Simpson Apologizes to Critic (and WH Is Fine With It)

[katandmoon]

Alan K. Simpson, the Republican co-chairman of President Obama’s bipartisan fiscal commission, removed his “size 15 feet” from his mouth to apologize to a critic on Wednesday for a stinging letter in which he compared Social Security to “a milk cow with 310 million tits.”

The apology came as some liberal groups and members of Congress who oppose any changes to Social Security benefits called on Mr. Obama to fire Mr. Simpson, a former senator from Wyoming long known for his irreverent and often biting remarks.

But at the White House, Jennifer Psaki, the deputy communications director, said, “Alan Simpson has apologized and while we regret and do not condone his comments, we accept his apology and he will continue to serve.”

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/simpson-apologizes-to-critic/

Figures.

[DainBramaged]

1. Something told me he was going to get away with this, damnit

:puke:

[Autumn]

2. Isn't that sweet

:banghead:

[deminks]

3. Well, then I'm still going to call for his resignation and

for dissolving the entire Catfood Commission.

[Starry Messenger]

4. Quelle surprise.

"Move along, nothing to see here."

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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

[elleng]

13. No; doesn't mean that AT ALL.

They have to GOVERN.

[The Magistrate]

18. They Can Govern Without Mr. Simpson, Ma'am: The Man Should Be Fired

[Matariki]

27. Quite a 180 from the firing of Shirey Sherrod, no?

[Tsiyu]

60. I thought the same thing

Sherrod was illustrating why one should not have contempt for
"others."



Simpson is the Poster Child for a public official who has contempt for "others."



Color and gender appear to be the defining elements determining whom the media and the White house choose to excoriate.

[Sugarcoated]

52. Buh bye

filthy stupid racist Troll.

[elleng]

61. ???

[polmaven]

88. Are you sure you posted this

to the right response? :shrug:

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

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

[golddigger]

6. When is everyone going to realize

that they don't give a shit about the regular people.

[rocktivity]

7. But if Simpson believes that SS is an entitlement program

is he qualified to co-chair a fiscal commission?

:shrug:
rocktivity

[Zenlitened]

36. Nope. That's exactly it:

The man has a seething, venomous hatred of Social Security.

How is he in any way qualified to judge its merits and help determine its future?

He simply is not.

Pres. Obama needs to yank Simpson off the commission. Then dissolve the whole thing completely, and admit it was a dumb idea from the very start.

[chill_wind]

40. That's what's so insane. n/t

[20score]

8. No reason to get rid of him. Fox News hasn't made it a priority.

[Doctor_J]

17. True that. If a Dem had done this, he'd have been fired, fried, roasted,

castrated by now. but IOKIYAR

[dflprincess]

64. Only if it had upset the right wing

If Simpson said "Social Security is a wonderful program and all we should do is raise the income cap." It wouldn't matter what his party affiliation was, the explosion on the right would have guarnteed that he was gone by tomorrow morning.

[The Northerner]

9. That's it?

Well, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.

[Sherman A1]

10. Let's see here

A Department of Agriculture official is fired for something she did not say, without even a chance to respond and this "Gentleman" puts these charming comments in writing insulting everyone on Social Security and those that plan to collect it and he gets a free pass.

No, I Don't Think So...:banghead:

[hlthe2b]

11. Time to turn up the heat ....

Obama needs to be sent a message vis-a-vis social security and what we will not allow to be done to it. Not allowing Simpson to remain is a good way to send that signal.

[Doctor_J]

19. Good luck with that

:eyes:

[hlthe2b]

25. re:

My suggestion that we at least try fills you with so much disdain that you need to add the contemptuous eyeroll?

[quinnox]

12. I knew nothing would happen to him

I was going to post a thread along the lines of that, but then thought, why bother. Probably most others know he will continue to be on the commission anyway.

And when the commission makes its recommendations on cuts to social security, Alan Simpson will be talked about as having led an admirable role in being bipartisan and they all came up with this very reasonable solution that should be looked at as a good compromise.

