Is this recent "Obama cutting SS" meme, a GOP coordinated backlash?

[Sheepshank]

It's all over the place. Comments that Obama is on board to cut Social security without a shred of hard evidence that this is the direction he is taking. Now new information just the same rhetoric running rampant like a wild fire. Reports from the Commission are assumed to be a means to implement cuts...again without factual evidence that this is the outcome and implementation program adopted by Obama.

Many here have said that Obama has not clearly stated that he will protect Social Security to support the assumption that Obama will cut Social Security.

I found this article from August, 2010. I find the timing of this article interesting because it was shortly after this time that media meme started picking up traction and hammering home the idea that it's Obama and not the GOP that are about to destroy grandma's social security check.

I think messing with SS was placed squarely in the GOP court back in August, 2010, the backlash was so very clear and intense that there sprung from this the brainchild to put it back on Obama...yeah that's the ticket...make it Obama's.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/14/obama-claims-gop-trying-destroy-social-security/

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama used the anniversary of Social Security to trumpet Democrats' support for the popular program and accuse Republicans of trying to destroy it.

Seventy-five years after President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Social Security into law, Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday: "We have an obligation to keep that promise, to safeguard Social Security for our seniors, people with disabilities and all Americans — today, tomorrow and forever."

Some Republican leaders in Congress are "pushing to make privatizing Social Security a key part of their legislative agenda if they win a majority in Congress this fall," Obama said.

[Enrique]

1. the Bowles-Simpson Commission was not a meme n/t

[NorthCarolina]

5. Precisely. It is simply amazing how hard this is for some to comprehend. nt

[JVS]

32. You're assuming that this isn't a disingenuous way to malign those who are defending Soc security.

[MineralMan]

33. Almost as hard as comprehending that the Fiscal Commission

issued no report at all. There is no Fiscal Commission report. There is only a failed draft of a report. That draft did not succeed in getting the required approval from the Commission, and the Commission ended without issuing a report. That, my DU friend, is the fact of the matter. There is no Fiscal Commission report.

[jtown1123]

54. yet the media and members of Congress treat it as if there were. Doesn't matter it wasn't "official"

those shit ideas are still circulating.

[Statistical]

62. Most of the ideas in the report are good. They help close the gap and put

most of the burden on the rich.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

2. I got the idea from O himself --

when he spoke about "entitlement reform". :shrug:

[elleng]

3. Probably, and

its picked up some 'air' here, unfortunately.

[TheWraith]

4. Yes, it is. It's scaremongering, on the same level as "death panels." nt

[MineralMan]

6. Good find. It will not stop the meme, though.

There's too much invested in it now. Remember how the President would never see DADT repeal through? Once he did, I didn't hear any apologies for pushing that meme...too much invested in it. Same with this one.

Recced!

[Dawgs]

10. Kind of like ending "tax cuts for the rich" and the "public option"?

Nice try though.

[Enrique]

11. like finding an Obama speech where Obama touts the public option

good find! Or an Obama speech where Obama attacks the Bush tax cuts. Good find!

Good finds, but are they proof Obama would push the public option, or proof that he'd repeal the Bush tax cuts?

[MineralMan]

14. Good points, except that President Obama was unable to get

those things through Congress. This is a different thing. Remember DADT.

We actually have a weak presidency in the USA. The President can repeal, but cannot make Congress do anything. He supported both of those things, but was unsuccessful in getting them enacted in Congress. If, however, Congress pushes through SS cuts, he can repeal them.

The President can suggest. The President can encourage. The President cannot create legislation. He can, however veto legislation.

[Dawgs]

19. Why couldn't he get the PO through Congress? There's ZERO proof they didn't have the votes.

He only needed 50 votes through reconciliation.

[MineralMan]

28. There was no reconciliation, though. He can't force

that. You appear not to understand how our system of government actually functions. The HCR that passed was the very most that could have passed. It almost didn't. There's your evidence.

[Dawgs]

38. HCR didn't pass through reconciliation?

Are you sure about that?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/11/the-public-options-last-s_n_495383.html

[DonCoquixote]

21. Could you make an op out of this?

"Remember how the President would never see DADT repeal through? Once he did, I didn't hear any apologies for pushing that meme...too much invested in it. Same with this one."

Funny, I did not see any apologies either.

