White House statement on Bowles/Simpson plan

[ProSense]

TPM: White House Not Biting

The White House issued the following statement regarding the Bowles/Simpson plan:

"The President will wait until the bipartisan fiscal commission finishes its work before commenting. He respects the challenging task that the Co-Chairs and the Commissioners are undertaking and wants to give them space to work on it. These ideas, however, are only a step in the process towards coming up with a set of recommendations and the President looks forward to reviewing their final product early next month," said White House spokesperson, Bill Burton.

[lamp_shade]

1. A very good response.

[katandmoon]

2. The fact that Obama thinks this is even a STEP in "the process" is very troubling.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. Well, at least he didn't endorse them

It appears to be a very carefully worded statement that appears to walk the line between being *respectful* of the commission's efforts and refusing to comment on these initial recommendations, so it's difficult to exactly figure out what the WH position is on the ideas put forward today but I don't see an enthusiastic embrace of them thus far.

[ProSense]

5. It's a good response for a

number of reasons

Let see what happens.

[katandmoon]

15. Let's see what happens? First tell me why Obama appointed Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles anyway,

knowing that they are BOTH Social Security foes?

[Mass]

3. This is what is called leadership.

:sarcasm:

[Baltoman991]

6. Yeah, it is.

But then, I don't expect that Obama bashers to give him credit for anything.

[Mass]

7. LOL. I am an Obama basher. In this case, there must be very very few supporters of Obama here.

This said, I dont feel necessary to agree with every single action he makes. But this makes be too hard for you to understand.

All I am saying is I am disappointed by the statement. I guess I am not entitled to.

[countrydad58]

25. Down to a few deadenders.

[FrenchieCat]

8. Possibly, these Debt Commission suggestions will generate good public debate!

That will provide the American voters a clearer choice as to who they should be voting for from this point on....cause it sure seems like it to me. If you note, all of the distateful suggestions in the proposal made by the commission are suggestions that the Republicans have been demanding for a long time now.....and it appears that not only the Left at DU, but the Left even in Congress are taking a stand against this those recommendations before the ink is even dry on paper.

I'm glad to see Pres. Obama allowing it to stew with the American People......before he comes out with his take on it. It will align folks onto the correct side of each suggestion without bias.

This may be much more interesting in as a political play than as anything else, IMO.

[Mass]

9. Thanks, I appreciate an intelligent answer. We can only hope so, but

in the current climate, I am concerned that either the proposal is so far to the right that a bad proposal would look reasonable. This is why I would have preferred the administration to speak out the way many Dems have (including Conrad who understand clearly the proposal is not good, even if, as a RW Democrat, there are pieces he probably likes).

I am also concerned about the media framing. Hopefully, the proposal on taxes and Social Security are so extreme that the correct side should be clear, but how can it be clear if people dont get to hear the truth.

In any case, the only thing we can hope for is that this proposal will be deeply modified. But, "Qui vivra verra".

[laughingliberal]

10. The corporate media will be spewing the propaganda 24/7 in favor of this. We need someone...

who can present some opposition.

I fear August 09 redux when the media gave the whole HCR debate over to the teabaggers and the President said very little. By the time he starting fighting hard, the debate was lost.

[FrenchieCat]

11. So you think that the media can frame the debate in a way that

would make raising the age of retirement to 69 sound attractive,
and therefore give the Republicans an edge in this debate?

I'm not so sure about that.

With HCR, I understand how the debate was skewed to scare people....
but how does one scare folks into believing that they should wait longer
to retire, and then possible accept less than what they are getting now?

Please tell me.

Reading the report makes clear why the members of Congress are so ambivalent: It cuts Social Security benefits and raises taxes. It slashes discretionary spending without sparing defense. It eliminates the employer-tax exclusion for health care and the mortgage-interest deduction, and does nothing in particular to deal with the resulting chaos in the employer-based health-insurance market or the housing market. A "yea" on this package would not be an easy vote to cast.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/11/there_is_no_report_from_the_fi.html

[laughingliberal]

13. I do think they can, yes. I hope not but I think they can.

They will be especially successful at selling it to younger workers who don't realize what life feels like at 60 and who think they'll be smart enough to plan better and won't have to rely on SS, not realizing these 'crashes' we experience seem to materialize just about the time each generation is about to be withdrawing their savings to live on.

There has, also, been a very successful campaign to convince younger workers that SS won't be there for them, anyway, and it's to their benefit to kick the oldsters to the curb now and quit having to pay for them.

I hope it goes down in flames but we need some really strong, really visible voices coming out against it now.

[ibegurpard]

12. Pelosi's statement: "this is unacceptable"

I know who I agree with

[laughingliberal]

14. Fuckin A! God love her! nt

[katandmoon]

16. I'm glad somebody has balls.

[polichick]

20. That's what leadership looks like, Mr. President. nt

[DimplesinMI]

21. K/R That...LOVE U NANCY!!

As a supporter a President Obama, sorry but I am seriously beginning to question is judgement here. I am beginning to believe that he thinks being President is about being "Mr. Nice Guy" to the rich, while giving the Middle Class "Hallow words and so-called empathy". No one and I mean no one, can call themselves a Democrat and, stand by an inch of this report.

"We need to wait", wait on WHAT? Cut Medicaid, cut Medicare, Cut Social Security, College Students....pay that interest while in school. That is exactly what HIS Commission said. Sorry, but this is BS!

Look, as an African-American female that walked many streets for this President to be elected in 2008, I am seriously beginning to believe, I was Hookwinked. I am a moderate-liberal Democrat, so President Obama should fall in line with most of my views, you think. But, when your COMMISSION that my TAX DOLLARS is PAYING FOR, tell me and other barely hanging on, Middle Class Americans; that they best they can do is Take Away our Social Security, Take Away the fallback Medicaid Program, Take Away my Medicaid when I get old and make my kids, pay INTEREST while in college...while they can barely afford to go in the first place....it is time to get off your bus.

President Obama, if this is the best you can do....it is time to hand the Presidential position over to someone else.

[backscatter712]

17. Sitting on the fence. C'mon, Obama, the ENTIRE NATION needs you to grow a pair! n/t

[Raven]

18. Throw it up against the wall and see if it sticks. Pfffffff!One hell of

a way to govern. I am disgusted.

[polichick]

19. Fuck that! "give them space to work on it" - rather than stand up for something. nt

[Hoyt]

22. I think it is time to have this discussion and tackle the issue.

Don't support everything in the Draft, but time to tackle this issue. Lay the thing out and take a red pen to it and come up with something that might improve things for our country. And, if the end results have a chance of working, there will be a lot most of us won't like.

[Odin2005]

23. Obama must denounce this BS or he will NOT get my vote.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ProSense]

26. "consistant "

Look it up.

[SidDithers]

27. K&R...nt

Sid