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ENTITLEMENTS

Democratic Base Horrified as Obama Offers Cuts to Social Security and Medicare

They're calling it 'The Great Betrayal'

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by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t

Image: AP

On Sunday the president repeated his offer to cut Social Security and Medicare as part of a "grand bargain," an offer that's roiled the Democratic grassroots.

What's Obama hoping to achieve by infuriating his base in this manner? According to Reuters, he's trying to win over centrist Democrats and moderate Republicans in Congress, in the hopes that they will support a deal to repeal the sequester and avoid "damaging budget cuts."

Progressives on the Daily Kos are in a flame war over the offer, with some defending Obama's tactic and others referring to it as a "bailout" for the GOP and a "Grand Betrayal" of Americans.

Meanwhile progressives in Congress have already taken defensive action against proposed cuts, by introducing the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act of 2013 (bill details here).

Via Reuters and the Daily Kos.
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Is Obama betraying Americans by proposing entitlement cuts?

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • marine1
    !
    Obama is trying to stack the deck AGAIN by causing upheaval putting everyone at each others throat so he can have an out when all goes to hell again. Chicago back stabbing at it very best. Get use to it America.
  • DerivePI
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    Well, based on past behavior, he will get the GOP to board the ship, set sail and then sink it. Meanwhile, our ability to safeguard our senior citizens' retirements becomes worse, but maybe the next president will take care of that. Eugenics and Euthanasia continue to pop up in liberal politics.
  • View all 17 replies >
  • No_Bama
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    I just LOVE seeing this big eye-opening smack in the face to all the low information voters and seniors that voted for Emperor Nero Obama. After all the fear mongering and demagoguing this lying clown did during the campaign about Romney, Ryan and republicans throwing granny off a cliff and taking away Social Security and Medicare, Nero Obama shows what a liar he really is and offers it up himself. Another sad "I told you so" moment for the low information Obama voting public.
  • Heavy-Fed
    !
    Did y'all notice in the photo above, Obama looks as if he's taking the pulse of this elderly woman... and laughing like, "You won't need social security... much longer!"
  • Zazziness
    !
    @No_Bama Actually, if you ever for a moment stopped burbling out clichés you barely understand and which certainly aren't true, you might have seen this coming. Folks have told your ilk that Mr. Obama is a centrist who is not even close to a socialist for as long as he's been in office. In fact, if you ever took your head out of the dark warm place where you keep it -- and you read progressive news outlets -- you'd know moves like this are no surprise to the left in America.

    But you won't. You may now return to your regularly scheduled partisan hackery.
  • jessejaymes
    !
    I am elibible for maximum social security. I don't get it because I have "too much" other income in retirement. Fine. And now this asshat is going to take more because he wants to give money to Wall Street or welfare or what? He thinks taking seniors money is better than cutting military corruption? I told you he was going to do this. He's no different than GW Bush except he's willing to give gays anything they want. The ONLY difference.
  • u
    AceLuby
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    Couldn't agree more, and here we have the far right championing it like it's a great plan. SS would last for 50 years if we'd stop STEALING from it to pay for WAR. Medicare would last that long too if we'd modify the terms so we could negotiate prices on the goods and services. These are simple reforms that will help our seniors. Meanwhile we're spending ungodly amounts of money on a war that isn't even a war, we're handing out no bid contracts like candy, and there is absolutely no oversight on the BS that's being spent. I won't even get into the fact that taxes are too damn low for everyone.