[Dawgs]

25. You must have been missing the few days after he signed it.

I saw numerous posts from people apologizing.

[MineralMan]

29. That OP was written more than once at that time.

As soon as DADT repeal was passed and signed, crickets were heard in the land from those who constantly said it would not happen. It did happen. Thank you, Mr. President, for pushing hard to make it happen.

[ProudDad]

35. "the President would never see DADT repeal through?"

Who the hell said that?

Not us Progressives...

We knew that the Empire needed more cannon fodder and so it was inevitable that gays would be allowed to contribute their bodies and viscera to the cause...

[MineralMan]

41. Uh-huh...I was here, and saw the many, many posts to that

very effect. You're talking about another issue entirely.

[Kingofalldems]

7. It's well known the repubs accuse Dems of things

the repubs themselves plan to do.

[tularetom]

8. Obama appointed the catfood commission

and staffed it with known opponents of SS.

When the co chairs of the commission jumped the gun and announced some of their conclusions (conclusions that were not optimistic toward SS) before the commission's report was released, the administration was silent.

Rumors began circulating that Obama endorsed the opinions of the chairs (which have not been adopted by the full commission) and the administration did nothing to squelch those rumors.

Although I'm amazed that they continue to let these rumors fly, I'm positive the president has no intention of tampering with SS.

Because if he does, he may as well begin packing his bags now. He won't be in the White House after Jan 20, 2013.

[Dawgs]

9. Look at those he appoints. You really don't need to look any further.

FDR would never make it into this administration.

[Sheepshank]

12. The Commission has had how many of their suggestions

discussed and implemented? Yeah, how embarassing.

[Dawgs]

20. I'm talking about more than just the commission.

How many in the administration have come out against SS cuts?

[jtown1123]

23. They are being looked at now by President Obama and a group of Senators

for next year's budget.

From a White House Press Briefing:

MR. GIBBS: Jack Lew and Secretary Geithner met at the White House this morning with members of the fiscal commission to go through and discuss with them their report and to talk with them as we begin to broach and work through the decisions that we have for our budget for next year. But I think that we’re going to, over the next year and several years, have to have a discussion about getting our fiscal house in order. That’s why the President appointed the commission to begin with and I think we’re looking through their proposals as we put our budget together to see what matches up and we could send to Capitol Hill early next year.

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/12/09/press-briefing-press-secretary-robert-gibbs-1292010

[Sheepshank]

56. Obama is merely being polite

and telling the commission that he will look at their work...NO WHERE is there any indication of implementing anything specific from the report.

[jtown1123]

59. Why would he need to be polite? A lot of Dems came out right away and blasted these proposals.

It's fair enough he wouldn't blast a commission he created, insult the co-chairs he appointed (one of which called SS a milkcow with 300 million tits) but if all of this is just way off base speculation, why wouldn't he come out say this is bs? Say, "hey now I know a lot of people are saying I am open to cuts to Social Security but that's a lie." How hard could that be?

[Sheepshank]

68. It's in the nature of Obama to be civil even when he doesn't agree

And if you haven't seen that side of the way he administers then you are completely missing the boat.

I know there are those here that Obama would rather govern as a dictator. That's just not how he does things and frankly, I despise a Cheney type of threatening, cooersive individual. I'm very glad Obama isn't like that.

[DrDan]

13. he is on record stating his support for modest changes

"“Social Security is not in crisis,” Obama said. “We’re going to have to make some modest adjustments in order to strengthen it.”"

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/08/18/obama-says-social-security-not-in-crisis-but-needs-modest-adjustments/



Granted - we do not know what he would support in the way of "modest changes", but he certainly is looking to make some changes.

[Sheepshank]

17. I'm not averse to changes per se

there is always room for efficiency and removing fraud.

[DrDan]

that is true - and room for raising the cap

if I were a betting man, however, I would lean toward other, more senior-crippling changes being considered. He does seem to be buying into the Repub spin about the aging population.

[ProudDad]

40. What fraud and ineffeciency?

Social Security overhead is almost infinitesimal...

And "fraud" is another bogus right-wing talking point?

You have authoritative proof for these slanders, right?

[ProudDad]

39. Nice cherry picking...

" Obama also said his bipartisan fiscal commission could come up with proposals to extend the life of the program.

" “I am absolutely convinced it can be done,” he said.

