When a president is willing to cut Social Security

[Eric J in MN]

...should US Senators be loyal to him, since he's the president?

Or should they try to protect Social Security?

On July 22, 2011, Bernie Sanders was a guest on a liberal radio show, The Thom Hartmann Show. A caller expressed concern that Obama would make a deal with Republicans to cut Social Security in exchange for raising the debt ceiling.

Sanders said, "one of the reasons the president has been able to move so far to the right is that there is no primary opposition to him and I think it would do this country a good deal of service if people started thinking about candidates out there to begin contrasting what is a progressive agenda as opposed to what Obama is doing."

Bernie Sanders was looking out for us. Putting us above loyalty to the president.

http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/07/22/277124/bernie-sanders-primary-obama/

[PatrickforO]

1. A US Senator's first loyalty should be to uphold the Constitution, and to look after the

interests of his/her constituents. That's what Bernie was doing here.

I've never, ever had a problem with what he said about primary opposition to Obama, who HAD moved pretty far to the right.

Bernie's a good guy. He's had the backs of women, minorities, LGBT people, the middle class, elderly and veterans for years and years.

Now it's time for us to have his back!

[AllTooEasy]

11. BULLSHIT: Obama never caved on SS, and the debt ceiling was still raised

The caller expressed an unsubstantiated concern that was ultimately disproved. The debt ceiling was raised without Obama ever caving on SS to do it. What "history" are you basing this on? Sanders didn't have our SS-related backs, but SS was never in doubt under Obama. Once again, when did Obama call for SS cuts in exchange for a debt ceiling raise? And please, don't show me any "anonymous inside source" crap.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

16. thank you.

Fact checkers are in short supply this primary season.

[That Guy 888]

20. Chained CPI?

If the goppers hadn't let their hatred and racism overcome their greed, it's likely there would have been some "Grand Bargain" IMO

[PatrickforO]

22. Well, here's the link.

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/19912-obama-wants-to-cut-social-security
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/04/reality-check-obama-cuts-social-security-and-medicare-by-much-more-than-the-gop/274919/
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/09/obamas-long-battle-cut-social-security-benefits.html

Obama himself proposed the cuts as part of a 'grand bargain.' If you'll recall, the Republicans became confused - even though he was conceding more than they themselves would have asked for, Obama had in their eyes committed the great crime of being president of the United States while black. They had agreed, remember, on the very night of his inauguration in January 2009 to negate EVERYTHING he ever proposed, give him NO victories.

So, the 'grand bargain' fell through.

But you know what? Obama himself had proposed those cuts, and he left them on the table the entire time.

Also, note the date on the Washington's Blog link. Obama has wanted to 'cut entitlements' before even coming into office.

So there it is. He didn't cut Social Security because the Republicans have been too racist to support even stuff they want if Obama proposes it. That is the ONLY reason. Otherwise seniors would be on chained CPI instead of CPI. Forbes has a bullshit article about how this isn't so bad...basically it suggests that, hey, seniors can shop more cleverly and get tuna cat food instead of chicken of the sea.

Here's that link: http://www.forbes.com/sites/investor/2013/04/30/the-real-story-behind-obamas-proposed-social-security-cuts/

So if you think, as you say, "SS was never in doubt under Obama," think again. SS is in doubt with EVERYONE but the liberal progressives like Sanders and Warren. That's EXACTLY why I'm supporting Bernie this time around. I've paid in full boat to Social Security for over 40 years now, and when I retire I'M GETTING IT.

[A Simple Game]

26. And to those that doubt President Obama would never cut Social Security, ask a senior citizen

how much their cost of living raise is going to be next year and how much it was the last two years.

People need to open their eyes before it's too late.

[beam me up scottie]

28. Excellent research, PatrickforO!

Bookmarked because I know others will keep making this claim.

[willvotesdem]

23. President Obama did move far to the right and a primary opponent might have

been a wake-up call. PBO was acting and has governed more like a neo-con than a Democrat.

[Broward]

25. Fortunately, the Republicans wouldn't take yes for an answer.

Obama even put chained CPI in his budget proposal. So, yes, he was willing to cut it. I don't know how anyone could pretend otherwise.

[Enthusiast]

30. Obama created the Catfood Commission. He appointed two anti-New Deal Zealots to head it.

Surely this is reason enough to create doubts.

I believe President Obama did offer up Chained CPI as a bargaining chip during the budget dispute.

This hardly gives us confidence in President Obama when it comes to protecting Social Security.

