Theoretical question: If Obama *DID* destroy trust with Seniors by backing Social Security cuts...

[Poll_Blind]

...would you still trust him to protect the other sacred planks in the Democratic Party platform?

Conyers on Jobs: “We’ve Had It.” Lays Out Obama, Calls for Protest at White House:

"We've got to educate the American people at the same time we educate the President of the United States. The Republicans, Speaker Boehner or Majority Leader Cantor did not call for Social Security cuts in the budget deal. The President of the United States called for that," Conyers, who has served in the House since 1965, said. "My response to him is to mass thousands of people in front of the White House to protest this," Conyers said strongly.

How are we possibly going to convince Seniors and others who have trusted the Democratic Party to protect the social programs that they rely on, that the party isn't just giving lip service to protecting them?

PB

[peacebird]

1. by actually NOT just giving lip service perhaps? If the TeaPartyTerrorists can hang together

to crucify the middle class, why can't progressives hang together and throw a monkeywrench in to help SAVE the social safety net, and the middle class dream?

[Poll_Blind]

4. The Progressives ARE hanging together, I'd answer. But the President is going around them:

Reid: 'I'm the Senate majority leader. Why don't I know about this deal?'

PB

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. Becaue they gave lip service to the Democratic Party at the polls?

65 and up broke for McCain by 10 points. No other age group broke for him. Over 65 voted +19 R in the mid-terms -- the largest Republican tilt in at least 20 years.

Politicians respond to incentives.

[Big Blue Marble]

6. Do you think those numbers will hold?

He is likely to see even more defections in this voting block next time. Seniors do vote in large numbers
and they are sitting up and taking notice of his willingness to cut these programs.

Frankly, i am far more concerned how his position undercuts the Democrats opportunity to take back the house
after the Ryan assault on Medicare. They were in process of setting up a big win, when Obama undercut
this strategy.

[Dragonfli]

7. So then you believe this is a punitive action against seniors because many are Republican?

How very 3rd grade of him.
He lost 9 points with them in the mid-terms because he acted against his stated platform and you believe it is not worth restoring their faith in Democrats but rather instead to take punitive action against the programs that they rely on.
Besides being childish and cruel the point you make is not likely to get more of their votes but rather less, making it stupid politics as well.

[Davis_X_Machina]

8. If you're running on the slogan "Winning the Future"...

....aren't you tipping your hand?

[JoeyT]

22. Well that would make sense in a deranged sort of way if that group was who was being threatened.

They're not going to destroy SS/Medicare for current seniors, they love the idea of cutting them for future seniors, though. All the other age groups that got him elected are who will get screwed when cutting time comes.

[dgibby]

3. I don't trust him now.

He lost me with the Public Option debacle. "Looking forward" didn't sit well, either.

[Poll_Blind]

5. There are at least 69 Democratic House members and many Senate Dems who feel the same way.

The 69 signed a demand to the President not to offer up Social Security/Medicare/Medicaid cuts/changes- which the President ignored.

While the President may not be trustworthy to protect Classic Democratic ideals, there are lots of Democrats in the House and Senate who are desperately trying to keep Obama from trashing the credibility of the Democratic Party.

PB

[jwirr]

20. Let us hope they have enough votes to do it.

[mmonk]

9. I don't trust him to do so now.

So of course not.

[Poll_Blind]

12. Yeah, that's about where I'm at too, sadly.

My Congressional reps are on the same page too. What a clusterfuck.

PB

[TheKentuckian]

10. Oh hell no

[blkmusclmachine]

11. NO!

[RainDog]

13. no

I already view him as a major disappointment - a man who could not understand his times.

[Poll_Blind]

15. +1

Your comment reminded me of something a supporter of the President's current course of action said. It was something to the effect of "For every time there is a President, and President Obama is the right president for this time."

It was sometime yesterday or the day before. Anyway, I haven't forgotten the comment because I couldn't possibly think of a more mis-matched president for our time than President Obama has shown himself to be. What we needed was candidate Obama. He would have been excellent for our time and, my god, I can only imagine how much less the bullshit would be if HE had taken office.

PB

[Coyote_Bandit]

14. "still trust"

That implies that trust existed to start with.

Perhaps that is an assumption that ought not be made.

[scheming daemons]

16. It surely is theoretical... because he hasn't done so.

[Raine]

17. Absolutely NO ... I DON'T trust him now, not one bit. nt

[jwirr]

18. Very good question. If they are this eager to get rid cut social security

then what are they going to do with medicare and medicaid? The problem with the games he plays with the republicans is that his backers do not understand what he really believes in. He no longer seem like the Obama that we saw on the campaign trail that was so eager to bring some change back to the government. At least with booosh I knew that he wanted to take everything away from us. Now I don't know if anyone really wants to keep the safety net.

I went into try to use my debit card with the social security on it. It would not go through - probably because it is not the 1st yet - I had to put several items out of my cart back. Standing around me watching were several seniors - when I looked up we all had the look of fear on our faces. Seniors take this very hard. We are vulnerable and know just how precarious our lives are. Many of us are old enough to remember the last depression. He is not going to just be able to talk us out of this. Once our faith is shaken the memory remains. And seniors already vote the other way too much.

[MilesColtrane]

19. If your Aunt had testicles, would you call her your Uncle?

[readmoreoften]

21. Kick

[bigwillq]

23. I don't trust him now.

So no.

I don't trust very many people in our government to do the right thing.

[LLStarks]

24. If the mentality is such that we can only grow or maintain current entitlement spending; yes. nt