Mitch McConnell won't vote for debt limit hike without Medicare cuts

[TomCADem]

Source: Daily KoS

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) says substantial Medicare cuts must be part of a spending and deficit cut package to get his support to raise the debt limit.

In a Capitol briefing with reporters Friday, McConnell declared affirmatively that unspecified Medicare cuts are on the table in bipartisan debt limit negotiations, led by Vice President Joe Biden, and, he expects, will be part of the solution. But in response to a question from TPM, he went further than he has in the past in laying down a marker on that issue. Medicare cuts must be part of that deal to get his support -- even if negotiators manage to find trillions of dollars in savings elsewhere, even if his other priorities are met.

"To get my vote, for me, it's going to take short term ... Both medium and long-term, entitlements.," McConnell said. "Medicare will be part of the solution."

* * *
This is consistent with what McConnell said last weekend on Fox News Sunday, when he told Chris Wallace that the need to raise the debt ceiling creates leverage to slash Medicare and Medicaid.

Read more: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/28/979892/-Mitch-McConnell-wont-vote-for-debt-limit-hike-without-Medicare-cuts-(but-his-vote-doesnt-matter)

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I guess the Republicans have the American public in a no-win situation. If the Democrats don't fold on Ryan plan, the Republicans will not vote for increasing the debt ceiling, and bring upon a default that will make 2008 look like a picnic. Of course, some will say that Democrats should show a similar willingness to bring upon economic armageddon, but isn't the proper reaction to show outrage that Republicans are acting like Osama bin Ladin, who also tried to destroy the U.S. economy?

Isn't the proper reaction to hold Republicans accountable for their willingness to destroy the economy or privitize Medicare while also insisting that tax increases are absolutely off the table?

My take is that Republicans feel they can engage in such actions because the corporate media has conditioned the American people to give Republicans a free pass. Indeed, like hostages showing empathy for thier kidnappers, the American people have been conditioned to see such extortion as a strength. The more crazy and destructive the Republicans act, the more some people admire them.

[Bubba Kush]

1. Mitch Mitchell can then fucking tender his resignation

and get the fuck off the Senate floor and go suck on some corporate teat.

Fucker.

The Democrats needs to show that the Republicans' idea of fucking budget is nothing but greed and feeding the MIC trough.

[DJ13]

2. This is empty posturing

The people who get hurt the most in a debt limit default are the same people who are the biggest campaign donors to the GOP.

They will fold as long as our party has a backbone.

[socialist_n_TN]

34. Yes, you get it too. So far, there have only been 3 posters

who have actually stated the truth on this. THIS IS A BLUFF! Wall Street wants the debt ceiling raised and when was the last time a GOP Legislator went against Wall Street? So, say it loud and say it proud. THIS IS A BLUFF!

Now the question becomes, will the Dems in the Congress and the Executive CALL the bluff or will they fold?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. God, I loathe that man, and now more than ever.

:nuke:

[Snoutport]

22. I can't stand to look at him smiling

I think he is pretty horrible.

[WatchWhatISay]

4. Think the Dems will refrain from caving in to this empty threat?

They could start a new trend!!!!!!!!!

[SoapBox]

10. Exactly...will the impotent Dems cave in for RyanCare?

...this crap has just got to stop.

[TomCADem]

24. "The more crazy and destructive the Republicans act, the more some people admire them."

As I was saying, some have been conditioned to give Republicans a free pass, and blame Democrats, thus Republicans feel they can act with impunity.

Here on DU, McConnell threatens to hold the nation's economy hostage, and rather than blame him for his reprehensible conduct, some feel the irresistable need to attack Democrat!!!

Behold the power of the mainstream media!!! You cannot resist!!1 The Republican can threaten to take your elderly parents off of Medicare and you cannot blame them!!! You much blame the Democrats!!!

Roger Ailes has spoken, and you must obey!!!

ROFL!!!

[socialist_n_TN]

35. So what WILL the Democrats do?

Will they call this bluff? Or will they fold?

[emulatorloo]

17. Senate doesn't need McConnell's vote. He is full of hot air. The problem is Boehnerland

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Oh NO! Obama will be hostaged into slashing Medicare

and Social Security!

(Just like his hand-picked commission voted to recommend.)

[TomCADem]

23. "The more crazy and destructive the Republicans act, the more some people admire them."

As I was saying, some have been conditioned to give Republicans a free pass, and blame Democrats, thus Republicans feel they can act with impunity.

