Obama Urges Dems To Accept Changes To Medicare, Social Security

[Derechos]

President Obama said both sides have to be willing to sustain some political pain in order to reach a deal on cutting the nation's long-term debt, and he urged his own party to accept changes to entitlement programs in order to wrangle some targeted tax increases out of Republicans.

Recognizing that he has a lot of work still ahead of him to convince Democrats to agree to altering Medicare or Social Security, Obama tried to lay some ground work Monday at a press briefing.

"The vast majority of Democrats on Capitol Hill would prefer not to have to do anything on entitlements, would prefer frankly not to do anything on these debt and deficit problems," he said.

But doing nothing is irresponsible and is really not an option, Obama argued.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/07/obama-urges-dems-to-accept-changes-to-medicare-social-security.php

[gratuitous]

1. "Doing nothing is irresponsible"

Translation for the slow coaches: That money has been stolen from you fair and square. Demanding it be paid back by the thieves is irresponsible. Just forget it ever existed. We have.

[sabrina 1]

7. They want to replenish the SS Trust Fund, or to them 'slush fund'

so they can continue to borrow from it for their wars and bailouts the next time they screw up.

But I would like to ask the president this question. If lowering the deficit is the goal and part of the debt includes the Fed Govt's obligation to the SS Trust Fund (over 2 trillion) and cutting SS one way or the other replenishes the Trust Fund delaying the obligation to repay it by the Fed. Govt., will he also explain how we prevent the Fed Govt from dipping into the new Fund grown by the cuts? And since we can't, isn't that only going to RAISE the deficit by INCREASING the Fed Govt debt to the SS Trust Fund??

None of this makes any sense to me.

The Fed Govt got itself into debt. The SS Fund did not in any way make that happen.

To fix the Fed. Govt debt is simple. Raise Taxes especially on the Wealthy and let them scream and kick, they have no choice.

End the wars and cut the Pentagon Budget.

Most important, CREATE JOBS and stop allowing them to be exported. Tax Corps that export jobs.

If the Fed Govt fixes its debt problems, SS will be fine.

It's the equivalent of YOU lending someone $5,000. They agree to pay it back within a certain amount of time. THEY get into MORE debt. Now, they tell you 'sorry but YOU will have to give me more money'. Would anyone in their right mind lend MORE money to someone that irresponsible?? Or, would you tell them, 'listen, YOU have assets, sell them and you have skills so go get a job and stop buying drugs. Once you do those things, then you will be able to pay me back.

But ME lending YOU more money to spend on drugs only means I will never be repaid.

SS did not create the debt or the deficit. The Govt is like a drug addict, for this president NOT to force them to be responsible, is wrong. And to try to make the American people for their 'drugs' is totally wrong.

[girl gone mad]

25. The fact that Obama's solution to our economic woes consists of cutting the social safety nets..

means he isn't serious about fixing the economy at all. He's out to prop up the kleptocrats by shifting more of the tax burden onto the middle class. It's repulsive, to be honest.

[sabrina 1]

57. Yes, and it's so transparent. I just wish they would stop

treating people like fools at least.

[liberal N proud]

11. +1

[Bluebear]

17. + + + + + + +

[leftstreet]

61. +1

[WI_DEM]

2. Obama is lying. Democrats don't want to 'do nothing' on those programs

they want to strengthen them and protect them.

He always finds it easier to attack the position of his party. With the GOP it's always 'can't we come together and hold hands and work something out?' To democrats it's 'stop crying and get behind me.'

[CrossChris]

3. Isn't that exactly how someone would act if they were trying to convert Democrats to Repubs?

They aren't the actions of a Democrat, that's for damned sure.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[DJ13]

5. Urges Dems To Accept Changes To Medicare, Social Security

Not just NO, FUCK NO.

How about you Mr. President accepting that theres some things sacred to Democrats that you cant fuck around with?

[tnlefty]

29. This is what I don't understand about this...

the President and the talking heads on my teevee say that it will piss off the liberal base.

My mother is a recovering republican, she isn't part of his liberal base unlike her daughter, but she and her husband, who referenced NY 26 (and he's from upstate NY) were here yesterday and the President's ears should still be burning.

Her husband is a union plumber (aged 75) and he's probably voted for more democrats than my mother. They're both perplexed that this is even being discussed by a dem President that they both voted for.

When I explained the DLC, the new demorat network, and the Turd Way, I mean third way dems, Mom's hubby had some choice words for them. When I mentioned this pissing off the liberal base they both commented that President Obama will piss off more people than that, mainly rank and file repukes who either receive SS benefits or who understand and have used Medicaire.

