Democrats Identify Tea Party Caucus As Key Threat To Social Security

[Donnachaidh]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/democrats-identify-tea-party-caucus-as-key-threat-to-social-security.php

A group of Senate Democrats has identified the new Tea Party caucuses in the House and Senate as existential threats to Social Security, and are aligning to create a bulwark against them. They're pressing President Obama to re-engage and get on their side of the issue, and they have some muscle in the form of their message guru, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

"We're not crying wolf here," Schumer told reporters in the Dirksen Senate office building after a meeting of liberal members. "This is a serious movement to undo the most successful government program in the 20th century."

Because of Republican victories in November, the new Congress has a significantly higher number of Social Security foes than the last one did. In response, a group of progressives, including Schumer, and led by Bernie Sanders (I-VT), have formed the Social Security caucus, to push back against efforts to slash benefits or privatize the program.

They'll need President Obama to have their back on this -- in part because some Democrats think Social Security benefit cuts are the way to go. On that score they're hopeful, but see room for improvement.

More at the link --

[democracy1st]

1. K & R

[randr]

2. The democrats are in the unique position to brand the Teabaggers as un American loonitics

They should be busy offering refuge to any moderate Republicans left.
This is an unparalleled opportunity for Americans to unite in a single purpose, to fight against a mass of misinformed, undereducated, anti-American, loud mouths and bullies.

[NNN0LHI]

3. Recommended

[LynneSin]

4. That's about as obvious as drinking water will cause you to pee

seriously

[dkf]

5. The key threat to SS are budget deficits which make it very painful to repay the SS fund surpluses.

The next threat to SS is the ballooning cost of Medicare and the growth of the obligations we must pay interest on.

Solve the budget crisis, solve SS.

[eridani]

6. More Repuke talking points. Medicare has nothing to do with Social Security

Repaying borrowed money is often painful. So?

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. +1

[eridani]

7. A real irony, since 61% of self-identified teabaggers don't want cuts

2010 election eve/day poll showed STRONG opposition to Social Security cuts – 73% Democrats, 72% Independents, 72% Republicans, 61% Tea Party. Granted, that's ten points lower than Dems, Repubs and independents, but still.....