Has Dean identified the cuts he plans to make in entitlements?

[Karmadillo]

The article below suggests he hasn't. Is the assertion accurate and if so, does anyone know if Dean plans to identify the cuts before Iowa and New Hampshire?

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/hampton/10282003/news/57644.htm

<edit>

During Sunday night’s debate among the Democratic presidential candidates in Detroit, Howard Dean again refused to take key domestic programs off the table for budget-cutting.

As reported in The Washington Post on Monday:

"Divisions over Iraq highlighted the 90-minute debate among the nine Democrats and overshadowed differences on the economy and other domestic issues that also emerged, particularly whether former Vermont governor Howard Dean would cut federal entitlements programs to help reduce the budget deficit.

"On domestic issues, the sharpest exchange came over whether Dean would consider cutting Medicare, Medicaid or other entitlement programs to help balance the budget. He said none of the three is ‘on the table.’

"Kerry, noting that Dean had said earlier he would consider cutting some entitlement programs, shot back, ‘If he just took Social Security and Medicare off the table, the question is what entitlements are on the table? Veterans’ pensions, food stamps, Medicaid, Social - disability? He can’t answer that question.’"

Just last week, Dean told the Des Moines Register that he "favors balancing the federal budget in part by limiting growth of entitlement programs." Dean said, "We’re going to have to limit the growth of entitlement programs." (Beaumont, Des Moines Register, 10/19/03)

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[papau]

1. Dean/Kerry/Clark/etc are in favor of cost control in medical care -so

does this mean a cut in entitlement?

Well yes and no.

So is Wash Post a bull shit paper trying to make a war where there isn't any ?? yes

And is Kerry referring back to a 1995 Dean saying he was a budget hawk quote that is obviosly not applicable now - but is a test of how well Dean developes a sound bite to respond to it (and he has not done well with sound bite creation so far) - yes

and is it unfair for Kerry to imply Dean wants to cut entitlements more than Kerry - well yes and no.

Yes - since he knows that to be untrue

and No - since it really is a test of campaign ability - can Dean deveope a sound bite that easily defends him in the short attention span world of US Media broadcast 15 second spots and US voters changing channels?

[sangh0]

2. Dean said he's going to cut entitlements

without specifying which ones. He's only identified the ones he won't cut.

Dean/Kerry/Clark/etc are in favor of cost control in medical care -so does this mean a cut in entitlement?

No, definitely not. "Cutting costs" does not mean cutting benefits or cutting funding.

can Dean deveope a sound bite that easily defends him in the short attention span world of US Media broadcast 15 second spots and US voters changing channels?

No, but a candidate who has policy papers on all sorts of issues could certainly identify the entitlement pgms he's going to cut on his website.

[Karmadillo]

3. It would seem people should have information regarding cuts before

they cast their vote, not after. After all, Dean has already taken a step in this direction by specifying which programs will be immune. It would seem appropriate for voters to also be told how non-immune programs are going to be affected.

[sangha]

4. I would expect a "straight talker" like Dean

to give it to us straight.

[Hep]

6. WOW!

You expect a lot out of one candidate. Where are the posts where you demand such detailed information about other candidates?

[Karmadillo]

9. Does your attempt to change the subject indicate

A. you don't know whether Dean has indicated the entitlements he plans to cut

or

B. you think it's an inappropriate question?

If it's B, why do you think it's inappropriate? Dean is the current front runner. Seems fair to ask what's going to get cut and what's not.

[Karmadillo]

5. According to today's The Note, Kerry will be focusing on this issue

http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/TheNote/TheNote.html

<edit>

"Kerry slashed at Dean in no less than three new ways; following up on a Detroit exchange regarding foreign policy advisers, Kerry snipped, 'We're not hiring advisers, we're hiring a president. And we need one whose own gut, instinct, and knowledge tell him what to do.'"

"A moment later, Kerry continued, questioning what would happen if Dean, who opposed the war in Iraq, were to win the Democratic nomination and prior to the general election WMDs were found, "What happens next year if we have a nominee that's been saying all the time, 'I told you all they had no WMDs?' … I had a knowledge and I would have done (Iraq) differently. And whatever crisis they drudge up next year, I believe I have the ability to right at 'em.'"

"On Dean's pledge to take Social Security and Medicare off the spending cuts table, Kerry pressed on all other entitlement programs such as Vets benefits and Medicaid stating, 'You deserve an honest answer in this race.'"

"Finally, on gun control, Kerry blasted, 'Governor Dean has been running around this country in certain states he believes it matters and has been bragging about his NRA endorsements. He's been endorsed more times in Vermont by the NRA than the NEA … that's straight talk to the nth degree.'"

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[Hep]

7. A moment later, Kerry LIED again

"A moment later, Kerry continued, questioning what would happen if Dean, who opposed the war in Iraq, were to win the Democratic nomination and prior to the general election WMDs were found, "What happens next year if we have a nominee that's been saying all the time, 'I told you all they had no WMDs?' … I had a knowledge and I would have done (Iraq) differently. And whatever crisis they drudge up next year, I believe I have the ability to right at 'em.'"

Dean said we have no evidence of WMD's. He never said all along that Iraq didn't have them. He's not so stupid as to claim to know. I wonder how willing americans are to elect a self proclaimed mind reader like Kerry?

"Finally, on gun control, Kerry blasted, 'Governor Dean has been running around this country in certain states he believes it matters and has been bragging about his NRA endorsements. He's been endorsed more times in Vermont by the NRA than the NEA … that's straight talk to the nth degree.'"

Check this out. I love when Kerry Phreaks trot out gun control.

Kerry's position is so similar to Dean's that I can't believe HE of all people brings it up.

[killbotfactory]

8. Ah, so Kerry is pro-Iraq-war again

And it all hinges on the possiblity WMD's spouting from the ground.

Way to play tbe game, Kerry.

[mzmolly]

10. Have any of the candidates done so?

:shrug: I'd be interested in finding out.