Her hubby even mentioned that it isn't referred to as the third rail for nothing. Lots of anger about this subject here yesterday. Big mistake from where I sit, big fucking mistake. :shrug:

[StarsInHerHair]

52. Social Security & Medicare are also sacred to the voting working-class Right

& the Tea Party, even if they don't quite get that Medicare is part of the government-they want no one to touch it/deform it/change it, out of understandable fear that any changes would make S.S. & Medicare worse, not better.

So this is sacred not merely to the voting Dem people, but basically EVERYONE-except millionaires/billionaires who don't NEED it.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[TheKentuckian]

8. Democrats encourage the President to sit and fucking spin.

[Liberalynn]

9. but we are "imagining" that he is cutting SS right?

"trimming" means he's "strengthing SS" right? :sarcasm:

[katnapped]

10. Yes, the OFA people will be here soon

To re-educate us on why this is the best we can do, shaddup and think of SCOTUS, and if we'd voted in 2010, this never would've happened.

[Fire1]

21. And "they're" right on that last one. You'll finally realize that

when you're eating cat food.

[Liberalynn]

47. I voted Democrat in 2010

and will continue to vote for Democrats who echo my personal values.

[Fire1]

18. Please provide a link showing he used this word, "trimming." n/t

[Liberalynn]

41. Here is the link

http://www.shallownation.com/2011/07/11/obama-press-conference-video-july-11-2011-presidential-news-conference-on-the-debt-ceiling/

In answer to the second question by Chip Reid: "And so, yeah, we’re going to have a sales job; this is not pleasant. It is hard to persuade people to do hard stuff that entails "TRIMMING BENEFITS" and increasing revenues. But the reason we’ve got a problem right now is people keep on avoiding hard things, and I think now is the time for us to go ahead and take it on."

[kelly1mm]

27. That what the 'grown ups' keep saying at least! nt

[bowens43]

12. what a fucking scum bag

I can't believe I fell for this con man's line back in 2008

[fascisthunter]

13. so you allow the wealthjy to pay less taxes, then use the Debt to fuck with SS?

boy, you really do think your own constituents are stupid... goddamn the rich and wealthy you work for.

[Fire1]

14. They mostly are. n/t

[Rex]

15. He is acting like the $1 billion he needs to run again is already in

his pocket...which it probably was a long time ago (GFS probably took it out of their change jar). I hate it when our representatives don't listen to their constituants...even when the majority voice their opinion and get nothing back put 'you must endure pain and sacrifice'...for WHO? THE RICH!? Wow...looks like we will see if all the money in the world will buy Obama a second term or not. I don't think he is going to get the votes he needs if he cuts SS.

I'm still not convinced he will actually cut our entitlement programs, that is a 'lose, lose' situation for Dems.

[fascisthunter]

24. I'm not sure he nor the "New" Dems care

[katnapped]

28. KochCo got it covered n/t

[Rex]

33. Doesn't need KochCo, he has the Daley brothers in his pocket.

Quite frankly, the Daley brothers have done a lot of good but have far more power then the KochCo bumblers ever could dream of. I've always found it amusing when people show outrage at the thought of a once honest person...now shown unbelievable power and wealth...turns into a greedy power hungry asshole. What did people expect, that they would turn out to be more like Mother Teresa?

Power corrupts, KochCo and The Rupert have it covered.

[aquart]

60. KoKo!

[Liberalynn]

44. He says we need to make changes to SS now while at the same time

admitting over and over again it is not the main driver of the deficit.

but he just wants to get all the hard stuff over with in one big gulp.

[Fire1]

16. It was coming sooner or later. n/t

[999998th word]

19. Here we go-again- with the 'Entitlements'

That word is used by repubs,deliberately, for a reason.
It has been carefully crafted to suggest SS Medicare,and,Medicaid are government 'giveaways' instead of something those who are,and those who plan
on using them, have paid into.We have EVERY RIGHT to expect them to continue,UNCHANGED and continue to be there for us in the future.
This is a dangerous shift in one of the core policies of our Democratic Party.OUR PRESIDENT's repeated use of the word 'Entitlements'
when referring to SS Medicare, and Medicaid tells me everything I need to know on where he stands.
Sadly,it is not with us.I hoped for better,but guess I'll still vote for him-unless someone can come up with a 'Plan B'

[LooseWilly]

48. Plan B?

How about: Not vote for him.

What's the worst that could happen? Even W couldn't get SS privatized, let alone cut benefits in the name of averting a problem that wouldn't exist if the trust fund were re-paid. Maybe, without the zealous pressure put upon the Democratic Congress-folk by Obama, they would be able to resist things like this...

