Kerry tells MA AARP members he will fight against cuts to SS and Medicare

[karynnj]

US Senator John Kerry told 7,100 Massachusetts seniors this morning that he would fight to protect Social Security and Medicare benefits from being cut as federal debt-reduction talks continue.

In the telephone town hall with AARP Massachusetts members, the Massachusetts Democrat vowed to oppose any measure that would privatize or weaken Social Security. That includes proposals that would slash benefits to current recipients or future generations, or reduce disability and survivor benefits, he said.

“Under no circumstances should benefits be cut in order to balance the budget,” Kerry said, urging seniors to be vigilant and weigh in on the discussions in Washington. “Social Security is not a driver in our near-term deficit and it’s not currently in crisis, but it can be reformed so that we strengthen it for the rest of the century.”

http://www.boston.com/Boston/politicalintelligence/2011/07/kerry-tells-aarp-members-will-protect-social-security/Irc8izmVJUJbfUvIolNx9O/index.html

[fascisthunter]

1. he better.... he's my senator!!!

[karynnj]

2. This is not the first time he has said this

He gave a couple of really good Senate speeches - one last week and one before the last "crisis".

I suspect your other Senator tosses a coin on votes - sometimes with the state, sometimes with McConnell.

[w4rma]

5. Brown is less random than that. He votes Republican when needed and votes Democratic when he isn't.

He'll always be there for his team when they need him.

[graywarrior]

6. He needs to be extracted.

[graywarrior]

3. Where does Scotty stand in all this?

[Mass]

4. The article says he was too busy to talk to ARRP.

and, as usual for the Globe, tries to find excuses.

[karynnj]

7. Amazing - he has plenty of time for a book tour

Yet he is busier than one of the most senior Senators in the country, who is in the majority party chairing SFRC and the Commincations and internet subcommittee of the Commerce committee.

PS Does speaking over the phone count as another town hall for Kerry - making it Kerry 6, Brown 0.

[karynnj]

10. He was busy preparing a Senate floor speech, where he was as incoherent as ever

He confused me at the beginning - saying after the wonderful Bernie Sanders spoke, "ALWAYS ENJOY LISTENING TO MY NEW ENGLAND COLLEAGUE SPEAK. THE RIGHT-WING RHETORIC STUFF, THOUGH, IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WHO ARE TRYING TO SOLVE THESE VERY REAL PROBLEMS." After translating into English, I realized that he was not accusing the Senator from Vermont with speaking right wing rhetoric, but of calling out the right wing.

Brown spoke about his sense of the Senate amendment that there should be no tax increases on Small Businesses - apparently he forgot he filibustered the small business bill he co-sponsored that would have continued two important small business programs - after amendments he supported to gut the EPA failed! He speaks of having visited MA businesses 30, 40 times since being elected. He rambles on. He also says as a member of the small business committee, he hears them all the time. (except he skips most of them - at least for the ones I looked at.) He spoke of regulations.

Here is the link: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/clip.php?appid=600238400

It is scary that this 6 minutes was AFTER he spent the morning "preparing for it" Not to mention - Not to mention, I think from his description that this amendment is completely unlikely to be taken seriously by anyone.

[YvonneCa]

12. The floor speeches I have seen him...

...give have been truly scary. :) And he actually PREPARES for them ??? :7

[karynnj]

13. I have been stunned that they are so incoherent

Senators after all are reading the speeches from prepared text. He has staff, like all other Senators, and you would think that between them they could write a simple coherent speech. (The fact that staff can and do write the speeches is one reason I want to see a Senator speaking off the cuff or in a hearing where beyond the initial questions, just being able to read lines is not enough.

It is mind boggling to think that this level of incoherence might be seen by his strategists as part of his "not Washington" regular guy persona. If so, they should reflect on the fact the "Mr Smith goes to Washington portrayed a very articulate man.

It is likely that first sentence was an ad lib, but it is so badly structured that I think the normal - out of context - meaning would be that he was speaking against rw rhetoric.

[YvonneCa]

14. I think you are right about the 'regular guy persona'...

...part. It may be valued, not only by his strategists, but by his base. I think that was part of what was going on with GWB for eight long years. The problem was/is that we need intelligent and articulate leaders. The idea that something less is 'endearing' ...and electing 'endearing' to high office...risks the security of our country. GWB was the prime example of that, IMO.

[great white snark]

8. Thank you honorable Senator Kerry.

He still and always will have our backs.

[politicasista]

9. +1

True, even if some don't or won't see or appreciate it. More power to him. :kick:

[YvonneCa]

11. ...

...Yes. :)

[Major Hogwash]

15. Kerry helped stop Bush's plan in 2005 to gamble the SS funds on the stock market.

In fact, he was way out ahead of the rest of the Democrats telling everyone what a lousy, stupid idea that was.

Bush was re-elected by a very slim margin, and I keep thinking about how this whole world would have been better off with a President Kerry in 2005.
That was a golden opportunity that America lost and we are still paying for it today.

[politicasista]

16. delete n/t

+1 Peace.