FDL - "Mitch McConnell Reveals He’ll Hold US Debt Limit Hostage to Force Huge Medicare Cuts"

[TomCADem]

Ah, the Republicans are now selling their attempts to gut Medicare as an attempt to save seniors from health care rationing.

http://my.firedoglake.com/scarecrow/2011/05/22/mitch-mcconnel-implies-hell-hold-us-debt-default-hostage-to-force-medicare-cuts/

The one thing every interviewer should know about Kentucky’s Republican Senator Mitch McConnell is that he never answers any question he’d rather duck. He demonstrated this remarkable evasive skill today in a Fox News interview with Chris Wallace, summarized here by HuffPo’s Amanda Terkel.

But McConnell also revealed (again), notwithstanding his evasions, that Republicans are willing to hold the debt limit issue hostage, and to risk a credit default for the US Government, to force hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid cuts. Their cover story is that they’re “saving” Medicare from President Obama’s plan to “ration Granny’s health care.” It’s remarkable for its cynicism and dishonesty.

McConnell said that none of the current budget proposals — Paul Ryan’s, Toomey’s Rand Paul’s — would pass Congress. But he said what must happen is that there be hundreds of billions in Medicare/Medicaid cuts tied to raising the debt limit. You’re not likely to get a clearer statement of the Republican plan to slash Medicare benefits — without Mitch ever using the words “cut benefits” — as the price for preventing a financial and economic debacle.

The “ration Granny’s health care” lie is a reference to the Medicare Advisory Boards set up under the Affordable Care Act to reduce Medicare costs, not by reducing benefits or denying care but by finding the most cost-effective ways to provide it. The Board would evaluate the effectiveness of drugs and health treatment practices and encourage (or not pay) health care providers to avoid those that are too costly when cheaper, acceptable alternatives are available. In a rational era, recognizing how rapidly private health care costs are rising, this common sense concept would receive broad approval.

[HopeHoops]

1. Damn the GOP dogs are on a short leash.

No offense intended toward dogs, of course.

[Motown_Johnny]

2. (D)s need to not blink on this one, like we did on extending the Bush tax cuts

If we are going to pick our poison then we need to stand by Medicare and force the (R)s to drink the same poison we are.


Wall Street wants the debt limit raised and I think if we stand fast we can look as if we made them back down when it is really their corporate masters who will force them to do the right thing.

[NorthCarolina]

4. McConnell may simply be the "set-up" man for later concession by the D's

as their ONLY way to prevent the country from going into default. If that is what happens, then there will be little doubt that everything that happens in DC is carefully scripted good cop bad-cop theater.

[socialist_n_TN]

15. This is what I'm afraid of...........

The Dems, the OTHER half of the corporate party, will use the bluff as an excuse to cave.

[TomCADem]

16. Oooh, so there is really no difference between Republicans and Democrats, because they are in cahoot

...Thus, in Wisconsin, the Democrats were actually in league with Governor Walker's efforts to destroy collective bargaining? It sounds improbable.

[napi21]

5. I agree. I think they're bluffing on this one, and I say "Call their bluff!"

The TPers probably are not bluffing and are too stupid to realize just what a default would cause, but Boner, McConnel and most of the older experienced Pubbies do know the risk, and I don't think they will let disaster happen. As I understand it, Timmy Geitner has manage to play with the numbers and push D Day off until August so there's time to push the Pubbies into a corner and not let them out! I'm going to send an email to

Reed and Pelosi and demand they stand their positions. Let the idiots fail!

[Andy823]

6. I totally agree!

NOT raising the debt limit would piss off a whole lot of the big money contributors, and the GOP isn't about to piss off their cash supply! If democrats are smart they would simply through in a few more plans to cut the "waste" in medicare, or any other kinds of overhead cuts that would NOT affect the services to the elderly at all! If McConell doesn't like that, well tough, let him cry! The GOP have backed into a corner they can't get out of, and now they think they can force democrats to take the heat off of them. If democrats stand their ground the republicans are going to back down!

[socialist_n_TN]

14. That's why it's a bluff. Wall Street wants the debt limit

raised, so eventually it WILL be raised. McConnell's bosses won't accept anything less. However, they also want to raid Medicare, so they will back McConnell's bluff as long as they can.

But it IS a bluff. The Dems need to call it.

[Frustratedlady]

3. What a hateful man.

He must be related to Cheney. Same look, same beady eyes and same curl to the lip. Shudder.

[Forkboy]

7. I don't believe this because it comes from FDL.

They're never right about anything. Mitch is a swell bloke, and wouldn't do anything like this.

[OHdem10]

8. You better believe it. Unless you do not believe Rachel Maddow

and A. Weiner. They fully covered it last night.

They also plan to to twist things and ask the people
to decide do you wantObama and Democrats to cut or
Republicans cut. Their point is Obama is cutting
so they are making it moral equivallecy.

Bait and switch. Put the people to thinking about
Obama cuts. and they will forget all about Republicans
ending Medicare.

The Democrats on the Hill had better be ready. I do not
know. Hoyer may be willing to appease.

Holding your head in the sand because it is FDL is not
the best move.

[Forkboy]

10. It was just sarcasm.

We have a few posters here who do exactly this. They see "FDL" and immediately ignore the story or unrec the thread. :)

[Welibs]

9. Why wouldn't you google it before you make a statement like

that? It's on Huffington Post, Daily Kos and a few other sites as well.

Keep in mind that this is left wing news so it's the truth!

Also keep in mind that McConnell was an insider in the Bush administration and there isn't a single SWELL thing about him. He's a liar and a criminal.

Mitch led the traitorous Republicans in sitting down within days of Obama signing the oath of office and refused to work with the president and all the GOP did for a whole 2 year term was campaign against him. AND THEY GOT PAID FOR IT! THEY GOT PAID FOR PROMISING TO DESTROY THE PRESIDENT AND MAKE SURE HE FAILS! WHAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP DOES THIS AND DESTROYED THE COUNTRY AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE COLOUR OF A MAN'S SKIN?

Republicans don't like to work. Bush took over 1100 vaca days which means he didn't show up for work for almost 50% of his term. That cost taxpayers 17 million dollars to fly him back and forth to Crawford on Air Force One.

[Forkboy]

11. Just sarcasm.

Sorry. :)

[Odin2005]

12. I DARE him to try. Bring it on, you Fascist SOB!!!

[kentuck]

13. Harry Reid should hold up the vote until Wall Street gets nervous...

Then, after pleas from Wall Street, hold a vote on the debt limit. Let McConnell hold it up then.

[madamesilverspurs]

17. Once more, with feeling . . .

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