Labor angered by Obama's willingness to cut Social Security in debt ceiling deal

[Karmadillo]

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/170557-labor-angered-by-obamas-willingness-to-cut-social-security-

Labor angered by Obama's willingness to cut Social Security in debt ceiling deal
By Kevin Bogardus - 07/10/11 06:27 AM ET

President Obama’s apparent willingness to discuss Social Security cuts in the debt-ceiling negotiations with Congress has angered labor unions and could cause them to withhold support for Democrats in the next election.

Press reports say President Obama is considering a proposal to change how Social Security payments are calculated by chaining payments from the program to the Consumer Price Index. That change would help bring down the national debt but would likely reduce benefits for retirees.

Unions are making it known that Social Security cuts are unacceptable to them and say they will lobby against any cuts to the popular entitlement program.

“I think this is a huge political mistake for Democrats,” Chuck Loveless, legislative director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), told The Hill.

more...

[Ozymanithrax]

1. I support labor...

I will not cross the picket line if the strike against the Democrats for comitting to a policy to cut Social Security or Medicare benefits.

[rurallib]

2. off to the greatest

Still amazed that Obama would even consider this.

[smiley33]

3. I was (and am) unhappy with Obama

for his supposed willingness to cut Medicare and SS, but I think his talk might have been just that. Boehner couldn't imagine telling his daddies that he raised their taxes, so he did away with the "Big Option."

I'll forgive Obama for being open to cutting the Countries safety net, if he now doesn't touch it.

[TheKentuckian]

5. No dice from me, unless that turning aside changes the orientation of his thinking

and he actually learns something on a philosophical level otherwise we are always be dealing with someone that is open to selling us out if he can get away with it politically.

Of course I don't keep creatures like snakes, scorpions, and tarantulas as pets so I might not quite have evolved the mentality to process the idea properly here.

[smiley33]

9. I meant to say I'll overlook this particular issue

As a whole, though, I've had enough too.

[NNN0LHI]

4. What percent of State, County and Municipal Employees use the Social Security program?

I was under the assumption that many of these employees do not contribute to or collect SS. Is that incorrect?

Don't many of them have their own state retirement programs?

Don

[eShirl]

7. maybe working class solidarity is part of union values

[upi402]

6. More evidence the party has abandoned us

Where do we go? Well, not stay with the battering husband - start there.

[woo me with science]

8. K&R nt

[bvar22]

10. LABOR is angry about a lot more than just that.

EFCA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMNVIQqatyU

NAFTA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LtbLEKHsi0&NR=1

Cadillac Tax
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8wmN3wvhNM&feature=player_embedded

http://www.labornotes.org/2010/01/anger-over-health-care-bill-creates-uncertain-future

Can't forget "The Comfortable Shoes"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA9KC8SMu3o


And THEN there was the debacle in the Arkansas Primary 2010
where the White House threw the full weight of DNC and DSCC and the White House Endorsement behind virulently Anti-LABOR Anti-Helathcare Blanche Lincoln
when there was a perfectly good Pro-LABOR Pro-Healthcare popular DEMOCRAT (Lt. Gov. Bill Halter) who was polling better in the General Election.
The White House even sent The Old Dog down to Arkansas to raise funds and campaign for Lincoln.
If THAT wasn't enough,
The White House had the "audacity" to ridicule Unions for "flushing $10 Million down the toilet"
by supporting a Pro-LABOR Democrat in the Primary.

Yes,
Organized LABOR is VERY pissed at the Obama White House and Anti-LABOR/Anti-WorkingClass "Centrist" Democrats.
I am too.



"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone