Obama To Announce Cuts To Medicare, Medicaid & "Changes" to Social Security Wednesday

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All last year when progressives were making hell about the idea that this president would cut social security, medicaid, and medicare. It was said by people that are quick to apologize for this president that progressives were kicking up dust over something that wasn't going to happen. We were told there was no way in hell a democratic president would propose cuts to these programs, especially not before the election.

But with the 2012 budget battle looming, along with the battle to raise the debt ceiling heating up, the Obama administration is about to do what it always does, give in to many republican demands before the debate even starts.

The wall street journal reported this weekend (via Fox "News"):

In a speech Wednesday, Mr. Obama will propose cuts to entitlement programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, and changes to Social Security, a discussion he has largely left to Democrats and Republicans in Congress. He also will call for tax increases for people making over $250,000 a year, a proposal contained in his 2012 budget, and changing parts of the tax code he thinks benefit the wealthy.

"Every corner of the federal government has to be looked at here," David Plouffe, a senior White House adviser, said Sunday in one of multiple television appearances. "Revenues are going to have to be part of this," he said, referring to tax increases.

.....

The White House move caught Democrats in Congress off guard, according to aides, and details of the president's proposals were sketchy. Mr. Plouffe said the president will name a dollar amount for deficit reduction, although the White House wouldn't provide specifics. Introducing taxes into the discussion has the potential to complicate the resolution of coming budget fights, specifically the need to raise the debt ceiling, a move needed to prevent the U.S. defaulting on its debt.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/11/obama-taxes-table-spending-plan/#ixzz1JDtetG4w

Although it sounds nice that Obama will propose raising taxes on the richest americans he has been singing this tune since he announced his candidacy for president. It wasn't until it came down to actually having a vote on this issue that Obama and the Democrats caved.

Obviously the details are still sketchy at this point and hopefully the president will be specific on Wednesday. But all signs point to the white house proposing cuts to our biggest social insurance programs which millions of seniors and poor americans rely on to get by.

[mmonk]

1. He missed out on the time to call for higher taxes. In fact, he opposed them.

We are caught in a battle between two elephants while we try to avoid getting stepped on. Those elephants are small government Republicans and small government Democrats.

[dennis4868]

14. HE OPPOSED HIGHER TAXES FOR THE WEALTHY?

The man was going around the country fighting for tax cuts for the wealthy for 2 years, proposed tax increases for the wealthy, and then was forced to go along with the tax cuts in order to get unemployment insurance for people like myself....the lies here are astonishing!

[mmonk]

21. Who forced him to make a backroom deal with Republicans to

keep the tax cuts while we still had a majority in Congress? If he really opposed the bush tax cuts, he would have held his ground and everyone would have understood his position.

[dennis4868]

30. You really don't understand how washington works, do you?

Even though Obama in his first 2 years had a majority in the house and senate it was not fillubustered proof (like it was for Johnson and FDR) and he had a bunch of DINOs who simply went along with the repubs.....did you actually not know this or you knew this but simply chose to leave this out of our discussion for political reasons? Of course he opposed the Bush tax cuts for the rich but he did nto want to see taxes go up now for the middle class and there were millions of people who were about to lose unemployment insurance right before the holidays....Obama, the only adult in the room, had to give some to get all of this......what's the problem here?

[mmonk]

39. I know Republicans get what they want majority or no majority, in power or

out. No reason to vote as I see it.

[dennis4868]

45. See Rachel Maddow's

segment from a few months back why repubs get what they want....they are willing to drive the car off the cliff and dems wont do that....

[mmonk]

48. Dems aren't willing to apply the brakes.

[sabrina 1]

57. Here's how DC works. When Republicans want something,

they fight for it and they get it, and they don't care what Democrats think or say about them. And when Democrats see how much Republicans want something, they worry so much about what people might say, that they 'compromise' and give away the people's money, health care, rights, and anything the Republicans jump up and down asking for.

If Democrats touch Medicare, Medicaid and/or SS in any way, although up to now I still supported voting for them, bad as they are, that will be the end for me and for everyone I know.