    But no... old people and poor people are the major problems... The stupidity of America never ceases to amaze me.
  • stepped_in_it
    !
    " I told you he was going to do this." Exactly....what I told the liberal fools when they shouted he was a "god". As soon as the "man" no longer had to worry about a re-election, the bus was coming in and "we" would be under it!
    Please America.....get so fed up with all these arse's that you RE-ELECT NOBODY...
  • jessejaymes
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    @stepped_in_it Obama has spent every day since he was re-elected trying to sell out the seniors for the benefit of the welfare trash. He's done it with me.
  • View all 7 replies >
  • o
    NTBFW
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    Wow. None of the options even came close. I guess he isn't stupid. What at a political move. He just put the republicans in a spot where to get cuts in spending they have to vote to cut Soc and Medicare. He knows that no politician will do that but now he has a counter to the claims he won't cut anything. It's a bluff.
  • Knightkore
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    You got that too? So call his bluff.....I mean Republicans really are in the best position.....they don't have anything to lose.....
  • o
    NTBFW
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    @Knightkore I don't know how they play this. He set a trap. But the republicans can flip it back on him. If he is willing to hurt the country to make the republicans look bad it will hurt him. Lets see what happens
  • o
    Sonny
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    Well frankly if you think this is some kind of "negotiation" ploy...Its a Very Bad one..Because don't ever believe that the republicans won't JUMP at the chance to cut Soc Sec...No, I don't think its any kind of tactic at all...I think its just a VERY BAD IDEA to put Soc Sec on the table for cuts...Now I do like Obama---But I have to honestly say...That he,....well he is not the best "negotiator" that I have seen in the Whitehouse...by far....No, it will be Democrats, Liberals, Independents, and Seniors who will bring him back to reality....This is a non-starter.
  • o
    NTBFW
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    @Sonny that took a lot for you to admit. But he is shooting some kind of angle don't doubt that. And btw the GOP wants to figure out a way to pay for Soc Sec. Not kill it. I wish I had all the money I paid in to invest my self. Because I doubt I ever see a penny from it.
  • View all 19 replies >
  • o
    Sonny
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    Well this article should finally show all of those on the right that what I have been saying is absolutely true about the "left"....And that is that the left NEVER walks lockstep as do the right and/or republican party.....Which is a good thing..If only those on the right could learn this lesson...If the policy is perceived to be NOT in the interest of the American people---Those on the left, and Democrats will make their (our) displeasure known and fight against it...No such thing on the right---and that is why they get such little respect from the rest of the political spectrum---because they almost ALWAYS "just follow the leader" and continue to walk lockstep---No matter what!!
  • u
    Yank
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    Did you just talk about how Boehner couldn't get the Republicans behind him? How about your comments on the TEA party (not using that name)? How about you go look up bill voted down party lines? You are as hyper-partisan as they come.
  • u
    Yank
    !
    @Sonny actually it was a lie and hyper-partison. Both parties stick to party lines most of the time and sometimes they have a break from it. How do you explain VAWA or the lack of support of Boehnar's cliff deal?
  • o
    Sonny
    !
    @Yank Here...Let me help you out...First The Daily Beast"....John Boehner is a reasonable man, a dealmaker trapped in a time of trench warfare, where positional bargaining is carried to its gridlocked extreme. He’s so tied up by the 50 or so radicals in his conference that it requires ditching the Hastert rule to pass anything. He also tied up by the essential illogic at the intersection of Republican policy and messaging..." Second The New Yorker.."..Although previous reporting on those 2011 talks suggested that Cantor was a driving force behind scuttling the deal..."

    And I'll give you one more:.The Huffington Post:.."..Republican leaders in the House of Representatives split over the "fiscal cliff" deal that Congress passed on New Year's Day..."

