandidates/9/

Rick Santorum
Estimated net worth: $880,000 – $1.9 million
Major accomplishments: Senator from Pennsylvania, Fox News commentator

Rick Santorum was a member of the House of Representatives in the early 1990s. He then became a senator from Pennsylvania until 2007. Santorum was a regular contributor to Fox News, a columnist, a consultant to an energy company, and a member of a conservative think-tank in D.C. According to Politico, the former senator’s public financial disclosure lists Santorum’s net worth as being between $880,000 and $1.9 million. According to Pittsburgh-based site Early Returns, most of Santorum’s assets “are tied up in rental properties he owns around the Penn State campus and college savings plans for five of his children.”