But I'm sure there will be still be apologists, even if they tear down the fragile social safety nets put in place by Democrats, for them.

WE all KNOW how DC works, which is WHY we elected Democrats to the WH and Congress, to CHANGE IT!!

You are only going to make people even more angry than they are already by reminding us that NOTHING changed.

So, what difference does it make whether we have Democrats or Republicans in office if 'this is how DC works'???

[indepat]

51. What's so hard to understand about "if he really opposed the bush tax cuts, he would have held his

ground and everyone would have understood his position?" :patriot:

[ThomWV]

2. It is not wise to declare war on the very people who come out to vote in highest numbers

[eShirl]

3. "tax increases for people making over $250,000 a year" hell yes

cutting Medicare & Medicaid, not so much

[no limit]

4. Like I said, I have a feeling that part will be dropped from the final budget

as it was last time depite the promises made by this administration.

[hfojvt]

28. it's too frigging high anyway

the Bush tax cuts should be reversed for people making over $75,000 a year. That's only about 18% of all tax filers. http://journals.democraticunderground.com/hfojvt/140

[GOTV]

37. I'm in that group, but I would be fine with that idea.

[xchrom]

5. ...

:eyes:

[Larkspur]

6. sounds like Barack "Rostenkowski" Obama doesn't want to be Prez any more

and it is time that seniors and those in my age group 49+ get together and protest this pile of crap Obama is seeking to peddle.

[Peregrine Took]

10. Very true. Folks need to get organized to get our point across.

If I live to be 10000 I will never understand the mind of Obama.

Last night I was going through a closet and I found a big whiteboard that was left of a set that I bought to make pro Obama signs back in 2008.

We rang doorbells, made phone calls, drove to other states to do the same and attend rallies.

Now I wouldn't go across the street to see him.

[ProSense]

7. More RW media spin. Here is what

Plouffe actually said:

Transcript

<...>

PLOUFFE: Yes, but again, you just can't look at it broadly like that. I mean, we have a responsibility to the American people to look at every allocation here and make a determination, is it working for people? Can we afford it? Is it going to help the economy? And that's what the president did. So again, this is a budget agreement and this is the principle he's going to use bringing forward.

I will say, later this week the president is going to speak about his approach to long-term deficit reduction. Is that approach, which is while we reduce the deficit -- and we have to do it, we've got to do it in a balanced way. Can't be all on the backs of seniors and the middle class. We have got to make sure that we are taking a balanced approach to this that allows us to win the future. And we're not going to win the future in this country unless we invest in education, in research and development, in innovation and infrastructure. So that's going to be his north star in these spending decisions. How do we make sure that it is balanced? That we are investing in the things that are going to allow us to win the future.

But he does believe that to grow economically, to be a strong country, we can't sustain this fiscal situation. And there are some that don't agree with that, but he believes strongly that we do have to engage in serious deficit reduction.

<...>

PLOUFFE: No, he's going to lay out his approach, which is -- and he said this previously -- but to get the kind of deficit reduction we need to -- first of all, one of the reasons he wants to do it is so we can live within our means so that we then have the ability to invest in things like education and innovation. But obviously you've got to look everywhere. It's got to be a balanced approach. Every corner of the federal government has to be looked at here.

CROWLEY: So, Social Security?

PLOUFFE: Well, first of all, he said -- first of all, his health care reform package is going to produce $1 trillion of deficit reduction over the next two decades. That being said, we clearly have to do more. So you are going to have to look at savings you might be able to get in Medicare and Medicaid in the long term. He said Social Security's not a contributor to the short-term deficit problem, but in the process of talking about our fiscal situation and our government, we ought to look if there is a way to strengthen Social Security in the long term that doesn't endanger anybody, you know, who's a current beneficiary, and doesn't slash benefits. So he'll look at that.

Defense spending. Domestic spending. Revenues are going to have to be part of this. Listen, the congressional plan that you referenced...

<...>

The RW media is determined to spin this.

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9. Why do you always leave key things out of the things you quote?

