Ben Nelson has "come out against any cuts to Social Security and Medicare"

[ProSense]

Greg Sargent: Top Senate Dems privately warn: Deep Medicare cuts will squander our big advantage on issue

<...>

In red states like Montana, Nebraska, and Missouri, one key to good Dem performance is maintaining good standing among seniors. The Dems took a shellacking in 2010 in part because of the swing in seniors in such states. One measure of this is that Ben Nelson, a conservative Dem who opposes tax hikes as part of any deficit deal, has also come out against any cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

<...>

[gkhouston]

1. This will be entertaining.

:popcorn:

[Enrique]

2. "focus on spending cuts"

July 6, 2011 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson said plans to reduce the federal debt should focus on spending cuts, not tax hikes and not cuts to Medicare or Social Security.


Translated: cuts should be limited to those that affect big-city black people. Not Nebraskans. Vote for Ben Nelson.

[TheKentuckian]

4. Almost no other interpretation. No tax increases limits the options

and it is safe to say Ben isn't interested in military cuts nor reducing subsidies or corporate welfare.

[The Magistrate]

5. Nailed It In One, Sir

[bluestateguy]

3. Then it won't happen

Ben Nelson has been the arbiter of so much that has come before the Senate in the last 2 years.

[AtomicKitten]

6. LOL. He's up for reelection in 2012.

[Palmer Eldritch]

7. Ben's such a toad.

But I'll take him as an ally in this battle.

[Doctor_J]

8. Wow. Obama's now to the right of ben Nelson

:scared:

[ProSense]

10. Here's a prediction:

The President is going to propose cuts and every Democrat is going to vote against them. The proposal will go down in defeat.

The MSM and pundits will pounce: What was he thinking? Is this President clueless?

The NY Post's headline will be: DEFEATED!!!!

[John Agar]

11. We can only hope, if this report is true. NT

[DrToast]

12. Nelson is also against tax increases

I'm curious what his plan is.

[Blasphemer]

15. That thought is worth a lifetime of nightmares.... nt

[Jefferson23]

16. You got that right. n/t

[John Agar]

9. He would get very few Dem votes for this insane proposal.

Maybe Conrad, Durbin, and Stinky Joe. Not enough to block a filibuster, I hope and pray.

[CrossChris]

13. What about cuts that aren't "deep?" How deep is deep?

We should all be very disturbed that no Dems can say they will protect these programs without qualifying their statements.

[Arkana]

14. Ben Nelson has "read his poll numbers and promptly shat his drawers with fear"