Cuts to Social Security and Medicare are still on the table (CBS)

[somone]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20079155-503544.html

July 13, 2011 12:50 PM
Proposed Social Security, Medicare changes draw fire from AARP and others
By Stephanie Condon

White House officials said yesterday it's still possible that President Obama and congressional leaders could reach a deal to reduce the deficit by as much as $4 trillion over a decade -- meaning cuts to Social Security and Medicare are still on the table.

The potential cuts to the possible entitlement programs have senior and health care advocates sounding out in alarm, while the Democratic and Republican parties are already crafting messages to blame the other side for potentially hurting the programs.

The nonpartisan AARP is spending millions of dollars to launch a television ad nationally and in local markets today, urging Congress and Mr. Obama to take Social Security and Medicare off the table.

The ad features a man who identifies himself as a grandfather and retired teacher.

[FreakinDJ]

1. The Anonymous "White House Sources" strikes again

[Poll_Blind]

3. Do you believe CBS is just making these sources out of whole cloth or that there are real...

...administration officials contacting or being contacted by CBS news in order to source this story?

PB

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. It is called a trial balloon.

[FreakinDJ]

6. more inclined to believe that

[Bluenorthwest]

10. The 'Names' in that house could easily speak their minds

So, if this is not the truth, the President should employ his vast communications staff to, like, communicate that to the people in no uncertain terms. Nothing is stopping him from doing so.

[gkhouston]

28. Do you think there's someone in the WH with a nameplate on their desk,

reading "Anonymous White House Source"? :shrug:

[Enrique]

2. debt ceiling was just an excuse n/t

[woo me with science]

21. They have found a tactic, and it works. nt

[DearAbby]

5. Proposed Social Security, Medicare changes draw fire from AARP and others

WHERE IS THE FUCKING WORD CUTS?????

[DearAbby]

7. BULLSHIT

I would love to see changes in SS...like Increase the cap on the upper end, maybe even lower the age (although I wont hold my breath on that one) I would also like to see changes in medicare, like being about to seek better terms in RX medications and the like...The programs both can be tweeked to better serve, more streamline and best of all be able to cover future citizens.

[Enrique]

9. "$4 trillion"

that's where it is.

[DearAbby]

12. 4 trillion WHERE?

No specifics. It't a valid question....WHERE?

[former9thward]

13. What are the "changes"?

Obama said he is "willing to take heat from my party". If these changes are to protect SS how is he going to take heat from his party? All caps does not impress anybody.

[DearAbby]

15. Just mentioning it he took heat.

He was willing to do that. Democrats as predicted stood up and howled. Maybe it was planned that way (thus his admission he was willing to take heat, he sure as hell got it) and the goal was acheived, GOP caved. Weasled out. Nothing was agreed too until it was agreed too.

So now its reported Changes are still on the table, yet not one person on this board can outline specifically what these changes are. I think the outrage is premature. I am too damned old for this shit. I am gonna wait to see whats coming before picking up that heavy pitchfork and joining a mob. m'kay?

[former9thward]

17. Well according to you the GOP has "caved" so we really don't have to worry about anything.

[DearAbby]

19. Nothing is agreed to, until it's agreed too

It appears when Yertle played "LORD TAKE THIS CUP FROM ME" position yesterday, It was essentially a CAVE. The GOP Bluff of defaulting was called, and raised. They backed away, falling all over themselves backing away.

[former9thward]

20. You assume MM speaks for the GOP. I don't assume that.

As the Senate minority leader he is the least important player there.

[DearAbby]

26. I am assuming the President speaks for all

when he said, Nothing is agreed too, until it's agreed too. I was afraid, because of past actions Obama would cave to them like with the Bush tax cuts extention. But those words, along with Lawrence O Donnell's explaination, convinced me. This was an ante up...put up or shut up move. It worked.


I think the 400 CEOs who wrote to the Congressional leaders and Obama, had a little more to do with MM's cave. He doesnt want to take that bitter pill and vote for the debt ceiling increase...and be crucified by his base the bagger/birther/birchers. He wants to again, dump that bag of shit on Obama.

[sabrina 1]

23. The reason why no one on this board, or apparently in Congress

can say what these changes are, is not their fault, is it? All the WH has to do is to make a clear statement assuring the public that 'changes' means the usual adjustments that are made to keep those programs strong and there will be NO CUTS of any kind and whoever his saying that is wrong.

That's all it would take to make these fears go away. But so far, the president has avoided answering questions about what the word 'changes' means.

So, rather than blaming those who are rightfully demanding answers, since this is not about one politiician's political future for the next five years, this is about the future of millions of Americans. Why are people trying to protect this one politician over the lives of millions? IF there are no cuts on the table then all he has to do is tell the Democrats in Congress and make a clear public statement to that effect.

Frankly, I don't care about politicians, they will be fine, we have assured their financial futures and their families by electing them even if they lose the next election. I am concerned about the most vulnerable people in this country and a simply answer, the meaning of which we do not have to guess at, would end this discussion.