The President's language implied that he had adopted the Republican view that Social Security did add to the deficit.

[think]

33. Rep. John Conyers threatened protests in front of the White House

http://www.bet.com/news/politics/2011/07/28/conyers-has-had-it-with-obama.html

[DJ13]

2. Clip their Wings

[840high]

4. ...+1

[sheshe2]

3. Did he cut SS?

[DJ13]

5. absurdity

[sheshe2]

7. I did not ask for pictures.

I ASKED WHERE HE CUT IT.

Night night~!

[DJ13]

8. My appologies your Highness

[AllTooEasy]

12. Try answering the question without your condensending rolling eyes!

When did Obama exchange SS cuts for raising the debt ceiling? Don't have an answer, do ya?

[DJ13]

14. Did he try, or not?

Just because the GOP didnt take him up on it doesnt mean he wasnt trying.

[VanillaRhapsody]

31. He has used this same tactic in the past...

Did you think we had forgotten? Its the mental jujitsu he uses on them...

[Eric J in MN]

55. During the 2012 Democratic Convention

...the top speakers kept praising Simpson-Bowles (The Catfood Commission to cut Social Security.)

That wasn't what voters want; it was so they could say they ran on it.

The Obama administration was gearing up for a Grand Bargain to cut Social Security and raise taxes, but the Republicans refused to raise taxes. It wasn't a trick.

[AgingAmerican]

57. Republicans never compromise

I don't understand the point of 'negotiating' with them. You will get the short end of the stick with them every time, because they NEVER compromise.

[kristopher]

17. If you aren't aware of it, did you even bother to look?

Obama's offer to the GOP of 'chained CPI' has been front and center in the budget debates with the Republicans.

Would you mind googling /obama chained cpi/ and let us know what is your opinion of his willingness to make this offer, OK?

I'd select an article, but it's easy to find and probably better if you consult sources you trust.

[murielm99]

19. It took a long time for

the Bernie supporters to come up with an answer for Sanders being on record wanting to primary Obama. Their answer fell short, though.

[PatrickforO]

24. No it didn't. It has NEVER fallen short.

It was only MASSIVE public resistance that kept this grand bargain from happening. I remember calling my US Rep and Senators daily during this time.

I've also been calling them daily to express my disapproval of TPP, which Mr Third Way Obama is trying to foist off on the American people - it will cost millions of jobs and will compromise and maybe overturn laws and regulations at national, state and local levels.

I worked on Obama's campaign in 08 and 12 both. I was not as fervent in 12. In 08 I thought he was gonna be the next FDR, but that didn't happen. But in 12 I thought what the hell - he's in his second term, the GOP has shown its racist colors - he can really be liberal now! But, no...he never got REALLY liberal.

Cutting Social Security sucks. He mentioned it. He put it on the table. Reason enough.

[murielm99]

29. He did not cut SS.

And I am on SS. I got a COLA.

Any excuse to bash Obama, though? Yes, I thought so.

[Dawgs]

34. No, but he tried.

Is your bar really that high?

[Armstead]

39. Yep. Any policy disdagreement is an excuse to "bash"

That is incredibly shallow and superficial

[PatrickforO]

49. You're purposely missing the point. Yes, I KNOW, I KNOW that Obama was not

successful in cutting Social Security. I KNOW that.

My point is that he put it on the table, as ALL of the links I included state, and it REMAINED on the table throughout the budget negotiations.

[Armstead]

38. He threatened to, but didn't follow through -- partly because of the pushback from the "base"

[jeff47]

44. Follow through? He proposed it to the Republicans.

The combination of Republicans too racist to say "yes" and pushback prevented it from happening.

[hollysmom]

9. the COLA

[Recursion]

18. When was the COLA formula changed?

You know there's not a person who "decides" the COLA every year, right?

[hollysmom]

46. it was proposed change by Obama a while back.

There is a formula, the formula was proposed to be changed by Obama.

[eridani]

10. No--because of massive popular resistance

You probably would have told Rachel Carson to quit making such a fuss over songbirds because they haven't disappeared. That her book mobilized hundreds of thousands to get DDT banned obviously had nothing to do with that.

[beam me up scottie]

21. Good point.

To some here Obama can do no wrong, no one is allowed to criticise him for anything.

Bernie was right to do so and I'd be disappointed in him if he didn't speak up.

[lovemydog]

15. He did not, but I don't see anything wrong with the

Bernie Sanders and Ted Kennedy's of the world speaking from their position in the Senate to give voice to the people who rely on it as their only form of income. These are life and death issues, and anything and everything that is said or done to let everyone know that Social Security is essential is, in my opinion, a great thing.