[unblock]

14. wait -- a republican apologized??

usually a criminal conviction doesn't even get that response.

[Poboy]

15. This is who they are. -nt

[frogmarch]

16. Apology accepted! I knew it

would be, dammit. :eyes:

[Skittles]

37. aw heck, they probably agree with him

[Jefferson23]

20. How grand! You go Alan, the WH has got your back. n/t

[jannyk]

54. Wish the fuck they had ours :(

[earthside]

21. Of course! Simpson's a Repuglican!

This is the way the Obama White House works: if you're a Repuglican and make an ass out of yourself and offend half the nation, well, in the spirit of bipartisanship, it's okay.

But if you are a Democrat and are accused by Fox Noise or Mr. Breitbart of something untoward, well, they fire first and apologize later.

[Poboy]

22. Get your bag balm out..

[BlueIdaho]

23. Or has his power been neutralized.

Dunno... But why on earth should he ever be taken seriously again? Maybe he has effectively neutered himself.

Just sayin'

[Matariki]

24. I just watched that video with his 'lesser people" comment.

I don't get it, he's obviously an idiot. And a condescending idiot on top of that. How in the world was so much stupid put in charge of 'fixing the deficit'?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic415oTGOWQ

[NMMNG]

26. How surprising

Not. :puke:

[Angry Dragon]

28. alan simpson has degraded the American people, the White House

is not in a position to accept or reject his apology.

It is the American people that have that right. And as I have seen here
the American people reject his apology and wish him not to serve any longer.
If the president can not see that than he is not a very smart man
and I question whether he has the strength to lead this country.

[chill_wind]

29. "A" critic? "We" accept his apology--

The "WE" at the White House?

Talk about stone cold deaf politicians and journalists.

[Zenlitened]

30. "Fire Alan Simpson"

Paul Krugman:

I always thought that the deficit commission was a bad idea; it has only looked worse over time, as the buzz is that Democrats are caving in to Republicans, leaning ever further toward an all-cuts, no taxes solution, including a sharp rise in the retirement age.

I’ve also had my eye on Alan Simpson, the supposedly grown-up Republican co-chair, who has been talking nonsense about Social Security from the get-go.

...When you have a commission dedicated to the common good, and the co-chair dismisses Social Security as a “milk cow with 310 million tits,” you either have to get rid of him or admit that you’re completely, um, cowed by the right wing, that IOKIYAR rules completely.

And no, an apology won’t suffice. Simpson was completely in character here; it was perfectly consistent with everything else he’s said, and with his previous behavior. He has to go.

Link:
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/?8dpc

[pa28]

31. Not even a hint of reprimand. Wow.

Well. I guess we can at least thank Simpson for his moments of candor.

He told us that the trust fund has been stolen fair and square. He told us that treasuries are "worthless IOU's" and that claiming the benefits we spend our entire working life paying for make us tit sucking welfare queens.

The credibility of the Simpson commission is shot. The recommendations are already poisoned.

[Laelth]

32. Why not fire him? Seriously. Why not? n/t

-Laelth

[Jefferson23]

35. Evidently, they believe he has something of value to contribute. n/t

[Laelth]

50. Evidently. I honestly wonder what that could be.

Simpson appears not to understand that Social Security is a trust fund into which people pay for years before they can receive any benefits. He seems to believe that Social Security is some kind of entitlement and that those who receive Social Security benefits are milking the government teat.

Since Simpson doesn't even understand what Social Security IS, he's obviously unqualified to be the co-Chair of a Commission that investigating making changes to it. For Obama to keep an obviously unqualified person in this kind of leadership position is irresponsible, at best, and craven, cynical pandering at worst.

Simpson needs to go.

-Laelth

[Jefferson23]

58. Obama knows his history as well if not better than we do.

Simpson is there for a purpose, that seems very clear.

Disappointing is an understatement in this case.

[QC]

46. Because the White House needs someone to play Bad Cop

and Simpson was made for the role.

Besides, Fox "News" hasn't demanded his firing.

[chill_wind]

34. Scrap this disgraced, poison Cat Food Commission

Up to 2600+ signatures.

http://www.change.org/alternet/petitions/view/tell_congress_stop_the_catfood_commission?=partner59

[rhett o rick]

38. With respect, you dont get it. Get a million signatures, so what. If the Pres isnt on our side

we are fucked. We are fucked. Simpson is his pal.

[chill_wind]

39. Oh I do get that. n/t

[rhett o rick]

41. Sorry, my frustration wasnt aimed at you. nm

[chill_wind]

51. I know Rhett, and

that's why I didn't elaborate more myself on my own frustration.
I'm just somewhat beyond coherent at this point. We deserve better
than this from this WH. We really do.

[pa28]

43. There is one avenue.

At this point we have to hope for some determined Congressmen and Senators to step up during the lame duck session and somehow derail the juggernaut before time runs out. The new Congress won't want their fingerprints on this.

Anyway I guess the joke is true. Simpson only gets fired if Fox news sees fit to denounce him.

[rhett o rick]

76. If Pres Obama weakens Social Security, I am voting for Nader. nm

[Zenlitened]

42. Not good enough. - n/t

[bvar22]

44. Now if Simpson had offended someone at Fox News,

he would have been gone in a heartbeat.
.
.
.
.

"By their works you will know them."

[Caretha]

45. Apology NOT ACCEPTED!

I will be calling the WH first thing in the morning.

White House phone numbers - Comments: 202-456-1111. Switchboard: 202-456-1414

I swear they are pushing me to become a revolutionary!

[Buenaventura]

47. Simpson quotes Lloyd Bentsen in his "apology"

no $hit! time for alan to put on his loose shoes and find a warm place ...

[DireStrike]

48. It's over. Pack it up.

Bye bye, social security. I wonder how soon I can get an off-the-books job?

[The Green Manalishi]

49. And if Bush apologized for the racist remark of one of his officials?

[gratuitous]

53. Simpson would be fired if he displeased the president

He wasn't taken off the commission. Draw your own conclusions about that.

[Still Waters]

59. And what a sickening punch in the stomach this is

Whenever I think I've heard the worst, the hits just keep on coming

[glitch]

55. Social Security has nothing to do with the deficit, so why is the Deficit Commission discussing it?

We get that they have borrowed from it to hide their deficit spending to fund their wars and tax cuts, and don't want to pay it back, but conflating deficit reduction with Social Security cuts is dishonest.

Social Security is self-sustaining until 2037 AS IS.

We need to stop accepting their frame.

[dflprincess]

67. Olbermann did a good report on this tonight on Countdown

and called for Simpson's resignation.

He also made your point about SS not having anything to do with the deficit and that this commission should not be talking about it at all.

[glitch]

78. Thanks for reporting for we the cable-free.

I also happen to be high-speed-internet-free so I appreciate it doubly. :hi:

[madville]

56. They know there is no money left, some just cant accept that

People live longer and more people are drawing. There are less workers now, so fewer are paying in. Something has to be done to it, raise the age, reduce the benefit or increase the contribution. There is no surplus or lock box, merely IOUs of funny money at this point.

This whole charade is a distraction but this administration is pretty piss poor at framing the game in their favor.

[pa28]

57. Treasuries are funny money?

Simpson couched it in those very same terms. "Worthless IOU's" I believe he said.

I hope you guys don't let the Chinese government or Moody's in on your little secret. The implications could be staggering.

[slipslidingaway]

62. Guess you have to default on some group of people, might as well be the taxpayers.n/t

[Tsiyu]

70. Oh Yeah

The REAL money is being siphoned off to the new and improved Halliburton and Blackwater and such.

Real, hard dollars are spewing toward Iraq and Afghanistan in plumes bigger than BP could create.

Here in the US we get all the wooden nickels, I guess.