From the same transcript:

CROWLEY: But he's willing to cut Medicare, for instance, you seem to indicate. PLOUFFE: What I will say is listen, actually, the one thing in -- a couple -- there's a couple of things in the congressional Republican plan. One is they leave the Medicare savings from the Affordable Care Act in there. So the president already has been able to get real savings in Medicare. But his approach to Medicare will be this: How do we really preserve the program, not end it? How do we squeeze every dollar out of inefficiencies without putting all the burden on seniors? So, yes, we are going to have to have more health care cost savings in this country. There's no question.

(CROSSTALK)

CROWLEY: In Medicare and Medicaid.

PLOUFFE: Yes, you're going to have to look at both of those things, and he'll speak to both of those this week.

CROWLEY: And Social Security?

PLOUFFE: Again, we view Social Security as not a central driver.

Does that sound like someone that won't touch medicare, medicaid, and social security?

What will you think if he does announce cuts to these programs?

[ProSense]

12. Here's what you just posted

CROWLEY: But he's willing to cut Medicare, for instance, you seem to indicate. PLOUFFE: What I will say is listen, actually, the one thing in -- a couple -- there's a couple of things in the congressional Republican plan. One is they leave the Medicare savings from the Affordable Care Act in there. So the president already has been able to get real savings in Medicare. But his approach to Medicare will be this: How do we really preserve the program, not end it? How do we squeeze every dollar out of inefficiencies without putting all the burden on seniors? So, yes, we are going to have to have more health care cost savings in this country. There's no question.

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15. I did ask you a question. What if these cuts are infact announced?

It's only 2 days away prosense, surely you can give us your opinion on what Obama should say in the speech he will give?

[ProSense]

20. Here

a primer on savings versus cuts to benefits.

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35. So the only things you would really support are reducing payments to providers

and reducing medicare advantage.

Everything else is off the table in your eyes?

[NorthCarolina]

22. That was omitted because it is "inconvenient" at best. nt

[ProSense]

24. .

Wrong

[NorthCarolina]

26. I'm curious. What level of changes to Social Security and Medicare would YOU be comfortable with?

I am quite sure you will be working GDP feverishly on Wednesday in defense of whatever is proposed by Obama, so I would be interested in knowing BEFORE Wednesday, exactly where you stand on changes to these particular entitlements. Thank you in advance for your indulgence.

[no limit]

52. I asked the same question didn't get a reply. Hopefully you will, would love to see it

[NorthCarolina]

53. I've posed the same question to a couple of DU's most proliflc conservative posters now

and have not received a response from either. There's still a couple more of these regulars I have yet to pose the question to, but I likely will. I don't anticipate a response from them either though. I think they are keeping their powder dry until Wednesday. I suspect they are not about to go on record with a statement that could be linked to during their Wednesday posting activities when they may have to defend a position that is worse than what they might envision today.

[lumberjack_jeff]

42. Horray for only bashing two kitties a year. n/t

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[L0oniX]

11. "Every corner" but the military.

[dennis4868]

13. He already made cuts to medicare....

he cut out alot of wastefull spending that was not needed by anyone as part of HCR.....Obama promised to do more of the same and that is what he is doing now....believe me there is alot of spending with regard to medicare that is not needed.....for example, double testing when you go for a 2nd opinion.....this is what Obama is talking about.....he is not talking about taking away health insurance for grandma....so much hyperspeculation in the liberal world these days....it's actually very funny.....hahahaha!

[no limit]

16. So what kind of cuts specifically would you be okay with?

[dennis4868]

19. I gave you an example in my last post....

There is a hell of alot of waste in medicare.....alot of expenditures that can be cut out that will not affect anyone's health insurance coverage....Obama already has made cuts to medicare that has not affected 1 person by cutting out the waste....for example, there are some programs within medicare/medicaid that are not in operation anymore but yet it still gets funded....THIS IS WASTE!

[kestrel91316]

17. I fully expect to see cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, and SS that will have their

greatest impact on the elderly POOR. The elderly wealthy won't be touched.