[sheshe2]

53. I could not agree

With you more, lovemydog. I am a couple years away from retirement. I want it so bad, yet my rental situation needs to changes before I can. I am in great shape and can run circles around most, yet I am tired of being on my feet 8 hours a day. Lol, full retirement is 70. I would love to try at 66.

[lovemydog]

54. Oh I wish you well with that.

We all work too much. That would be my platform if I ran for office:

'We all working too damn much!'

[Hoyt]

27. Good point. Obviously he didn't, but some folks will use hypotheticals to bash Obama.

[jeff47]

35. Obama put chained CPI into the "grand bargain" negotiations.

The fact that the Republicans were too racist to take him up on his offer does not mean the offer was not made.

[Hoyt]

37. But cut didn't happen. Maybe he knew what he was doing, and you didn't.

[jeff47]

40. Because taking a gigantic risk with Social Security is a fantastic idea.

Obama made the offer. I see no reason to consider Obama a liar.

[Hoyt]

42. It worked. Of course, Obama is held to a different standard.

[jeff47]

43. The standard where we believe he isn't lying?

Seriously, your complaint is we don't think Obama lied?

[Armstead]

41. Maybe he got so much criticism for it........

You know "holding my feet to the fire" and all that

[bvar22]

45. The WORST thing he did was to "put it on the table".

With that proposal, President Obama cut the power to the 3rd Rail of Politics.....forever.
(In case you don't know, the 3rd Rail is Social Security...before Obama..."Touch it and you are DEAD.".
Well, NOW, that is gone.
Cuts to SS WILL remain on-the-table in every future budget negotiation until it is gone.
Obama changed Social Security from the 3rd Rail of Politics
to just another chip on the table.

Not good.
Social Security is the cornerstone of the modern Democratic Party (or "was" the cornerstone.)

Sanders will NEVER cut Social Security. He will EXPAND it.

Hillary???.....Who knows what she will do.

[Eric J in MN]

48. No, because the Republicans refused to compromise.

If the Republicans had gone along with the tax-increases for Social Security cuts deal, then Obama would have cut Social Security.

Bernie Sanders had reason for concern. I was concerned. Some liberal bloggers were concerned.

[Skittles]

6. recommended

yes indeed

[AzDar]

13. K & R

[Scuba]

32. The idea that a twice-elected Democratic President put SS cuts on the table to pay for ...

... the tax cuts that went to the wealthiest Americans is highly offensive to me.

Whether or not those cuts were passed is not this issue. The issue is Obama's willingness to let the poorest among us pay for the foibles of the richest. This is unforgivable and a clear indicator that the Democratic Party has been co-opted at the highest levels.

[ibegurpard]

36. There were plenty of reasons to hope for a primary opponent

This was just one of them.

[sabrina 1]

47. A Senator's first loyalty should be to the people who elected him/her. Sadly most of our

elected officials are no longer loyal to the voters, but those who fund their campaigns.

Bernie is one of the few who is funded by people, unions, workers etc.

He was absolutely right. All politicians should face challenges in every election.

If they have done a good job, they will have nothing to worry about.

He is 100% correct that if Obama had felt the pressure of a possible primary challenge he would have been less willing to put SS 'on the deficit table'.

Checks and balances are so important. Bernie himself should and probably would face a primary challenge, and I doubt he would object.

This IS still a democracy or so we are told. Though people do seem to object to the democratic process when it affects their favorite politician.

[slipslidingaway]

50. knr and NO n/t

[Thinkingabout]

51. Interesting, here in print for everyone to see, yes he wanted Obama primaried.

[Eric J in MN]

58. Because Sanders is a liberal who hoped a primary challenge

...would move Obama to the left.

Not because he wanted Obama replaced.

[MineralMan]

52. I'm on Social Security. When do those cuts start?

I have are for years that Obama was going to cut it. So far, no cuts. So when does that happen?

[Eric J in MN]

56. The Republicans refused to compromise. The Obama Administraion

...had hoped that the Republicans would raise taxes by eliminating deductions in exchange for Social Security cuts. Fortunately, we lucked out and the Republicans said No.

While we were lucky, it was valid to be concerned about it.

[eridani]

59. When we stop organizing massive fightbacks

I would much rather have spent more time donating to Democrats instead of Social Security Works, and more time doorbelling that attending the meetings that organized that fight.