Another rumor debunked: Peterson Was NOT Considered For Role At Fiscal Summit

[babylonsister]

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/president-obama/white-house-peterson-was-never-considered-for-role-at-fiscal-summit/

White House: Peterson Was Not Considered For Role At Fiscal Summit


There’s a persistent rumor on the left that billionaire Pete Peterson was initially slated to have a high-profile speaking role at today’s White House fiscal responsibility summit, until private pressure from liberal advocates forced the White House to nix Peterson’s role.

This would be a very big deal if true. Peterson, a major proponent of making changes to Social Security, raises major red flags among those on the left who see efforts to “reform” the system as a tacit effort to gut it. Liberal advocates have been interpreting the rumor about Peterson’s role as a sign that President Obama is sympathetic to reform.

The rumor that Peterson had been offered a big role was floated again this morning in a Washington Post Op ed by Robert Kuttner, who wrote that Peterson was originally “slated to be a keynote speaker” and argued that it was a bad omen.

But the White House tells me that the rumor isn’t true: Peterson was not considered for a role.

The rumor is going strong, however. Last Wednesday, several dozen high-profile health care and progressive advocates held a conference call on which several people said they’d been told by the White House that he would be given a role, according to a source on the call. The advocates even drew up language to use to push back on the White House about it.

Whatever the advocates’ impressions, Peterson doesn’t have any speaking role, and the White House is claiming that he wasn’t considered for one.

[EraOfResponsibility]

1. another positive thread kick and rec'd by moi n/m