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In reply to the discussion: Obama praises Romney: "I suspect that on Social Security we’ve got a somewhat similar position" [View all]Lasher
(29,399 posts)42. Obama's Social Security Answer Leaves Democrats Utterly Baffled
WASHINGTON -- Of all the moments that left Democrats scratching their collective head following President Barack Obama's debate performance Wednesday night, his comment on Social Security appeared to sting the most.
It was not that the president said anything particularly alarming about how he intends to address the program: His broader points were consistent with past statements. It was that, when presented with the opportunity to contrast his vision with that of his opponent, Obama took a pass, going so far as to say he didn't think it was an issue of disagreement.
"I suspect that on Social Security, we've got a somewhat similar position," Obama said. "Social Security is structurally sound. It's going to have to be tweaked the way it was by Ronald Reagan and Speaker -- Democratic Speaker Tip O'Neill. But it is -- the basic structure is sound."
<snip>
"There is a real difference in philosophy," she said. "For Obama to say that he believes he and Romney agree, either Obama has not been straight about his position on Social Security all these years, or he and his campaign haven't looked at Romney's position."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/obama-social-security_n_1940755.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012
It was not that the president said anything particularly alarming about how he intends to address the program: His broader points were consistent with past statements. It was that, when presented with the opportunity to contrast his vision with that of his opponent, Obama took a pass, going so far as to say he didn't think it was an issue of disagreement.
"I suspect that on Social Security, we've got a somewhat similar position," Obama said. "Social Security is structurally sound. It's going to have to be tweaked the way it was by Ronald Reagan and Speaker -- Democratic Speaker Tip O'Neill. But it is -- the basic structure is sound."
<snip>
"There is a real difference in philosophy," she said. "For Obama to say that he believes he and Romney agree, either Obama has not been straight about his position on Social Security all these years, or he and his campaign haven't looked at Romney's position."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/obama-social-security_n_1940755.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012
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Obama praises Romney: "I suspect that on Social Security we’ve got a somewhat similar position" [View all]
MannyGoldstein
Oct 2012
OP
"tweaked the way it was by Ronald Reagan and Speaker" = having workers pay more than the
HiPointDem
Oct 2012
#12
The problem that needed to be solved was simply that the trust fund balance had gone nearly
HiPointDem
Oct 2012
#18
It's just easier for most folks to push realities like this out of their mind.
Poll_Blind
Oct 2012
#6
SS will still be able to pay out about 80% of presently scheduled benefits if no changes at all are
HiPointDem
Oct 2012
#19
Because that's the way the politicians set it up in 1982 -- on an 'actuarial basis'.
HiPointDem
Oct 2012
#35
And people wonder why I characterize compliments you might give him as backhanded... nt
stevenleser
Oct 2012
#27
As I type this, the post above says "What advice would you give the president for the next debate?"
lumberjack_jeff
Oct 2012
#36
It's a lot easier to be the "tweak-er" than the "tweak-ee"--think about it "grand bargainers"...
tokenlib
Oct 2012
#44
For the moment this is still a democracy..we don't have to roll over and take the "tweaking." N/T
tokenlib
Oct 2012
#53