75% of Likely Virginia Voters Oppose Social Security Cuts

[jtown1123]

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare along with the Alliance for Retired Americans and Strengthen Social Security recently released poll results from a handful of 2012 battleground states that show the majority of voters, no matter what party affiliation, oppose cuts to Social Security.

This is something Democrats should hype up. Especially those who think they need to cut entitlements to appear "serious" about deficit reduction.

An excerpt of the poll:

In a new poll released today , 75 percent of likely voters in Virginia 's 2012 election oppose cutting Social Security benefits in order to reduce the federal deficit. Those opposed include 85 percent of Democrats, 63 percent of Republicans, 79 percent of Independents, and 57 percent of Tea Party supporters.

The poll was released as leaders in Washington debate how to reduce the federal deficit and many members of Congress call for having all options on the table, including deep cuts to Social Security. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), a leader of the so-called "Gang of Six" bipartisan group, may include cuts to Social Security as part of a deficit reduction package. President Obama and OMB Director, Jack Lew and others, have pointed out that Social Security does not, and by law, cannot contribute to the federal deficit.

The poll found that Social Security could be a real wedge issue in the 2012 U.S. Senate race. By a margin of 65 percent to 15 percent, Virginia voters say they would be less likely to vote for a Senate candidate who supports cutting Social Security benefits to reduce the deficit.

http://www.ncpssm.org/news/archive/va_poll_ss_cuts/

[closeupready]

1. Doesn't matter. SS is going to be cut.

Somehow, whether that's raising the retirement age, reducing benefits, who knows, but that's the direction everything's going, regardless of how voters feel.

[jtown1123]

3. Very defeatist. I think we can raise an enormous stink on this one.

[Wind Dancer]

8. No...

.. it's realistic.

[kenfrequed]

2. screw the gang of six!

The DLC/Blue Dogs are pissing away a gift to the Democratic party. The Democrats can come out from this point and be pro-social security and pro-tax the rich and win!

I am amazed by the cosnervative democrats constantly harping on me and my progressive friends about being "realistic" about getting this progressive candidate or that one nominated and yet what do they do?

Demolish every reason the poor, elderly, and working class have for supporting democrats.

[jtown1123]

4. Seconded

[Indykatie]

5. Most Americans Are Opposed to Most Cuts

No polls are necessary to know this for a fact. Expecting that there will be no cuts in either Medicare, Medicaid or SS is not reasonable. Dems must take an approach that the modifications are both necessary and mandatory for Medicare and Medicaid if the programs are to be preserved using the current framework. Hopefully Americans will see this as preferable to the Republican alternatives.

[closeupready]

6. If we regain the House, we can consider raising taxes in early 2013 to make up

for the disputed but projected shortfalls.

[jtown1123]

7. What "modifications" do you suggest?

I'm all for raising the SS tax cap, allowing Part D to negotiate on prescription drugs, and other changes to strengthen these programs in their own right.

Saying we should accept cuts as modifications I can't get on board on but maybe you meant the same types of changes I did.

At the end of the day, tying these programs into debt and deficit talks is just going to open them for cuts. Any decisions made for these programs should be based off of what works best for them, not what will help cut the deficit.

[w4rma]

9. I'm sorry but big media will pretend that both "modifications" are the same.

And voters will punish Democrats along with the Republicans if Democrats don't attack the very unpopular Republican plan. These DLC Democrats that are pretending to be Republicans *will* get punished on this issue.

[jtown1123]

10. You're absolutely right. The GOP will scream bloody murder that Dems destroyed SS

they're good at that.