Americans now trust Republicans in Congress more than Democrats when it comes to Social Security

[Cali_Democrat]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/19/obama-social-security-talk-polling_n_811209.html

Thanks a lot Obama. The Democratic Party could be ruined for decades :(

Obama's Social Security Talk Is Turning Voters Off, Pollsters Say
By Dan Froomkin

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's apparent willingness to consider cuts in Social Security benefits may be winning him points with Washington elites, but it's killing him with voters, who see the program as inviolate and may start to wonder what the Democratic Party stands for, if not for Social Security.

That's the conclusion of three top progressive pollsters who spoke to reporters Wednesday at a briefing sponsored by the Economic Policy Institute, the Century Foundation and Demos.

<snip>

A post-election poll by Celinda Lake's Lake Research Partners found that, by a margin of 3 percentage points, Americans now trust Republicans in Congress more than Democrats when it comes to Social Security -- surely the first time since the program became a signature issue for the Democratic Party in the 1930s.

<snip>

The pollsters had no doubt that the turnaround stems from statements by Obama and other Democratic leaders expressing their openness to cuts in Social Security. "It's the rhetoric that says things like, 'Everythng is on the table,'" said Lake. "That's not how the public feels. This isn't a policy debate in the public's mind, this is a core value."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/19/obama-social-security-talk-polling_n_811209.html

Make no mistake about it, this is Obama's fault for being so vague about potential cuts to Social Security and saying everything is on the table. Bernie Sanders is also worried about the Administration's rhetoric regarding Social Security and even he hasn't been able to receive assurances from top Administration officials. The public sees this and the Democratic Party's numbers are tanking on the issue.

[JuniperLea]

1. OFFS...

Good grief. Blah blah blah... just like DADT. What nonsense.

[AtomicKitten]

42. +1

[elias49]

2. "...Celinda Lake's Lake Research Partners" poll?

:boring:

[tritsofme]

12. What exactly do you have against Celinda Lake?

[ProSense]

3. "Make no mistake about it, this is Obama's fault for being so vague " No,

fear mongering has consequences.

"President Barack Obama's apparent willingness to consider cuts in Social Security benefits may be winning him points with Washington elites, but it's killing him with voters, who see the program as inviolate and may start to wonder what the Democratic Party stands for, if not for Social Security."

This should state: Rampant speculation about Social Security cuts driving voters toward GOP.

"Americans now trust Republicans in Congress more than Democrats when it comes to Social Security "

Well, that should save Social Security, right?

Also, the President hasn't been vague.

"Social Security is not in crisis," Obama said. "We're going to have to make some modest adjustments in order to strengthen it."

link

The President reiterated point in October

<...>

That’s why we’ve got to strengthen it. And I have said that all options are on the table. I think we’ve got to look at how we preserve it for the next generation. I do think that the best way to do it would be to look at the fact that right now you only pay Social Security taxes up to about $106,000, and after that, you don’t pay any Social Security tax. So that means Warren Buffett, who makes more than $100,000 a year, the vast bulk of his income, he doesn’t pay Social Security taxes on it. That could be modified or changed in a way that would help extend the solvency of Social Security.

<...>

Senator Sanders:

<...>

“If we are serious about making Social Security strong and solvent for the next 75 years, President Obama has the right solution. On October 14, 2010, he restated a long-held position that the cap on income subject to Social Security payroll taxes, now at $106,800, should be raised. As the president has long stated, it is absurd that billionaires pay the same amount into the system as someone who earns $106,800.

<...>

Video: Social Security: Keep The Promise

What the hell purpose is served by attributing a position to the President that he hasn't advocated?

Why not attack Republicans for their position and call on the President to reject them? No, someone thought it brilliant or prudent to make the President the villian. Well, now Republicans are the heroes.

Having said that, this poll is likely more of the same given the first line of the OP article: "President Barack Obama's apparent willingness to consider cuts in Social Security benefits..."

What bullshit.

