Did Obama Say This or Not??

[DemocracyInaction]

My head is spinning. I did not see all of his news conference Friday. Lawrence O'Donnell emphasized TWICE during his broadcast that Obama said none of the changes to Medicare would effect those currently on it---note: I did hear O'Donnell say "medicare" but I don't know if he also said medicaid and social security. Then, today I read here the Krugman (I think that's who) piece which does not mention that at all but just lists the "changes". Could someone who listened to that news conference tell me if, indeed, Obama said that. If so, then who the hell is lying here...Obama, Krugman or who/what????

[PSPS]

1. It doesn't really matter what Obama says. Let's see what he does.

[Big Blue Marble]

3. Are you really saying that it does not matter

what the President Of The United States says? Really?

[PSPS]

11. That's right. The past two years have shown us that what Obama says means little.

We'll all just have to wait to see what happens. Sadly, it rarely matches Obama's rhetoric.

[Big Blue Marble]

4. Duplicate.

Deleted

[Big Blue Marble]

2. The chained CPI as purposed is directed at reducing the benefits

of both current and future beneficiaries. The purposed changes to Medicare of additional means testing will include current and future beneficiaries as well.

The push back of Medicare edibility date of course would have no effect on current beneficiaries.

[madfloridian]

5. But a huge huge problem for those in their 50s and no insurance...

and no job prospects. It's a cruel thing to do.

[Big Blue Marble]

12. Absolutely.

Asking people to wait those two years will devastate many financially. This is time Insurance premiums will be the highest, many people
suffering with illnesses, and not able to find work.

As I understand it, the average cost to the government for coverage in these two years is relatively small, while the costs to most
individuals will imperil their financial future.

This is a heartless way to reduce governmental spending.

[LaurenG]

15. This +1 million. Indeed very cruel. nt

[SusanaMontana41]

24. It's immoral. Looks like he woke up the base ... n/t

[crazyjoe]

9. means testing? that scares me right there. does that mean

medicare kicks in after your have extinguished all the assets you've acquired in a lifetime of work? Sold your home, spent your 401k on medical care? this is bullshit!!

[DemocracyInaction]

10. Big Blue few more questions

We who have state pensions have just been through the screw over. I can tell you it's definitely coming to SS. The state pensions were the trial balloon and people didn't pay attention. You will literally lose thousands and thousands that you thought over time you would get----welkum to Amureka. Now as to Medicare---does anyone have any info on "particulars". What I mean is this: Apparently there is already some means testing for the drug benefit (we don't have it because it's in our supplemental insurance). Are they now wanting to apply that to all the rest of medicare? And, I'd be real interested in at what level "means" comes in. Point blank, I think that people with six digit incomes in retirement should do co-pays or higher premiums. I'm afraid that they will say that if you make over ten dollars a year, we'll start jacking up your premiums!!!!! Anyway, do you have any other info??? And what about this statement he made of not applying to current beneficiaries...does this clown even know what's in his proposal???

[Big Blue Marble]

19. Of course we really do not know exactly what the

implications of these cuts would be. Whatever they end up being, my real concern is that they will be only the first whack.

Medicare and Social Security are already somewhat means-tested, So a precedent is in place.

SS: If your income in addition to SS is greater than 25K (32K married filing jointly) 85% of SS is taxed at your marginal rate.
So you could be returning over one-third of your check right now. This clearly hits some middle class beneficiaries now.

Medicare: Singles with income of 85k or couples with income of 170K pay additional premiums depending on their income.
https://questions.medicare.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/2306/~/2011-part-b-premium-amounts-for-persons-with-higher-income-levels">Link

As you can see, the increases are significant for high income folks. And that is now, what the future brings for all of us clouded
with deep uncertainty and far too little clarity.


The President used a lot of vague language on Friday, calling changes to these programs modifications.

This was one quote that struck me hard:

"but we sure hope you don’t just balance the budget on the backs of seniors"

So they are planning to balance the budget on our backs in trade for some crumb from the Republicans not a good sign at all.

[mzmolly]

14. Has Obama said he's considering a chained CPI?

:shrug: I've seen the rumors, but not an actual plan or quote.

[Big Blue Marble]

22. He said he supported proposals by the Gang Of Six.

They include the change to a chained CPI.

"...he called the plan "balanced" and "broadly consistent with what we've been working on" in his administration. "We're in the same playing field," he said."

http://www.kcentv.com/story/15109248/obama-endorses-gang-of-six-deficit-plan">MSNBC

[SusanaMontana41]

26. He said all of that before reading the proposal.

How many in Congress will have time to read anything under a gun? I see another "Patriot Act USA"-type debacle that will be with us forever.

[mzmolly]

29. He never said he supported the specifics of any

proposal.

[mzmolly]

28. Not quite.

He said he supported their efforts and hadn't looked over specifics.

[Wilms]

6. Here's a link to the transcript and the relevant snip.

We then offered an additional $650 billion in cuts to entitlement programs -- Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security. We believed that it was possible to shape those in a way that preserved the integrity of the system, made them available for the next generation, and did not affect current beneficiaries in an adverse way.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=719011&mesg_id=719011

[asjr]

7. I have come to believe it doesn't matter

what our president says, it will only be changed to some degree by the media.

[lamp_shade]

8. Here... read it. > >

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/07/22/remarks-president

[PoliticAverse]

13. Here is what Obama recently said...

"We then offered an additional $650 billion in cuts to entitlement programs -- Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security.
We believed that it was possible to shape those in a way that preserved the integrity of the system, made them available
for the next generation, and did not affect current beneficiaries in an adverse way."

====

So the relevant line is "did not affect current beneficiaries in an adverse way".

[Luminous Animal]

18. Love the use of the word "adverse". Guess who gets to decide what is adverse

or not?

[Big Blue Marble]

20. Slippery language.

The devil is in the details. We are not to learn of these until the deal done; passed; signed; and labeled "historic reform" that saved
Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

[Larkspur]

21. He's talking about cutting benefits for those under 65, especially those who are50 and over

You know the group that is losing its jobs because it will cut a companies healthcare costs, but we're not old enough to go on Medicare.

Greedy millionaire politicians in Washington D.C., including Obama, are cutting benefits for those who aren't in their club so that their millionaire and billionaire donors can have more tax breaks.

[Courtesy Flush]

16. What about the people who will need it in the future?

Sure don't cut current recipients, but cutting future recipients is no better.

[dbonds]

17. The distinction between current and future beneficiaries does NOT matter.

So we hurt people now, or we hurt the next generation - why is there a distinction in that?

[elleng]

23. Yes, and won't affect beneficiaries, just providers etc.

Here's video of news conference.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=602673&mesg_id=602673

Thanks for asking, and for being interested in FACTS!

[Vattel]

25. Neither of them are lying.

Obama's changes to Meidcare wouldn't affect current recipients and Krugman didn't say that they would.

[Big Blue Marble]

27. Read the transcript,

Someone has linked on this thread. I did watch the entire news conference, and IMO, he was using slippery language, but
see for yourself.