[MannyGoldstein]

66. Sorry, you're totally wrong.

This was all planned for in 1983 - contributions were raised enormously to create a surplus that would be able to take care of the bulge in retirees caused by the baby boomers. Nothing is happening at this point that's significantly different than was planned.

As to "funny money" - the "IOUs" are treasury bonds, the single safest investment in the world.

Nothing has changed, nothing has to be done. This is war against working Americans, pure and simple.

[slipslidingaway]

80. Where were the Dems raising this issue every time there was a vote

on tax cuts or funding for the recent invasions. Where are all those speeches about the trust fund, the Dems should have been raising hell each time they voted for another 100 billion for the continued wars. Just under half the money was used during the Clinton, that is when the real surplus began, Bush used the rest. The Dems should have used time on national TV to tell the people what was really happening - but I certainly do not remember that happening. Other than Gore talking about a lockbox, the Dems should have made this an issue each time they voted for war funds. They did not, keep the issue in front of the people every chance you get.

And let's see what they do with Medicare, sometimes I think the SS discussion is a diversion from the larger problem which is the boomers all going on medicare, especially considering all the advances in medicine. Medicare provided a real need for a universal HC system funded by taxes, but the Dems tried, quite successfully, to keep them away from the HC discussions.

So now they take money from Medicare savings to fund subsidies to private insurance companies, and Obama made a deal with "Billy" to block Medicare from negotiating drug prices.

[LostinVA]

90. You've also called Social Security a Ponzi scheme, when it isn't

Treasury bills aren't "funny money."

[KansasVoter]

63. Obama doesn't put up with any shit from anyone!

[Bluebear]

68. LOL

[KansasVoter]

71. Glad you got the sarcasm!! :-)

[Bluebear]

73. I did.

;)

[dflprincess]

81. Neither you nor Bluebear every really loved him!

:cry:

[mascarax]

65. Write and call the White House

This is not acceptable.

They need to take this seriously.

I wrote already and will call tomorrow. See post above for phone numbers.

Really...we should not take this bland statement without fighting back.

Simpson needs to go.

[rhett o rick]

77. If only. The WH loves Simpson. He is doing what they asked. Democrats need to wake the fuck up.

Our party has been taken over by the corporatist D-fucking-LC. May someones god strike them with a lightning bolt.

[suffragette]

69. The White House may be fine with it and with him

but I sure as hell am not.

[bullwinkle428]

72. Fuck Organizing for America this fall. I'll volunteer for specific

candidates that don't have overt plans to fuck me over.

[golddigger]

74. For A President who is extremely intelligent,

he sure picked some stupid and clueless advisors.

[rhett o rick]

79. So either he has made some terrible mistakes, or his goals are different than what we hoped. nm

[ibegurpard]

84. I'm leaning toward option 2

[SammyWinstonJack]

87. Not letting him off the hook with that 'made some terrible mistakes' crap.

His goals are not our goals, clearly. :grr:

[AnArmyVeteran]

75. Democrats = Ballsfree while supporting right wingers

[tblue37]

82. The offended person(s) is (are) the one(s) who get to decide whether or

or not to accept the apology. At least that is how it is supposed to work.

[IndianaGreen]

83. Alan, you're doing a heckuva job!

Alan, you're doing a heckuva job!

"Brownie, you're doing a heckuva job"

deja vu!

[democracy1st]

85. If he was liberal he would have been gone yesterday!

[Mimosa]

86. Why did Pres. Obama appoint the dinosaur, Simpson?

Somebody, tell me why the president I spent a year trying to get elected -and was blissful when he won- dug out this creature from the 1980s?

Why didn't Obama get somebody like Robert Reich to head the commission? Nobody on it is truly progressive. If anything S.S. benefits should be increased, not cut back. The reason is that the economy and taxation leave nothing behind for most people to save for their retirements.

[Little Star]

89. The fix is in. There will be cuts.

I hope all hell breaks lose before it's too late to stop this crap!