[DearAbby]

20. I cannot imagine anything more painful and frightening

what senior citizens and people nearing that age group must be thinking, they are bargining chips now. Just numbers on a liability sheet. Human lives callously tossed on a table "Let's make a deal"

Absolutely UNACCEPTABLE

[flamingdem]

62. Maybe a 5 year old will be eligible at age 67 - it's a long process not quick nt

[krabigirl]

22. But the MIC won't have to compromise, not with the increase in offense spending.

[KamaAina]

23. KamaAina Urges Obama To Acquire A Spine

fruitlessly, I suspect. :(

[glinda]

26. "Compromise" is fiction. 90% of Americans have already "compromised" for the benefit of the rich.

We become suspect of Obama when he starts off on the wrong leg in the wrong spot from the get go.
The American people that are really angry understand this.
We pay huge rates on Insurance, medicines, on homes that have lost our downpayments on, or have lost homes, jobs and health Insurance.
We have given up food safety, our environment, our health, our justice system over to greedy corporations that do not give a rat's ass.
We pay huge amounts for shitty unregulated foods and pet foods.
Compromise? I will give you compromise when I hope for a progressive majority and president with brains and strength to fight off this garbage from a minority.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

36. Exactly. WE have compromised. ENOUGH! n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

30. I'm so glad he's bravely taking on sacred cows, like the Defense budget and the drug war.

Finally, we have leadership that sees the fiscal responsibility in legalizing, regulating, and taxing marijuana, for instance.

Nice that everything is on the table.


Oh, wait.

[jeff47]

31. Actually, doing nothing is the most responsible option at the moment

Because when the Bush tax cuts expire, the debt becomes a much, much smaller problem.

[Major Hogwash]

32. What's the price of cat food, Mr President?

He doesn't care that senior citizens run out of money at the end of the month due to the high price of their prescription medicines, so they buy small tins of cat food to make sandwiches to get by.

He probably isn't even aware that senior citizens have been doing that for over 25 years in this country.

And he doesn't understand that NO ONE voted for him to make ANY changes to Social Security.

[nc4bo]

34. I don't think he gets out and about among the peons anymore.....

if he ever did :S.

How about a little empathy here for the rest of us while you all get to sit on your golden thrones and watch the misery from afar.

[StarsInHerHair]

54. awful, try to see if theres a dollar store/,99 cent store-they now carry fish

salmon, chicken, fresh veggies.......it doesn't mean everyone can afford it at the end of the month, but I just wanted people to know about it.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

35. WTF? WE HAVE BEEN SUSTAINING PAIN! The middle class and poor have ...

....sustained ALL the pain of the debt that the Bu$h Crime Syndicate ran up. Does he not think that enough damage has been done to the middle class YET?

[kath]

37. Fuck. That. Shit.

Gawd, is he ever an asshole.

[Danger Mouse]

38. Ahem. *Clears throat*

WHAT ABOUT THE FUCKING TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH AND THE DAMN WARS, MR. PRESIDENT???

Ahem.

[saras]

39. Sure, as long as they're the right changes

For Social Security...

1. PAY THE FUND BACK. ALL OF IT. TAKE THE MONEY FROM THE SECRET MILITARY.
2. TAKE IT OFF THE TABLE, FOREVER. FIREWALL IT WITH NEW LAWS, IF NECESSARY. REMOVE THE LAWS ALLOWING THE U.S. TO NOT PAY.
3. FIX THE COLA SO THAT IT COVERS FOOD, HOUSING, CLOTHING, AND UTILITIES. REMOVE CONSUMER LUXURIES FROM IT.

I'm sure someone intimately familiar with Medicare could come up with an equivalent list. And of course, there's minor tweaks like removing the salary cap, and major but not SS-related reforms like fixing the whole fucking medical industry...

[cutlassmama]

40. +1

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

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[woo me with science]

43. No. nt

[dana_b]

45. and you, Sir, would prefer not

to fight for Democratic principles. a**hole.

[MNBrewer]

46. How downright "republican" of him.

[socialist_n_TN]

49. I hope no one is wondering how some of us

are commies.

[TBF]

51. I bet it's a lot more than "some" of us.

I know the democrats hate communists, and tend to purge us every 50 years or so, but I'm betting there are a fair number of folks on here who have had enough of capitalism. It's not like there's even a cover story anymore - it's just straight out austerity for everyone but the very wealthy.

[RainDog]

50. oh for fuck's sake

because I guess, like the lies about cannabis medicine, the lies about the cause of the harm to the American economic system over the last 30 years are also the fault of people who expect to earn living fucking wages and to be able to retire while they're still sentient.

yeah, democrats are so stubborn for refusing to kowtow to financial fairy tales.

:puke:

[Name removed]

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[Bluenorthwest]

55. Sit on it Barack

nt

[NC_Nurse]

56. Hope and change my ass.

[somone]

58. Who elected him to cut Medicare & Social Security?

[CreekDog]

59. I'm a Keynesian, so was FDR and I'm not going to help Obama become Hoover

I wish he would indicate that he sees the peril in going that direction.

i'll get back to ya.