[Faygo Kid]

6. Here it comes. The GOP is determined to end Medicare. Who's behind this?

This on its face appears to be political suicide. Who is behind this? And obviously, they mean to end it for those currently on or near Medicare.

This is Confidence with a capital C that they can get away with this. What do they know about the next election cycle that allows them to do this?

Is it the Kochs? Who is pulling the strings here?

[Blasphemer]

26. I think it goes back to the Health Care debate

The existence of Medicare undermines their argument and despite what was compromised away, they see the writing on the wall regarding the future of health care in this country. They need to kill Medicare in an attempt to keep the overall insurance system private. It could be the Kochs but I just think it's a risk they are willing to take despite the election repercussions. Government run health care would undermine the whole culture these people have created in the country. They are at war.

[Uben]

7. He's a lying sack of shit

He knows they have to raise the debt limit. Bush raised it what? 10 times in his eight years? They just have such little power, they try to make every bill a hill to die on, then they fold like a ten yr old twenty dollar bill! That said, I hope the bastard has the will to carry out his threat. His constituents will fry him like a trout!

[flamingdem]

37. ... you mean like a turtle! nt

[nonperson]

8. Let the Republicans stop the increase in the debt ceiling

And let them own the consequences. There will be Republicans being run out of town tarred and feathered on rails. And those will be the lucky ones.

Touch Medicare, same thing. It's a no-win, no-win situation for the Republicans and it's time to call these bastards' bluff and stop capitulating. Take the fucking gloves off already.

[groundloop]

9. McConnell's vote won't matter anyway, unless they're stupid enough to filibuster

Since he's the Senate MINORITY leader the only way his vote comes into play is if the publicans try to filibuster this. I may be wrong, but I don't see them being quite that stupid.

The House, on the other hand ....

[jmowreader]

21. What do you mean, stupid enough to filibuster?

The Republicans require 60 votes in the Senate to pass any bill, and have since President Obama was sworn in. 60 votes also happens to be the number required to break a filibuster. Therefore, the Republicans are filibustering every bill that enters the Senate.

[CBHagman]

11. Contact info for Mitch McConnell.

Okay, everybody, BE NICE TO THE STAFF, even if they do work for the Chinless One. But here's his contact information. He should get an earful, everywhere he goes, and picketed to the bargain.

Are the American people comatose or something?


Website:

http://mcconnell.senate.gov/public

Contact:

http://mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contact

Louisville Office

601 W. Broadway
Room 630
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: [phone]

Lexington Office

771 Corporate Drive
Suite 108
Lexington, KY 40503
Phone: [phone]

Fort Wright Office

1885 Dixie Highway
Suite 345
Fort Wright, KY 41011
Phone: [phone]

London Office

300 S. Main Street
Suite 310
London, KY 40741
Phone: [phone]

Bowling Green Office

Federal Building
241 E. Main Street, Rm. 102
Bowling Green, KY 42101
Phone: [phone]

Paducah Office

Professional Arts Building
2320 Broadway, Suite 100
Paducah, KY 42001
Phone: [phone]

Washington Office

317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[Doctor_J]

12. President: There will be no cuts to Medicare on my watch

we can pretend, I guess

[MannyGoldstein]

14. Is that an actual quote?

If so, do you have a link?

Thanks!

[lib2DaBone]

13. Mitch McConnel is bluffing.. it would hurt the big GOP donors the worst...

J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs and all the Banksters need that debt limit raised so they can continue with their "Bernie Madoff" Ponzi Scheme carry trade.

Republicans LIVE off of capital gains. They don't work.. they Manipulate paper money like oil futures that cause us to pay $4 a gallon for gas. Mitch McCOnnel would ruin them.

[socialist_n_TN]

32. Yep. You get it. THIS IS A BLUFF..............

All together now, THIS IS A BLUFF! Wall Street wants the debt ceiling raised, ergo it WILL be raised. If Wall Street can also shred the safety net, they want that too, so they'll back the bluff as long as they can. But the ulitmate answer is:

THIS IS A BLUFF!

[gtar100]

15. Mitch is one special guy, ain't he? "Smug prick" just doesn't do him justice.

Imagine how much nicer a world it would be if good ol' Mitch got lost on a deserted island for the rest of his life.

