Obama Endorses Bipartisan Debt Commission Opposed By Progressives

[Mass]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/obama-endorses-debt-commission-causing-ire-among-progressives.php?ref=fpb

The Senate is expected to vote tomorrow on a proposal to create a bipartisan debt commission charged with reducing soaring budget deficits, which are projected to be around $1 trillion a year for the next decade.

The commission would potentially have the power to force Congress into an up-or-down vote on systematic changes to the tax code and government entitlement programs, including Medicare and Social Security. That's got a lot of progressives worried -- and mad.

...

In a statement, Obama said he "strongly" supports the legislation and called on "senators from both parties to vote for the creation of a statutory, bipartisan fiscal commission." According to CNN, the proposed commission would include 8 Republicans and 10 Democrats (two appointed by Obama), and would take several months to study the budget problem. After the midterm election, the commission would vote on a reform package, and if it received 14 votes, the measure would go to Congress for an automatic up-or-down vote.

...

Labor leaders and 56 other progressives groups put out a letter saying that if "the Conrad-Gregg proposal were to become law, it could dramatically change by stealth critical benefits and services so vital to America's families" and that the commission "will be viewed as a way to actually cut Medicare benefits, while insulating lawmakers from political fallout." Signatories include the AFL-CIO, NAACP, MoveOn.org, National Council of Women's Organizations, and the SEIU.

The AARP also released a statement against the commission. AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond wrote that the "AARP is disappointed by the Obama Administration's support for a provision that would likely result in significant reductions to the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid programs - affecting millions of Americans - without the benefit of full and open debate by accountable Members of Congress" adding that the organization is strongly opposed to a proposal that treats "Social Security and Medicare as piggy banks for debt reduction."

[phantom power]

1. Awesome. Buying into two GOP-favoring memes simultaneously.

:eyes:

[inna]

14. what's the second one?

[phantom power]

22. The two I had in mind were: "deficit hawk-ism" and "bipartisanship"

[inna]

26. "Bipartisanship" has never been a GOP meme. It's a Democratic/Obama meme, unfortunately. nt

[phantom power]

29. Right, but it is a "GOP-favoring" meme.

At least, it is as long as Dems pursue it and the GOP does not.

[DURHAM D]

2. how republican of Obama...

[vi5]

3. Up or down votes...

Boy what an idea. It's a shame he doesn't support that for initiatives and legislation that democrats want as well.

[katandmoon]

4. Enjoy your one-term presidency, Mr. President.

[Lorien]

7. I honestly don't think that he ever intended on running for a second term

he's turning out to be an economic hit man-and we're the ones getting hit. x(

[inna]

16. That's a scary thought, but I think you're on to something here.

x( indeed.

[calico1]

37. I think you may be right. It's like he is doing everything

in his power to piss off the base. Maybe it's true he is a Republican plant. As crazy as it sounds. I am just dumbfounded by the last year. The hesitancy, the foot dragging, the endless attempts to negotiate with people who have made it clear they have no intention of negotiating. It's like some bad B movie. Hell, maybe he is just keeping the seat warm for someone. I am about ready to give up.

[Lord Helmet]

10. lulz

[Dr.Phool]

27. I'm beginning to think it should be cut to a half term.

[tavalon]

5. Fuck you Senate and your bipartisan fucking machine

I didn't ask for this fucking and No means NO!

[BP2]

6. Dammit, ignoring the very base that elected you is the surest way to ensure our failure in the next

election.

Why doesn't he get that?

[Lorien]

8. Maybe he does

which is an even more chilling possibility to consider.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

19. Progressives are NOT a majority....

Have you ever wondered if maybe by addressing people's fears of a ballooning deficit, Obama might be courting the moderate votes that he needs to have a second term? Being on-board with deficit reduction also neutralizes one of the Republican's most potent issues.

And back when Al Gore had his "Reinventing Government" initiative, he founds literally hundreds of ways that the federal government could save money with virutally no impact on any vital functions. From pointless military expenditures to the "Bridge To Nowhere," voters are pissed off at seeing their taxes wasted - is there some reason why the Obama Administration WOULDN'T want to be out in front on this?

[WA98070]

23. The PEOPLE are progressive the MEDIA and RWNs convinces them they are NOT!

When asked about issues and ideas the PEOPLE are about 70% liberal. It is not until brainwashed against their own best interests that the PEOPLE think they are conservative. Also, MOST people want to be considered MODERATE or Main Stream because they don't want to be "outside the norm." That is what makes the MSM so dangerous and successful at mind control.

