Obama Vigorously Defends Social Programs, But Then Buckles on Deficits

[Better Believe It]

Obama Vigorously Defends Social Programs, But Then Buckles on Deficits
By Matthew Rothschild
Managing Editor of The Progressive
April 13, 2011

It was a classic Obama maneuver. He made a strong defense of our social programs and articulated a vision of a generous America in contrast to the Republicans’ stingy one. But then he largely went down a Republican path.

But then he accepted the Republican terminology of “fiscal responsibility” and the need “to live within our means, reduce our deficit, and get back on a path that will allow us to pay down our debt.” He even said that the Republican goal of reducing the deficit by $4 trillion over the next 10 years was a worthy goal!

With unemployment still at 8.8 percent (that’s 13.5 million Americans officially out of work, and millions more unofficially), this is not the time to focus attention on reducing the deficit and paying down our debt. We are not suffering because of the deficit and the debt today; we’re suffering because people are out of work and being thrown out of their homes.

In fact, he was so obsessed with the deficit and the debt that he threw in some handcuffs. He included something he called “a debt failsafe,” explaining: “If, by 2014, our debt is not projected to fall as a share of the economy – or if Congress has failed to act – my plan will require us to come together and make up the additional savings with more spending cuts and more spending reductions in the tax code.”

Please read the full article at:

http://www.progressive.org/wx0413b11.html

[SidDithers]

1. Unrec...

SSDD.

Sid

[brentspeak]

16. Translation: You're not smart enough to construct a rebuttal to the OP's content n/t

[Scurrilous]

2. Yawn.

Next!

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. Unrec.

:rofl:

p.s.: I wonder if Matthew's related to Lady Lynn Forrester de Rothschild of PUMA infamy? :puke:

[Carolina]

4. K&R K&R K&R K&R K&R!!!

[polichick]

5. Good point - too bad he didn't move from defending social programs to...

...the progressive caucus plan.

[Tx4obama]

6. FACT SHEET: The President's Framework for Shared Prosperity and Shared Fiscal Responsibility

From the White House

FACT SHEET: The President's Framework for Shared Prosperity and Shared Fiscal Responsibility
Full statement here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/04/13/fact-sheet-presidents-framework-shared-prosperity-and-shared-fiscal-resp

[Enrique]

7. damn those Madison progressives

what do they know! :sarcasm:

[MercuryRepeater]

8. this is your reaction to Obama's Budget Victory and excellent speech today?

grasp for straws much?

[Better Believe It]

9. Which budget "victory" did you have in mind? December 2010 or last weeks "victory"?

[Marr]

11. What's your other handle?

I know your style is familiar, but I can't quite place it. Give me a hint.

[upi402]

12. Budget Victory?

You really shouldn't post while on acid...

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[davidthegnome]

10. I don't know what the right step to take is here

I'm hoping that the President does. In any event, I was impressed by his speech and by his defense of social security, medicaid and medicare. I was also impressed by his willingness to call out the Republicans on their BS Paul budget plan. I have been waiting for him to draw a line in the sand and I believe he finally did.

Still, I always find your articles interesting and worthy of a K & R. I'm just really hoping that you're reading the situation wrong somehow.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

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

[somone]

14. Why wasn't the deficit a concern when he extended tax cuts for the rich?

Typical RW hypocrisy.

[StarsInHerHair]

15. exactly

nt

[chill_wind]

18. +1000

[inna]

24. exactly.

[chill_wind]

19. K & R.

[lonestarnot]

20. He knows he dealing with fucking nutjob teabaggers, what did you want him to do,

pin a bullseye on his back?

[Bobbie Jo]

21. Unrec.

[bvar22]

22. Gets a K&R from me.

....though I liked the part where he said that NEXT TIME, he will really, REALLY fight against giving more money to Billionaires.

He's never done anything to make me doubt his words.

[xchrom]

23. recommend