"I’m glad somebody asked the question. Because this shows that the President is falling for the familiar trap that Social Security faces problems due to an “aging population.” That just misreads life expectancy statistics. Most of the changes in life expectancy can be attributed to reductions in infant mortality and deaths at a young age. Life expectancy for those who have reached the age of 65 is basically the same. So it’s just not the case that massively more people are collecting Social Security than before. And that certainly shouldn’t precipitate any calls for raising the retirement age to 70.

"As I said, Obama did not reveal in any way the nature of the “modest adjustments” that would need to be made. He did not, for example, back the enormously popular policy of lifting the payroll tax cap that doesn’t even capture as much of a percentage of compensation as it was historically intended to capture.

"Yes, it’s a better position than, to pick at random, Sharron Angle, who has been on a crusade to get the government to stop funding entitlement programs for two decades. But that doesn’t quite make it the preferable policy. We know now that President Obama will not privatize Social Security, will not overhaul it, but would look at unspecified “modest adjustments,” including what may come out of his fiscal commission, whose members have a proclivity toward benefit cuts and privatization."

[jtown1123]

55. Wonderful. Thanks.

[DrDan]

61. those ideas have been discussed ad nauseum around here - not a secret to anyone

[ProudDad]

63. And we'd better KEEP this discussion on the front burner

or those of us who paid in all of our lives...

And depend on Social Security to LIVE...

are liable to be fucked in the ass...

[DrDan]

65. don't think there is much risk in that

[ProudDad]

67. I hope not...

:hi:

[Dawgs]

15. I trust Bernie Sanders more than any other politician.

"I have to tell you, I have been on the phone to the very, very, very highest levels of the Obama administration, and the responses that I am getting are not assuring," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said in an exclusive interview. "What I’m told is that no definitive decisions have been made on the issue of Social Security – I expect that is probably true."

[vi5]

16. It's probably the same people who spread the lies that....

he was going to throw the public option overboard on health care, cave on the Bush tax cuts, and continue Bush era foreign policy. And look how stupid those fools ended up looking.

Oh wait....

[Dawgs]

22. You are bad.

:evilgrin:

[jtown1123]

27. +1000

[Sheepshank]

31. Actually it's probably coming form the same people

that pissed and moaned that Obama is denying COLA increases to those on Social Security.

They see and perpetuate assumptions, based on....I don't know what it's based on. I can't read minds, but I do see and read words that have no basis in fact..

[ProudDad]

43. ...

:rofl:

[jtown1123]

18. The Fiscal Commission was created by Obama. It recommends cutting SS and Medicare

Obama has said nothing about how harmful these proposals are...we are waiting with baited breath.

This is not manufactured by the GOP. This is a concern coming from progressives, the AFL-CIO, and other groups.

[MineralMan]

24. The Fiscal Commission recommended nothing at all.

No final report was made. It did not pass with the majority required under its charter. There are no Fiscal Commission recommendations - just a failed draft. That draft is just that - a draft that was not adopted by the Commission. It's just another failed document, destined for the dustbin of history, like many others before it.

Facts are facts.

[jtown1123]

30. President is using these suggestions for his 2012 budget, he said so himself. Quite clearly:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/12/09/press-briefing-press-secretary-robert-gibbs-1292010

The Commission's majority report includes a number of specific proposals that I - along with my economic team -- will study closely in the coming weeks as we develop our budget and our priorities for the coming year. This morning, my budget director, Jack Lew, spoke with Chairman Bowles and invited the entire Commission in to meet with him and Secretary Geithner to discuss the Commission's proposals. Overall, my goal is to build on the steps we've already taken to reduce our deficit, like slowing the growth of health care costs, proposing a three-year freeze in non-security discretionary spending and a two-year pay freeze for federal civilian workers, and restoring the rule that we pay for all of our priorities.

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/obama-ill-incorporate-fiscal-commission-report-in-my-budget.php

[MineralMan]

36. You are aware that the draft report covers far more than

Social Security, right? You did read it, right? It covers many areas. Social Security was just one of the many things it discusses. Why do you assume that is the issue being discussed? You don't know that. Nobody has said that.

[jtown1123]

44. Obama said he wanted to reform entitlements after the midterm elections...

why is it so unreasonable that he might be looking at these SS proposals? SS wasn't even in their mandate yet he told them to take a look at it...what does that say to you?