In support of this I sight the multiple polls that support a Public Option about 70% but then are against "Health Care Reform" as being "pushed" through Congress.

EVERYONE wants less government. Unfortunately often what we want in the long term isn't realistic in the short term, so we settle for government to fix things no one else can or will. In a Utopia we wouldn't NEED a government at all.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

25. Calling the voters "brainwashed" is not likely to gain their support....

Understanding that voters are terrified (as they should be) of gigantic budget deficits is a way to connect with these voters honestly and without having to insult their intelligence. It's not the result of "mind control" when a voter looks at a trillion dollar budget deficit from this year alone and wonders, "Who in the hell is going to pay for this?"

What's more, much of the Obama Agenda (like health care) is going to cost a lot of money. For this adminstration to cut wasteful programs and practices to, at least in part, pay for these new programs will make the far more palatable to voters. Giving the perception that the admnistration just doesn't care about this issue is going to provide a lot of ammo to the GOP in the 2010 election.

[Lorien]

28. Spot on WA98070

The BS about America being a "center-Right" country is just that; BS. It's being pushed by the MSM and their corporate owners to marginalize any program which serves Main Street over the interests of Wall Street. Make the Right appear "centrist" so that everyone who IS actually moderate-not to mention Liberal, feel like their beliefs are "fringe".

[saracat]

13. Because he , probably rightfully, considers they won't have anyone else to vote for.

And despite Mass, he doesn't think they will stay home.He thinks anyone is better than the GOP. He feels he needs GOP votes and can take the base for granted.

[DJ13]

9. Is this the latest plan by our corporate overlords?

Elect a succession of Presidents who will only serve one term because they are determined to destroy the remaining fragments of a middle class?

[Hello_Kitty]

11. Hope all the $50K DLC millionaires here enjoy the "entitlement reform" eom

[saracat]

12. And the supporters of this are who? Who are the Dems beside Obama and Co who

support this? I guess all those orgs listed aren't really liberals or are part of the "10% loony fringe" whose support the WH doesn't really need.

[babyblonde]

15. um! stop just ONE WAR

claw back 150 BILLION dollar bankster bonuses,that went to a few hundred lucky duckies:mad: :mad: :nuke: :grr:

[ProSense]

17. At least one progressive Senator is pushing Obama to address the deficit

FEINGOLD URGES OBAMA TO ADDRESS DEFICIT, JOBS IN STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

Feingold has always been a deficit hawk.

[Mass]

20. True, but not this way. The commission will be able to give bills that cannot be modified by the

Senate and the House. I doubt Feingold supports this.

[ProSense]

21. I'm all for

waiting to see how things shake out.

Democrats still doubt the commission has the necessary support to pass, but they see the vote as a way to box in Republicans by forcing them to back the commission or vote against it and face the prospect of being accused of not being serious about trying to control red ink.

But Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, indicated on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that he would not support the commission.

“Spending is the problem,” Mr. McConnell said. “I do worry that if we construct this commission in the wrong way, it will be kind of an indirect way to raise taxes.”

link

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

30. It's a great strategy

Republicans won't be able to control the Commission (and use it as a political weapon) but if they vote against it, they've lost "deficit reduction" as a theme in 2010 and 2012.

This is a very smart move.

[TheKentuckian]

33. They'll vote for it, then claim credit, and then cast blame when people are livid

The Confderate party has no obligation or even responsibility to the truth or fairness.

What you see as a good tactic now will be a noose around the neck in no time.

[babyblonde]

18. Dr. Howard Dean

and Elizabeth Warren for Prez and vice in 2012
sanity vote:loveya: :headbang:

[jefferson_dem]

31. Whatever.

Let us know when you rejoin the reality-based universe.

[TheKentuckian]

24. This is why HCR has become a debacle

it is designed to be the vehicle to privitize Medicare and Medicaid to get them off the books.

The public option, the supposed regulations, and reform in general are but carrots to drag a Trojan Horse across the finish line.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Clio the Leo]

36. We cant bash Bush for destroying Clinton's budget surplus....

.... and simultaneously bash the very methods that Clinton used .... which President Obama is now trying to employ.

He talked rather extensively about this in "Audacity."

You were warned.