    Yeah, I would say that Boehner clearly not control his party....If you need more, please feel free to look them up.
  • o
    NTBFW
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    @Sonny I'm sorry. But you are so off the mark on this one I have to chuckle. Obama will strong arm democrats anytime he wants. For example when he desperately needed cots for Obamacare he has some senators that couldn't vote for it because their voters said no. You should hear the stories Blanche Lincoln tells about the strong arm nasty trucks Obama threatened her with. She went ahead and voted for it. It cost her her seat. So don't put your faith in Obama unless you do what he says.
  • View all 10 replies >
  • o
    Sonny
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    Now as to this policy.....Pres. Obama should know that this one.....Ain't Gonna Happen!....This is going to be one of those times when he (as did Boehner) strikes up a deal---Only to have it soundly Rejected by his party and all liberals...It ain't happening and he should have known that!
  • FollowTheMoney
    !
    The President does know this one isn't going to fly. It isn't meant to. This is nothing more than a ploy to get what they want, more control of the populous. It's the old { good cop, bad cop } routine, the President is just taking his turn at bad cop. In the end , we all suffer.
  • o
    Sonny
    !
    @FollowTheMoney Lol well if this is a ploy-- It must be part of one of the worst political strategies ever put together. He's calling down the wrath of his base, his party, seniors, progressives, independents, liberals, and even many republicans who do not want politicians screwing around with this program. It is literally political suicide.
  • FollowTheMoney
    !
    @Sonny This isn't for the Presidents benefit, he can't run again. This is for the political operatives that are to remain in the game. They get to come in and save the day. The saved will shout their praises and blindly follow them into the next debockle. In other words, it's payback for letting him have and keep the job. Mind you, it's not a conspiracy. but rather business as usual. The President is acting the fall guy for the impending outrage from the public at large. In short, He does know that. ;-] The real question is, Why do we the people keep letting it happen?
  • o
    Sonny
    !
    @FollowTheMoney Wow...Money! I didn't think there was anybody out that as cynical as me...But---you might be just the candidate...I must admit, that I hadn't thought of it from that angle...But I can see the merit in your argument. I think you might just be on to something there, it does make sense politically, in a very "cynical" sort of way...But such is the stock n trade of politicians. Good Point!
  • o
    Sonny
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    Yes but NOT at the expense of our Senior Citizens...I'm afraid that you guys are going to have to find your cuts somewhere else...This one will NEVER happen!
  • u
    jlg1289
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    I completely agree. There are ways of cutting SS without putting grandma out on the streets...its time to start being realistic. It doesnt matter to me anyway, ill never see SS. BTW there is no "you guys" we're all in this screwed up situation together. The sooner we realize that, the better off we will be
  • u
    SAS86
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    How does anyone consider social security and medicare, which have been paid for by individuals and employers, entitlement? The fact that the government wasted the money which was paid in is the government's fault. No one ever even considers what happens to the funds paid in by individuals who die before they collect it. Instead of being what was intended when the programs began, the government made it into the worlds largest Ponzi scheme!
  • Denizen_Kate
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    I'm sick and tired of conservatives calling the tens of thousands of dollars I've been paying into Medicare and Social Security for more than 40 years "entitlements." That's MY money, asshats! You're damned right I'm "entitled" to it!
  • PNWest
    !
    SAD, VERY, VERY SAD!(c) 2013 Neo Inc. Obama is betraying the working people of America. I would expect this kind of crap out of the GOP but I expect better out of the democrats and the President. I urge all of the democratic congressmen and Senators to protect Social Security and Medicare. I repeat.... This makes me SAD, VERY, VERY SAD!(c) 2013 Neo Inc.
  • u
    AceLuby
    !
    @earl Also, even if we cut our budget to $300 billion, we'd still be spending twice as much as they would... combined. Though I don't see why it matters, they have no reason to attack us and we'd be better off if we stopped being the world police. 'Spreading freedom' is the reason why our deficit is so out of hand in the first place.
  • View all 15 replies >
  • u
    Realthinker
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    Scare tactics intended to put pressure of the Republicans. Some people will fall for it and others will not. Obama really does not want to cut a penny from the budget. He just wants to raise even more taxes and find new ways to spend the new increases. Tax and spend. It's what Democrats do!
  • u
    AceLuby
    !
    Lol, to live in your world would be great. Who needs facts or history when you can just imagine things the way you want them to be and then declare them anonymously on a message board.
  • u
    Realthinker
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    @AceLuby I live in the real world where scaring senior citizens is the first play in the Democrats playbook. That is precisely what Obama is doing. History doesn't matter? Well Ace, show me a time in history where the Demcrats did not tax and spend. Heck, FDR is on record as saying Social Security would assure the Democrats the seniors vote forever. That IS history. I have said this before, I have been watching what the Democrats DO for over forty years.
  • u
    AceLuby
    !
    @Realthinker I'm talking about the 'tax and spend democrats.' Our biggest spending happens under Republicans. Republicans are the party of fiscal irresponsibility and have been since 1981...

    "Reagan proved deficits don't matter"
  • AntiPorcheria
    !
    I call BS on all of this because it is a "cut" in the projected INCREASE.

    LOL! I love watching the Heffalumps and Jackasses make buffoons of themselves.
  • u
    albert
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    I still don't think the older white people that have kept the republican's in office know what they are talking about when they say ,cut entitlements,maybe they will have to have a cut in entitlements before they understand.
  • No_Bama
    !
    I just LOVE seeing this big eye-opening smack in the face to all the low information voters and seniors that voted for Emperor Nero Obama. After all the fear mongering and demagoguing this lying clown did during the campaign about Romney, Ryan and republicans throwing granny off a cliff and taking away Social Security and Medicare, Nero Obama shows what a liar he really is and offers it up himself. Another sad "I told you so" moment for the low information Obama voting public.
  • mimi57
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    He's betrayed everyone else in the Country, he doesn't care anymore about the elderly than he does the rest of the nation...he cares about one thing. Power. Narcissists love power.
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