What is this “bitter pill” Obama wants his supporters to swallow on domestic cuts?

[UCmeNdc]

I have a question for President Obama. What is this “bitter pill” — or whatever words you did use in your recent speech to activists — that you expect us to swallow? Please, be specific. We — many of whom put you where you are today — deserve to be told now how you plan to disappoint.

Sir? You owe us at least this much.


He wants us to stick with him. Will he stick with us? Color me dubious; the taste in my mouth is already bitter.

I think he’s going to sell us out, but maybe that’s just me — because I’ve been watching.


What do we want?

What we want from our president is simple:

(1) No extension of the Bush–Obama Tax Cuts for incomes above $250,000 (or lower; no sneaking that already high number even higher).

(2) No reduction to safety net benefits — Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. If possible, improvement of those benefits. (There are several bills in the Senate to actually-strengthen Social Security (not pretend-strengthen it). One is Mark Begich’s bill, which I strongly endorse.

Don’t count on the man you elected — it’s going to be up to us. Read how you can help protect Social Security here — it includes simple actions you can take. Read how you can help promote Sen. Begich’s bill here — again, just a few simple steps.





http://americablog.com/2012/11/what-is-this-bitter-pill-obama-wants-his-supporters-to-swallow.html

[msongs]

1. he weakend his opening position in an email to SUPPORTERS today. thanks a lot nt

[nc4bo]

2. "Cuts spending by more than $3 trillion -including cuts President Obama has already signed into law"

Specifics, please?

Got that email today. It mentions the survey I and many others completed. I do not want to see any cuts to our safety nets nor a raise in age requirements.

What cuts? Where? How?

Specifics - if it's not too much trouble. That way, we know what we're dealing with or what we'll have to fight against.

[msongs]

3. Obama is "not wedded" to any of his own proposals. If you don't believe in your own proposals why

tell that to your opponents before negotiations even begin. You have undermined your own bargaining positions already.
repubs know obama does this so they up the ante.

[gravity]

5. The game is to win the media narrative

If Obama looks like he is the one willing to compromise and the Republicans aren't, it will look favorable for the Democrats. Boehner is trying to do the same thing when saying he will compromise some.

Obama can remain above the fray while Reid and Pelosi do the dirty work of negotiating what they want.

[Doctor_J]

8. How can you possibly believe thiis after the first term?

If Obama looks like he is the one willing to compromise and the Republicans aren't, it will look favorable for the Democrats.

Seriously, WTF is wrong with you? If Obama looks like he is willing to compromise, he will get trounced by the Repukes. Why not, for once in his life, stand up for what is right?

[MannyGoldstein]

4. It's very troubling

But most - even on DU - are cool with it.

[Indykatie]

7. Cool I'm Not but I Expect Some Cuts as Part of the Deal

I'm not sure how they will ever get to any deal with repubs saying absolutely no tax increases and dems saying absolutely no changes in SS and Medicare.

Elimination of the earning cap on SS earning is one that I think will be easier for folks to accept though it would represent a tax increase on earnings at $110K or so. Given the longer life spans they could include a rise in the age for full SS and Medicare but not have it kick in for 20 years to accommodate additional increases in longevity. There is already a higher than 65 age SS eligibility for some folks. Folks are working longer and also living longer. They could also end the 28% subsidy paid to employers who still provide retiree medical prescription drug coverage. The government should not have to subsidize these employers benefit costs. In the future I hope we see less of these goodies passed out to companies. They whine and bitch about benefits given to individual folks but no one seems to understand that companies get more than their fair share of the goodies too. Anyone remember the billions passed out from the "temporary reinsurance fund"?

[socialist_n_TN]

11. Sometimes the best policy is to do nothing, ESPECIALLY.........

if the new policy is WORSE than the old policy. The expiration of the tax cuts and the sequestration are set law. He can either go along with a "compromise" that's WORSE policy for the rest of us or he can veto any laws passed that make things worse. IOW, you don't have to "compromise" anything when you're the President. You can always veto.

[Doctor_J]

9. Yep, the cheerleading for capitulation had already started

makes me want to puke. The people who calls themselves Dems and cheer for cuts are as vile as the filthiest Repuke.

[cthulu2016]

6. Sorry, Chicken Little... no bad news here

The bitter pill the President refers to us swallowing is obviously a reference to a new prescription drug plan that is so cool he is saving it as a surprise.

—Doctor Pangloss

[lunatica]

10. Evidently the blogger speaks for you

But not for all of us.