[Cali_Democrat]

4. I'm not sure Obama has the cojones to raise the SS cap

We already saw how he folded on tax cuts for the wealthy :(

Obama needs to come out forcefully against cuts and soon. He needs to explicitly state over and over again there will be no cuts during his Administration.

Bernie Sanders and millions of Americans are losing confidence in Obama when it comes to Social Security and now the rethugs are winning the issue.

[ProSense]

9. But

he has the "cojones" to cut it?

"Bernie Sanders and millions of Americans are losing confidence in Obama when it comes to Social Security and now the rethugs are winning the issue."

Do you think continuing to make the President the villian for a position that he hasn't supported will reverse this?

Here's what the poll states:

Who will better handle Social Security
• Republicans vs. Democrats in Congress: 31% (R) to 28% (D); 34% both the same
• Republicans in Congress vs. Obama: 33% (R) to 26% (Obama); 31% both the same

Source: Lake Research Partners, Social Security Works, "Findings from an Election Eve/Night Survey of 1,200 Likely Voters Nationwide, Oct. 31‐ Nov. 2, 2010. Accessed at http://strengthensocialsecurity.org/lakepolling

I have to ask why Froomkin is writing an article about a poll conducted among 2010 voters (a group that skewed conservative) at the beginning of November.

[whosinpower]

10. Selling the payroll tax holiday as a democrat gain

Is quite simply a betrayal of democrat principles. We all know that the GOP have been wanting to do this for years. We also know that it was the GOP who brought it to the table when it was just Obama and them - and no other democrats invited.

It is no wonder there is a loss of trust regarding Obama's committment to the foundation of Social Security. Not when he is singing the song of CEO's. Even Dick Cheney is praising him. That, in itself should give one pause.

[Hello_Kitty]

16. I loved how they put the entire amount of the payroll holiday into the "gain" column

Ignoring the fact that at least 1/4 of it was going to high income earners.

[ProSense]

20. The poll has nothing to do with the payroll tax holiday because it was taken

before the election.

[whosinpower]

24. On a gut check level

Do you believe Obama will expand Social Security?

Knowing all the rhetoric, and the historic importance of Social Security not only to millions of Americans, but also of the historic importance of Social Security to the democratic party, and taking into account the recent payroll tax holiday that Obama actively sold as a democrat gain, against his own parties wishes....what does your gut tell you?

I will tell you what mine says. Mine says that the powers that be have influenced Obama into beleiving that Social Security is an entitlement that needs trimming. And one way or another, he will see it done. He will be audacious enough to tackle what George. W. Bush could not. I hope my gut is wrong. But hope these days seems to get trumped by the wonts of the powers that be.

[Hello_Kitty]

15. As usual, the Administration's poor message control is someone else's fault.

[ProSense]

19. When did the adminstration

announce that it planned to cut Social Security?

[Hello_Kitty]

22. Why aren't they assuring us they don't plan to call for cuts if that's the case?

Since they want to be coy they have no one else to blame for the message getting away from them.

[treestar]

26. Why aren't they assuring the numbskulls daily that Obama is not a Muslim

and that he was born in the U.S.?

Maybe they should do the daily "reassurance" to the NRA that they aren't going to confiscate all guns.

They don't have to respond to ridiculous, made up accusations. No one should have to. That lets evil liars set the agenda.

[Hello_Kitty]

28. The Muslim and Birther rumors are ridiculous.

The concern about SS is not.

[treestar]

40. the concern about SS is just as ridiculous

as the birther "concerns"

[Hello_Kitty]

44. I have screenshotted this for future reference. eom

[mkultra]

43. nope, its the same thing

just more talking point rhetoric for the embedded.

[treestar]

25. Someone else made up a position for them

If they danced to that tune, they'd be deemed "weak" or some such shit.

They don't have to respond to all the crap that is thrown at them by irrational hate crazed people.

[Hello_Kitty]

31. You think Bernie Sanders is irrational and hate crazed?

How about American Prospect's Robert Kuttner, who seems to think Pres. Obama is going to agree to some cuts. Is he a crazed nutter too?