[bobbolink]

33. I do, too. And because we are a throw-away segment of the population, there not only won't

be an outcry.... there won't even be a peep.

The resulting deaths will mean NOTHING.

[bobbolink]

18. I wonder.... do you suppose he will track those who are cut from Medicaid, or their services

drastically cut, and find out how many, as a result of his policies, DIE?

Suppose we will ever know those numbers?

[999998th word]

54. I can no longer add to their profit margin & considered useless and expendable.

Those same folks who only value human life when it is still in the uterus.

F***ing hypocrites.

[frazzled]

23. So wrong and misleading I can't even respond

I'm learning not to waste facts and time on threads hellbent on misunderstanding and misreporting things. If people want to persist in their delusions for blood sport, who am I to ruin the fun?

[no limit]

25. Get back to me in 2 days

[subterranean]

27. Republicons don't want to cut Medicare, they want to destroy it.

Any cuts to Medicare that Obama proposes will be dismissed as too little by the Republicons, but will also piss off seniors. Having said that, I'll wait to see what he actually proposes rather than relying on a WSJ article.

[jaxx]

29. The wall street journal reported this weekend (via Fox "News"):

Ruperts minions.....of course they'll back each other up. Nobody knows what will be said on Wed. in the speech, so this is just the usual blatant bs. He'll say this he'll say that, he'll cut this he'll cut that.

Nobody knows. Least of all the WSJ via Fox news. Jeez

[JoePhilly]

40. Ding Ding Ding

And when Obama doesn't announce these cuts, all of those screaming today will move on to some new outrage.

I seem to recall that back in January, the predictions that Obama was going to announce major cuts to Social Security and Medicare during the State of the Union speech were all the rage around DU.

When it didn't happen, the screamers simply moved on, claiming that Obama was working behind the scenes to keep Mubarak in power in Eqypt. When that turned out to be false, they moved on again.

And so now here we are, same predictions about impending major cuts to social security and medicare.

[TheBigotBasher]

47. I actually laughed on the Egypt and Libya posts.

The VERY same people attacking President Obama for not intervening then attacked him for doing so.

[JoePhilly]

56. Yup ... or on Egypt they said "Obama played NO part".

They went from "Obama working behind the scenes to keep Mubarak in power" to "Obama didn't do anything".

And THAT one, reminds me of the DADT outrage leveled at Obama. For MONTHS we were told that Obama was secretly against repealing DADT. Yup, he'd never sign it.

Then it happens. And the meme shifted ... "Obama didn't really do anything to over turn it!!!"

Same pattern over and over.

[ReturnoftheDjedi]

31. this wasn't true the first ten times you posted it. what's changed?

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34. This is the first time I posted it. And thank you for commenting

I look forward to what you have to say Wednesday.

[nichomachus]

32. How much do you want to bet

That he will stand firm on cutting social benefits for the poor, the sick and the elderly -- and will "compromise" on tax increases for the ultra-wealthy? I'd bet $10.

[krabigirl]

36. But no cuts for war spending. Everything else must be gutted to pay for moar war$$$$

[bvar22]

38. Obama will propose "raising taxes on the richest americans ."

Is this the new shiny object (Public Option) used to distract , and ultimately discarded,
while the REAL agenda "Cuts To Medicare, Medicaid & "Changes" to Social Security" is cemented in place?

My mistrust of the Obama Administration is NOT irrational.
It has been EARNED.

[lumberjack_jeff]

41. self delete

no more caffeine.

[PurityOfEssence]

43. Let's give the man a chance to speak

Things are tense enough as it is.

[FourScore]

44. Way to quote fox news! unrec!

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50. Totally did not see that coming

:eyes:

I'm looking forward to your silence come Wednesday.

[ohheckyeah]

46. Maybe we could

start by making sure corporations like G.E. actually pay taxes.

[blindpig]

49. tick, tick, tick....

[inna]

55. consider it a done deal. meanwhile, the "defense" budget only INCREASED since last year.

shame.

[Javaman]

58. I'm holding my opinon until he actually does it.

I trust nothing faux news says.