[Sheepshank]

37. nope...yet another assumption

The Commission's majority report includes a number of specific proposals that I - along with my economic team -- will study closely in the coming weeks as we develop our budget and our priorities for the coming year nope nothing whatsoever about implementation. Rather a polite phrase that he will look at their work. And yet still....you have nothing to show what parts he may even look at closely...nothing, nada, assumptions all the way.

[SidDithers]

26. Whether generated by the right or the left...

if you repeat the lie often enough, the lie becomes truth.

Sid

[ProudDad]

45. And the BIGGEST LIE of all

is that either of the two-right-wings of the Corporate War Party actually give a shit about average USAmericans...

If such support could potentially jeopardize their corporate-cash-infusions...

[SidDithers]

49. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!...

Let me know when your glorious revolution starts.

Sid

[ProudDad]

52. It's already started...

www.transitionus.org

[xchrom]

34. Don't create the catfood commission, don't talk about cutting 'entitlements,

Don't wimp out on the PO, don't chain Americans to corporations for
Their healthcare, etc - and you won't hear 'rumors' about obama cutting
SS.

Just saying...

[jtown1123]

42. It also concerns me that all his economic advisors are very bad on Social Security.

Gene Sperling wrote a paper on privatizing SS a few years back...

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2004/01/b289151.html


Is this really the economic advisor Obama should be listening to?

[JVS]

47. It would be nice if he crafted his policies with advisors who inspire confidence rather than dread.

But that just isn't the kind of change he's chosen.

[jtown1123]

51. Yeah, I mean why not James Galbraith, Dean Baker or Paul Krugman?

Economists who actually saw this shit storm coming.

[TBF]

46. Guess we'll have to see what President Obama has to say for himself in the SOTU speech. nt

[jtown1123]

53. Yupp. Can't wait.

[ProudDad]

48. William Daley tapped as Obama's chief of staff

The author of NAFTA, etc.

Flack and lobbyist...

Yeah, right...

[jtown1123]

50. President Obama on Social Security & Entitlement Reform:

And so, the test is gonna be what happens over the next several years, when it's not just an abstraction, but we have to start making serious choices. I've got a deficit commission that I've put forward that is gonna be releasing recommendations for how we can start reducing the deficit. And I don't know yet what they're gonna say, but I do know what the federal budget looks like. And if you eliminate all the earmarks. If you eliminate all the foreign aid. If you eliminate all the waste and abuse that people, you know, talk about eliminating -- you're still confronted with a fact that the vast majority of the federal budget are things that people really think are important. Like Social Security and Medicare and defense.

And so, you then have to start making some tough decisions about how do we pay for those things that we think are important? And you know, we're not gonna be able to balance the budget just by slashing the National Parks budget, even if you didn't think that was a proper function of government. We're not gonna be able to balance the budget by, you know, eliminating the National Weather Service.

I mean, we're gonna have to, you know, tackle some big issues like entitlements that, you know, when you listen to the Tea Party or you listen to Republican candidates they promise we're not gonna touch.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/07/60minutes/main7032277.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody

[Sheepshank]

58. y-e-a-h that interview said it all *roll eyes*

[jtown1123]

60. It's called putting two and two together. Some claimed that he was not looking

at the SS proposals when he said he was looking at the proposals so I merely wanted to point out that he said we cannot reduce the deficit without touching these proposals. Of course he will NEVER say "I want to cut Social Security..." he's not a moron.

[ProudDad]

66. You do remember that Social Security is NOT part of the "deficit problem"

the war machine is most of it...

[jtown1123]

69. I know that. I don't think Obama does. That's what I am worried about.

[Fumesucker]

57. I get a PayPal from the RNC and the Koch brothers every time I work it into my posts..

Hey, beggars can't be choosers.


:eyes:

[Lucky 13]

64. Only time will tell.

There have been so many things I've thought, "He'd NEVER do that!" and then he goes and does it. So I have no idea. Flip a coin.

[Capitalocracy]

70. Yes, he's going to protect it from privatization

But he's going to cut benefits by raising the retirement age, if he's allowed to, at minimum.

[mmonk]

71. Yeah it's all them.

The economists, the liberal blogosphere, the liberal activists, are Republican too.