[treestar]

41. Yep. They are crazed or attention seeking.

[vaberella]

5. Yes, of course it is. I only hear people on the left assuring me Obama is cutting SS.

But it's Obama's fault that the left is saying something that Obama and Dems have never said. You people are not a special piece of work.

[Hello_Kitty]

17. Right. Blame the left. Not the WH for dropping the ball on the message.

If Pres. Obama isn't going to propose cuts to SS benefits as you guys keep assuring us then he should be making that clear as glass. This is an important issue to a lot of Americans and we shouldn't have to wait with bated breath for the SOTU to find out what his intentions are.

[Arkana]

27. So he can placate you?

Should he also be making daily assurances that he's not a secret Muslim?

[Hello_Kitty]

33. Yeah, I need to be "placated" that I'm not going to eat cat food in my old age.

And the suggestion that I'm in league with birthers and other ugly rumor mongers is offensive.

[vaberella]

35. I do blame the left. Why? Because they ran away with an idea w/o clear knowledge.

They publish this idea. You can't blame the WH---if their message said nothing. While the LEFT created a message that was never there. If someone said..."no comment" how are you able to discern, "he committed adultery" from that. This is what the Left did.

[Hello_Kitty]

38. He sets up Catfood Commission that spreads the lie that SS adds to the deficit.

Appoints as it's leader a noted foe of SS who calls it a "milk cow with 310 million tits". The Commission, natch, recommends cuts to SS.

That's kind of like setting up a crime task force and putting someone who thinks wife beating should be legal in charge of it. And you really shouldn't be surprised if people want to know how committed you are to stopping domestic violence.

[zulchzulu]

6. Americans are pretty fucking stupid people sometimes

If they think Republicans, who want to destroy Social Security, are better than Democrats... I hope they lose their benefits and crawl in the goddamn street for crumbs.

[Hello_Kitty]

21. Pretty fucking stupid to set up a Catfood Commission

Pretty fucking stupid to appoint noted foes of SS to it who, natch, propose cuts to SS.

Pretty DAMN fucking stupid to be coy about your intentions for SS when the news cycle is blowing up with rumors about your plans.

[Orangepeel]

7. This poll is of likely voters on the eve of the Nov. election

The authors of the article could have found something more relevant to make their point.

[ProSense]

11. I just noticed that at the bottom of the PDF

Completely disingenuous.

[zbdent]

8. Shouldn't people be reminded that Republicans have railed against

what they termed, forever, "Socialist Security"?

Why would they want to "save" something they called "socialist"?

Of course, Republicans bank (and get back plenty of interest) on intellectual disconnect.

[Hoyt]

13. I've not seen a thing where he indicated cuts to SS. Such predictions here likely helps the GOP.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

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[Proud Liberal Dem]

14. I know most people's memories are short

but, really, FIVE years is too long to remember what Bush Republicans tried to do with Social Security???

:wtf:

[MadBadger]

18. So now we are citing 3 month old polls as fact? A poll taken right before Repukes whooped our ass?

And yes this wasnt a post-election poll, it was taken October 31-Nov 2.

[Teaser]

29. stop posting boring stuff

.

[bigwillq]

30. I don't trust either party

on this issue.

[jenmito]

32. Yeah, if by "now" they mean 10/31-11/2, 2010 which was when that poll was taken,

probably by a majority of teabaggers. Nice try. :eyes:

[vaberella]

36. This poll was taken 3 Months ago?! Oh for fuck's sake! n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

34. Obama needs to follow the Democratic Party manifesto - hands off social security!!!!

he needs to be clear.

[vaberella]

37. You're selling us a 3 Month old poll?! Ugh...that's something else. DISINGENUOUS. n/t

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

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

[last_texas_dem]

45. Old poll or not, that's pretty damn horrible.

I can't believe the higher-ups in the Democratic Party *ever* let things get to that point.