I can only dream. I'm sure Satan will recruit him to his demon hoard after Mitch is done making everyone else miserable.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

16. The elephant in the middle of the American living room

is Iraq and Afghanistan. Why isn't the amount of money being poured into those places ever mentioned? If Mr. McConnell had a pair, he'd start there with the deficit problem.......... :argh:

[SusanaMontana41]

18. McConnell is an evil bastard. Don't cave, Mr. President. n/t

[defendandprotect]

19. Let's start cutting Congressional salaries and benefits -- !!

[StarsInHerHair]

20. why not an emergency undo of the W/Obama tax handouts 4 the rich?

are we not now in a state of emergency, with firefighters teachers & more being cut?

[classysassy]

25. Thanks seniors citizens

for voting against your own interest.

[underpants]

27. Hey Mitch - checked out the new recently?

or do you care?

NY-26 was a message but apparently you missed it

[high density]

28. Run up deficit with X, then cry that Y is the problem

It's so sad that our media doesn't even question simple logical fallacies anymore and that Republicans are free to broadcast this nonsense without question.

[TomCADem]

30. Hence, the We have A Spending Problem, Not A Revenue Problem Talking Point

By cutting taxes, then declaring taxes are off the table, the Republicans try to back the Nation into the destruction of Medicare. The question is whether they will be called on it or have we all been conditioned to give them a free pass or, worse, admire them.

[socialist_n_TN]

33. Yes. It's the Grover Norquist solution and it's been going

on for 30 years now.

BTW, who admires them? Other than for their sticking to their ideology through everything. I wish the Dems would do the same. Otherwise, I just consider them fascists.

Now tell me this. What will the DEMOCRATS in Congress and the Executive do about this? Will they call this BLUFF (and that's all it is, a bluff) or will they fold?

[TomCADem]

38. "I wish the Dems would do the same" Is admiring them...

Look at what Republicans are threatening to do. They are threatening to plunge the nation into a deeper recession than the one following the 2008 mortgage crisis unless weend Medicare. During the budget talks, they nearly shut down the federal government over abortion. Eric Cantor is threatening to hold up Tornado relief unless Democrats come up with off-setting cuts, rather than entertaing any increase in taxes.

Do I really want the Democrats to play with the lives and livelihoods of Americans to advance partisan points? I want our leaders to take their obligations seriously and stop playing brinksmanship with my life for shits and giggles.

Finally, it is easy to play such games if the media gives you a free pass. When President Obama proposed to end Medicare Advantage, a private Medicare supplement, Republicans screamed that he was trying to end Medicare. Now that Republicans are actually threatening to end Medicare, you have the corporate media running comparisons between Paul Ryan and Churchill.

If Democrats were to do the same as Republicans, they would not be treated the same as Republicans. Democrats do not have a Fox News or News Corp to run interference for them. If Democrats did the same as Republicans, they would be slaughtered by the corporate media and astroturf. Think of the Tea Parties rushing to the defense of banks in trying to kill Financial Reform. Can you imagine what would happen if the Democrats actually threatened to bring down the economy to expand abortion rights and choice?

[socialist_n_TN]

39. So I ask again. What will the Democrats do about

the Republican efforts.

BTW, as to all of your other points, IF the Dems grow a pair and resist the fascists efforts, they will actually BE ON THE SIDE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION. And that's no matter how loudly Faux Noise screams about it.

Let me repeat, IF THE DEMS STAND STRONG IN RESISTANCE TO THE REPUBLICAN EFFORTS, THEY ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. Of course, they've got to let the people KNOW that they are on their side. They can't allow Faux Noise to set the agenda (see, HCR debate).

So I repeat, what are the Dems going to do about it?

[crazylikafox]

29. If he forces Dems to vote to cut Medicare, he neutralizes the previous repub votes to do the same!

I think that's why he's doing this, & I hope to God the Dems are not stupid enough to fall for it.

[RoedyGreen]

31. McConnell's credibility

Mitch McConnell, Republican minority leader in the senate, pretending he wants to save medicare would be more believable if:

• Many Republicans had not publicly stated they wanted to eliminate medicare altogether.
  
• He did not want to use all the savings from drastic cutbacks in services to give to billionaires rather than putting it in the medicare lockbox.
  
• He had some interest in reducing costs. Republicans voted to prevent the government from doing bulk purchases or negotiating discounts on medical supplies.
  
• He were willing to share the pain of increased costs equally. He wants to dump 100% of the increased costs on seniors who are least able to absorb them.
  

[Bryn]

36. He already got what he wanted

TAX CUTS for the Rich. Now he wants to hurt regular people, too.

Ugh!

[andym]

40. Medicare for None is a lot closer than Medicare for All! nt.