SS should not ever have been a part of this discussion. Why is the WH allowing it to be the main topic in relation to the Debt Ceiling which it has nothing to do with?

Let him threaten cuts in war spending. That will get the attention Republicans. They don't care about cuts in SS, in fact they want them. They do care about keeping the War money train running.

[polmaven]

8. At what time did Stephanie

get this information? Before or after Senator McConnell's presser YESTERDAY afternoon (or, at least late morning)?

White House officials said yesterday..

[Karmadillo]

11. Jay Carney said, "A lot of the reporting about what has been under consideration has been accurate."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20079155-503544.html

<edit>

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor on Tuesday shared with he GOP conference outlines of the deficit reduction proposals on the table, including significant changes to Medicare and Medicaid.

Cantor said Mr. Obama's proposal to achieve about $4 trillion in savings included plans to raise the Medicare eligibility age, impose means testing for Medicare, and change the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment formula.

When asked yesterday whether reports that Mr. Obama would support raising the retirement age were accurate, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said, "A lot of the reporting about what has been under consideration has been accurate."

more...

[mzmolly]

14. "meaning cuts to Social Security and Medicare are still on the table."

This is what the President said:

"If you're a progressive who cares about the integrity of Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid, and believes that it is part of what makes our country great... then we have an obligation to make sure that we make those changes that are required to make it sustainable over the long term."

Changes doesn't automatically mean benefit cuts.

[Karmadillo]

16. USA Today: Obama still pushing for big debt deal

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/07/obama-still-pushing-for-big-debt-deal/1

Jul 13, 2011
Obama still pushing for big debt deal

President Obama and aides say they will want to go big on a debt reduction deal.

"Bigger is better," said White House spokesman Jay Carney, calling the ongoing congressional negotiations "a unique opportunity to accomplish something significant."

For the White House, that means $3 trillion to $4 trillion over ten years, an idea Obama has pushed for months -- also an idea that House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and other Republicans pulled from their agenda because it would require tax increases.

Still, Obama gets to make his case again when he meets with Republican and Democratic congressional leaders at 4 p.m.

more...

[woo me with science]

18. K&R

Of course they are.

[senseandsensibility]

22. quelle shocke

eom

[ProSense]

24. Apparently, CBS is

searching for a way to keep the outrage going.

"White House officials said yesterday it's still possible that President Obama and congressional leaders could reach a deal to reduce the deficit by as much as $4 trillion over a decade -- meaning cuts to Social Security and Medicare are still on the table."

Meaning bullshit editorializing.

Here is Carney today

<...>

Q Well, Republicans are saying that they can’t get commitments. I’m not in the room; I don’t know what the truth is. But Republicans are saying that they can’t get commitments. Mitch McConnell said that an administration official, which I believe is Budget Director Jack Lew -- he asked him how much would there be in entitlement cuts next year, and Lew said -- McConnell did not identify him, but it was Lew -- (laughter) -- and Lew said $2 billion, which is --

MR. CARNEY: I don’t -- actually that’s not talking about entitlements. And that is just a false moving of the chains here when we -- you got to compare apples to apples. The President has already committed to significant non-defense discretionary cuts that were embodied in the CR compromises that fulfill the fiscal year funding of 2011. And what the President is seeking and the commitments he’s made in terms of the spending he likes -- he would accept and seeks, in terms of non-defense discretionary spending, to lock in the savings represented from last year, represented in the CR, and to take them even further, and not just to have savings in one year.

But one of the reasons why he wants a big deal is because you can get a medium-size deal or a smaller deal, but that doesn’t deal with your long-term problem. Only a significantly sized deal in the trillions of dollars, between $3-$4 trillion is what we mostly talked about, over 10 to 12 years, that's the only way to really get at the problem of debt-to-GDP ratio -- to bring those costs in line so that we can get our fiscal house in order. That's what the President wants.

And he is willing to cut deeply in discretionary spending, carefully. He's willing to cut significantly in defense spending, if you do it carefully and maintain our national security interests. He's willing to reform entitlements and find savings there. And he's absolutely willing, of course, to make sure that it's balanced and that we find savings in our tax code.

<...>

Savings are not cuts.

[in_cog_ni_to]

25. That cannot be true! Obama supporters said so! He's BRILLIANT! He would NEVER do that!

:eyes: Just watch and learn.

[fascisthunter]

27. THIS is why people should NOT pretend everything is fine

[bvar22]

29. Aside from all that,

Are you all enjoying the Kabuki Theater?
I am impressed.
The Timing is precise, and the Choreogrqaphy is AWESOME!

Unfortunately, I've seen this one before,
and it doesn't end well for the Working Class, the Retired, and the Poor.

Cherish your memories, SUCKER!
because we're TAKING everything else!
Hahahahahahaha!



The part about the Seniors NOT getting any check at all was brilliant.
Most of them will now be grateful for just a 15% reduction in benefits.
"Thank GAWD it passed."

Pure Machiavelli.
Well Played!
:patriot: