Democrats Emerge From White House Meeting Determined Not To Cave On Medicare, Taxes

[TomCADem]

Source: TPM

House Democrats emerged from a White House meeting with President Obama confident that the GOP Medicare plan has Republicans on the ropes and more determined than ever to ensure that tax increases on the wealthiest Americans are included in any long-term debt-reduction package.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said the meeting was "very productive" and a "great exchange of ideas."

In negotiations with Republicans to raise the debt-ceiling and reduce the ballooning debt, Pelosi said Democrats and the President are committed to strengthening the middle class and reducing the debt with "balance" and "fairness."

* * *
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said Democrats and Obama have clear objectives in the negotiations: "We need to bring the deficits down and make sure Medicare is strengthened and preserved."

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/democrats-emerge-from-white-house-meeting-determined-not-to-cave-on-medicare-taxes.php

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Of course, watch the corporate media spin this as meaning that neither Democrats nor President Obama are serious about reducing the debt, because the Republicans already said that tax increases are "off the table," and of course the media will not dare ask Republicans how tax increases can be off the table if Democrats are still pushing for it. However, if Republicans say that privitizing Medicare is still on the table, then it is even if Democrats repeatedly say no freakin way and the American people say no freakin way.

Why? Because if there is a default, the President Obama and Democrats will be blamed for not being serious, and taking Republicans pre-conditions that taxes to the rich are a non-starter whereas the destruction of Medicare is perfectly reasonable in the minds of the corporate media.

See how it works? Give Republicans a free pass. Blame the Democrats. Rince and repeat.

[Somawas]

1. They had better not fold.

Ever. Forghet the spin. Not folding is the only right thing to do.

[vi5]

3. It won't be the folding that angers me...

I'm used to that. I expect it and am sadly, numb to it.

It will be the fact that they'll fold and then they'll do a victory lap about it, and a sizable enough contingent on these here pages will be expecting us to applaud along and praise the wisdom in caving and be yelled at if we're not happy because we just don't recognize the political reality.

That's what will piss me off. That I can never get used to and that I'm not numb to yet.

[vi5]

2. It won't come to that...

Because we'll cave. That's what we do. We never learn and we always cave. And we still always get the blame.

If we caved and got credit for being the adults in the room willing to compromise then it would be one thing. But we cave and we get the blame.

What did I read recently? Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me 20 times.......I'm a democrat. That about sums our leadership (with the exception of maybe Pelosi) up quite nicely.

[TomCADem]

4. "Give Republicans a free pass. Blame the Democrats. Rinse and repeat"

See, the corporate media narrative lives! Taste the corporate media narrative.

[savalez]

5. LOL! Amazing how fast it works on some people.

:rofl:

[Hotler]

17. Impeachment is off the table. I call that caving in. n/t

[savalez]

6. Good commentary TomCADem, but I hope

you are wrong this time. This is just too important and I think the people will win this one when all is said and done (meaning Pubs will lose).

[Lionessa]

7. Excellent! However, I've never really worried about Nancy and the House,

until after the Senate Dems cave. Then she/they seem to have no choice. Seems we heard this about single payer and bank reforms and more, but in the end the Senate f's things up and Nancy etal have to cave.

[Historic NY]

8. Spinal excercises....Will we see the blue dogs defect?

[PuffedMica]

9. The Bush tax cuts need to be repealed

Our Government needs revenue, and the rich have to be made to pay their fair share.

[European Socialist]

10. Think back to last December......

Dems controlled everything and failed at doing nothing--I have zero confidence in them.

[Auntie Bush]

11. I seem to remember the ReThugs filibustered everything.

We need more Dems to have a filibuster proof congress this time around. We have too many Dems in Rethug districts and states. I don't know what we can do about that. :shrug:

[PurityOfEssence]

12. More power to them as they walk out of the White Cave

We shall see.

[SoapBox]

13. Dems will have to find a spine first...

Gads...how many time have they caved?

And as in the main post...will the MSM spin it to make the Dems look bad, NOT the Terrorist RushThugs?

Frustrating how we just can't see to win, when it comes to the media.

[AndyTiedye]

14. It Probably Will Come To That

The Repiggies are not bluffing.

Why should they? Default and everything shuts down except the military and the cops. What's not to like if you're a fascist Repig?
Oh, yeah, the markets. They'll crash hard. So the Koch brothers and their ilk go short and make a killing. What's not to like even more if you're a greedy robber baron?

[Nihil]

15. Well, not for 24 hours if you're lucky ...

They have to maintain their fig-leaf after all ...

[Javaman]

16. Isn't it odd that they actually have to make a statement like that?

"We really mean it this time! We really aren't going to cave! Honestly! We are sooooooooooo determined!"

This whole act is getting more and more like "The Office" everyday.

How about just shutting the fuck up and doing their jobs instead of painful press releases that only continues to make us all that much more cynical?

morons.

[savalez]

19. BS. They did NOT say what you put in quotes.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[savalez]

21. No, no and no.

Quotes are for quoting actual statements, not for making your Dem bashing seem credible.

[RandomKoolzip]

18. And Lucy Van Pelt Emerges from her Booth Determined to Really Let Charlie Brown Kick That Football