Liberals warn Obama against cutting entitlement benefits

[cal04]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/07/07/debt.talks.progressives/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

Sensing a shift away from their priorities, progressive Democrats and advocacy groups warned Thursday they could turn on President Barack Obama if a deficit-reduction deal reduces benefits in entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

"Depending on what they decide to recommend, they may not have Democrats," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, of whether his Democratic colleagues would support a compromise. "I think it is a risky thing for the White House to basically take the bet that we can be presented with something at the last minute and we will go for it."

(snip)
"If President Obama supports cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security benefits, that will be a defining moment of presidential weakness -- and put all Democrats facing re-election in 2012 at risk," said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, a political advocacy group.

(snip)
"At a time when each millionaire is getting (a) $138,700 tax break a year from the government, there is no reason our seniors and the neediest amongst us need to struggle to pay their hospital bills," said Rep. Judy Chu, D-California, who is vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. "The debt must be addressed, but it should be done in a way that is fair to all. We should not balance the back of this budget on our nation's seniors."

[slipslidingaway]

1. ""At a time when each millionaire is getting (a) $138,700 tax break a year from the government..."

where was talk of the debt ceiling when these tax cuts were being extended.

:mad:

[AbigailThomas]

4. TAX the millionaires!!!

Eliminating these tax breaks are looonng overdue in my book! Jan Schakowsky of Illinois has a bill about taxing millionaires their due share, check out the video on her Facebook page --> http://facebook.com/janschakowsky

[slipslidingaway]

10. Thanks and welcome to DU :) n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

2. I wish ta fuck they would stop calling SS & MC "entitlements."

"Entitlement" in the public mind meeans exactly the opposite--stuff you're not entitled to. Thanks to Luntz, Limbaugh and Satan.

[Lasher]

3. How many defining moments does it take before you wake up?

[the_real_38]

5. Unfortunately, they're not warning him in the way that matters ...

... which is to run another candidate against him in primaries. He's trying to save his a** with the center and he's throwing his fellow Democrats under the bus - a real theme with Pres. Obama.

[DeSwiss]

6. Stop the FUCKING wars!!!! - K&R n/t

[the_real_38]

7. re: stop the * wars

I'll second that - 200 billion a year and counting.

[StarsInHerHair]

8. raise the CAP on civil programs like Social Security! do what works! Hooverism

always fails to reach its advertised goals, it just makes the poor poorer & doesnt balance anything.

[larwdem]

9. YES

BARACK HOOVER OBAMA