Liberals in uproar over Obama overture on Social Security

[AsahinaKimi]

Liberal groups are waging a counter-attack on reports that President Obama is floating a tougher inflation adjustment measure for Social Security to rein in benefit growth. It's part of an effort to double the amount of deficit reduction being negotiated today from $2 trillion to the $4 trillion over 10 years recommended by his Bowles Simpson deficit commission.

In return, Republicans would have to yield on special-interest tax breaks, known as tax expenditures, also recommended by Bowles Simpson. Paradoxically it may be easier for both sides to get more ambitious on the deficit reduction goal. Both parties will take hits for doing anything, large or small, on taxes or entitlements. So they may as well go big and have the argument that they've made real progress in getting the nation's finances under control.

This is the boldest move we've seen by Obama yet on deficits, and signals a shift to the middle for the presidential campaign. He emphasized that "Nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=92696#ixzz1RSonwhkD

[OHdem10]

1. The Rich keep their GWB tax cuts. Does anyone believe you

can find enough loopholes to even partially meet what the
GWB tax cuts would bring.

[mmonk]

2. Funny all moves to the right are considered the middle.

We need a real press.

[RC]

3. Social Security has absolutely nothing to do with the debt.

It is self supporting. The real problem is the lack of Living Wage Jobs. Obama needs to address that.

[CelticThunder]

4. President Ben Dover