President Obama not giving up on big debt deal. Daley says political pain is part of the deal.

[Karmadillo]

I guess opposing cuts "to programs for seniors and the poor" doesn't fit Obama's definition of the need to "step up and be leaders," but I'm guessing it does fit the base's definition. Let's hope the party listens to the people and not the president.

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/president-obama-not-giving-1007510.html

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama hasn't given up on getting congressional leaders to accept a $4 trillion debt reduction deal that Republicans have rejected for its tax increases and Democrats dislike for its cuts to programs for seniors and the poor, administration officials said hours before talks resumed Sunday.

"He's not someone to walk away from a tough fight," presidential chief of staff William Daley said. "Everyone agrees that a number around $4 trillion is the number that will ... make a serious dent in our deficit."

<edit>

But Obama has a long way to go to satisfy lawmakers in his own party, too. Many Democrats are unnerved by the president's $4 trillion proposal because of its changes to Medicare and Medicaid.

Political pain is part of the deal, too, and should be worth bearing, Daley said, adding that Obama was calling on lawmakers to "step up and be leaders."

more...

[villager]

1. "Step up and be leaders." Indeed, Obama. Indeed....

n/t

[NC_Nurse]

2. the rest of us feel real pain. Fuck this whole "political pain" meme. Who cares?

[polichick]

3. As if "political pain" is what citizens care about!

[aquart]

4. I honestly don't care how much politicians hurt.

Well, I do. With the crap they are pulling now I hope their joints disassemble.

[WCGreen]

5. yea, he's tough all right...

Tough on the middle class and the poor while throwing a party for the rich...

[inna]

10. not just a "party", a feeding frenzy

[WCGreen]

12. Sharks are in the water...

[OHdem10]

6. AARP, Nurses'Assoc, The UNIONS, THE SENATE, THE HOUSe

(Democrats) have expressed questions and refusal to
back some Grand Deal under certain conditions.

What else does Daley and WH Need????

[TheKentuckian]

7. To execute the Reich's corporate agenda, duh.

[indepat]

8. Some pain the Republicans, the uber-wealthy and large corporations

must be feeling as the uber-wealthy and large corporations continue a frantic feeding/sucking frenzy at the public welfare trough at the expense of all others. How disingenuous to even infer pain/shared sacrifices, other than maybe the pain in the ass trying to keep up with the different types or classes of assets and wealth held/owned by these classes. :patriot:

[inna]

11. exactly. it's so thoroughly obscene it's just.... mind blowing. nt

[inna]

9. some "tough fight" to inflict horrific pain on the most vulnerable and helpless.

it's so fucking maddening it's just.... surreal.

no wonder most people just have to "block out" and stay detached/tuned out/in denial.


:nuke:

[gkhouston]

13. If he'd like some political pain, I suspect a lot of people will be

willing to reciprocate. :grr:

[Raine]

14. Obama YOU go first, step up and show them

how to be a leader, so far I haven't seen it from you. :-(

[johnaries]

15. Wait a minute, I don't see that line "cuts to programs for seniors

and the poor" anywhere in that article. The first paragraph actually reads:

WASHINGTON — Grasping for a deal on the nation's debt, President Barack Obama and congressional leaders remained divided Sunday over the size and the components of a plan to reduce long term deficits. Saying "we need to" work out an agreement over the next 10 days, the president and lawmakers agreed to meet again Monday.

Perhaps it has been updated, but I don't see any mention of updates. If it was updated, obviously it was for a good reason.

What I DID see was this:

One option now under consideration by Obama administration officials would call for capping some deductions for wealthy taxpayers at the 28 percent tax rate and using the revenue to help pay for a yearlong extension of a current payroll tax cut. The extension would expire at the end of 2012, but the cap on deductions would continue, generating new revenue in the long term. Capping all itemized deductions at the 28 percent rate would generate about $293 billion over 10 years.

That sounds like a pretty good idea to me!