The People Who Elected Obama Don't Want Cuts to Social Security and Medicare

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/election-2012/people-who-elected-obama-dont-want-cuts-social-security-and-medicare



Voting patterns told a story yesterday. And here is the story they told: working people want a president who works for them.

Political scientist Thomas Ferguson looked at the exit poll in today’s New York Times and found that something significant had changed since ’08. The split between Democrats and Republicans along income lines has grown. In a statement released by the Institute for Public Accuracy , Ferguson wrote:

“Obama’s vote percentage declines in straight line fashion as income rises. He got 63 percent of the votes of Americans making less than $30,000 and 57 percent of those making between $30,000 and $50,000. Above $50,000, the Other America kicks in. Romney won 53 percent of the votes of Americans making between $50,000 and $100,000 and 54 percent of the votes of Americans making above $100,000.”

By contrast, in 2008, the Democrats ran essentially even with the Republicans among Americans making over not only more than $50,000, but more than $100,000. Among Americans making less than $50,000, the Democratic percentages of the vote were high in 2008, but not as lopsided as they were this year.

What does it mean? For starters, it means that struggling people have seen right through the faux populism of the GOP, and they know that between the two parties, the Democrats are slightly more likely to stand up against the dangerous income inequality, wage depression and shredding of social safety nets the Republican Party has embraced. And it means that the Occupy Wall Street movement has enhanced awareness of a system that redistributes income toward the top -- the 99 percent know it, and so do the rich.

[woo me with science]

1. K&R Absolutely true. In fact,

the opposition to cutting SS and Medicare even extends across party lines, as polls have shown clearly and repeatedly. But you are right; this vote, in particular, proclaims the people's will as clearly as anything possibly could.

Do we have representation or not?

Our *representatives* appear to need a clear reminder that they work for us. Unless the people raise hell, we are likely to see a betrayal of unfathomable cruelty and audacity. Write, call, protest, talk to neighbors, make this a media issue. Do NOT let them slip cuts through. Remind everyone you know that the middle class and the poor were devastated through policy, that virtually all new wealth of the past 30 years has gone to the top one percent, that 93 percent of the recovery has gone to the top one percent, and that even today, money continues to pour to the top one percent.

It is unconscionable that the fundamental safety nets, a fundamental compact between the government and Americans into which we pay our entire lives, would be cut, against all reason and against public will. We are supposed to have a REPRESENTATIVE government, not an oligarchy bleeding us. If they do this, this entire election season, during which our party proclaimed itself the defender of Americans and the 99 percent, will have been a vicious joke on and deliberate betrayal of the American people. We will have rulers and not representatives.

We need to do everything possible to raise the profile of this issue. Talk to everyone you know, and raise the alarm now.

We need to make this message to Washington very loud and clear as a nation.

[xchrom]

2. +1

[SammyWinstonJack]

6. +1000!

[donnasgirl]

15. Nicely put

I would not want to be the party who decides to screw with what people paid for,folks from both sides and all walks of life do not like it when people steal from them.Politicians screwed it up now let politicians fix it.no different than the postal service.

[INdemo]

18. If 2.7 trillion was repaid to the SS fund there would be no need for this

discussion..Obama made the promise on the campaign trail that SS would not be cut.
I was not happy with the end result with the health care bill because it did not go far enough.
So if President Obama betrays us and puts SS and Medicare back on the table then yes

"will have been a vicious joke on and deliberate betrayal of the American people. We will have rulers and not representatives"

Senator Bernie Sanders is correct about SS. It is not broke..Take SS out of the budget and pay back the money owed to it.

[Hotler]

20. "We are supposed to have a REPRESENTATIVE government, not an oligarchy bleeding us."

Sing it from the mountain tops.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

30. +1 nt

[limpyhobbler]

54. +1

Nobody who is middle class or working class should be ok with this.

Unfortunately it seems a lot of liberals are unwilling to believe Obama could be angling to cut like this.

[djean111]

3. I believe that Obama will not really pay attention to the demographics of the people who voted

for him. He has no need to. I think I am still in that elite group that Rahm referred to as retards or whatever; I don't think that has changed one bit.
I believe cutting social security benefits is already part of that "grand bargain" (grand for who? I hate that fucking name.) - and I also believe Romney would have been much more harsh.

Of course I voted for Obama.
The choice I had was crystal clear.
But, I live on my social security, I couldn't afford the rose-colored glasses.
I'd like to be wrong, of course. But I am not naive.

[woo me with science]

5. Don't be passive. Raise hell.

Call, write, and protest, and go to Washington if you can. Do it for your parents and your children. Do not surrender to the corporate thieves.

We can still make it politically untenable to cut Social Security. We have the power to mortify and end the political reputation of any politician who tries such a thing.

[Romulox]

25. I agree with this analysis. Likely spot on. nt

[bvar22]

43. My WORST fear was a Romney President.

My 2nd Worst fear was an Obama 2nd term using the re-election as a MANDATE for MORE warmed over Republican Policy masquerading as "Pragmatic" Centrism.

I am relieved that my Worst Fear didn't materialize.

[dotymed]

50. Exactly my fears.

Rmoney would have destroyed all but the rich. President Obama has the possibility to really improve the lives of regular Americans. We saw this in candidate Obama in 2008, he won a peace prize based on his idea for the country. Unfortunately while he passed some initiatives that will improve our lives, they did not go nearly far enough, what Americans want and NEED. Obama kept and strengthened many bush policies which is unacceptable. Transparency in government is mandatory for a democracy to thrive. Capitulating on health/for profit medicine was terrible. We must remove profit from health care and cover everyone. The continued tax breaks for the wealthy was unconscionable. I understand that the gop fought him on every corner regardless of the effect on ordinary people. Unfortunately after President Obamas' first term it was obvious that he was not able to be (or willing to be) 2008 candidate Obama. He did make some (half-assed) accomplishments that really helped low income people and I applaud him for that. He was definitely the better of two evils in this campaign.
My hope and that of many democrats, is that in his last term he will not feel constrained by re-election worries. He will put things "on the table" that the elite will despise, and he will not compromise with these greedy bastards. I know it won't happen, but he should become another FDR when fighting for equality. I voted and persuaded others to vote Obama in these hopes.
At the very least our SCOTUS will change for the better. If Rmoney had that choice, we would have gotten some american Mullahs who would have set our cause back a century.
Candidate Obama said "make me." Hopefully in this term we can. I am an FDR democrat, I hope that we can move much farther to the left.

[leveymg]

4. We did not put him back into office to make any Grand Deals that involve cuts in social programs.

If we had wanted that, we would have voted for RMoney. People can live with federal deficits, but not without incomes and entitlements.

[KoKo]

16. "Obama and progressives: what will liberals do with their big election victory?"

Obama and progressives: what will liberals do with their big election victory?

With fights over social security, Medicare, ongoing war, and other key progressive priorities looming, what will they do with their new power?

STEP ONE: Liberals will declare that cutting social security and Medicare benefits – including raising the eligibility age or introducing "means-testing" – are absolutely unacceptable, that they will never support any bill that does so no matter what other provisions it contains, that they will wage war on Democrats if they try.

STEP TWO: As the deal gets negotiated and takes shape, progressive pundits in Washington, with Obama officials persuasively whispering in their ear, will begin to argue that the proposed cuts are really not that bad, that they are modest and acceptable, that they are even necessary to save the programs from greater cuts or even dismantlement.

STEP THREE: Many progressives – ones who are not persuaded that these cuts are less than draconian or defensible on the merits – will nonetheless begin to view them with resignation and acquiescence on pragmatic grounds. Obama has no real choice, they will insist, because he must reach a deal with the crazy, evil GOP to save the economy from crippling harm, and the only way he can do so is by agreeing to entitlement cuts. It is a pragmatic necessity, they will insist, and anyone who refuses to support it is being a purist, unreasonably blind to political realities, recklessly willing to blow up Obama's second term before it even begins.

STEP FOUR: The few liberal holdouts, who continue to vehemently oppose any bill that cuts social security and Medicare, will be isolated and marginalized, excluded from the key meetings where these matters are being negotiated, confined to a few MSNBC appearances where they explain their inconsequential opposition.

STEP FIVE: Once a deal is announced, and everyone from Obama to Harry Reid and the DNC are behind it, any progressives still vocally angry about it and insisting on its defeat will be castigated as ideologues and purists, compared to the Tea Party for their refusal to compromise, and scorned (by compliant progressives) as fringe Far Left malcontents.

STEP SIX: Once the deal is enacted with bipartisan support and Obama signs it in a ceremony, standing in front of his new Treasury Secretary, the supreme corporatist Erskine Bowles, where he touts the virtues of bipartisanship and making "tough choices", any progressives still complaining will be told that it is time to move on. Any who do not will be constantly reminded that there is an Extremely Important Election coming – the 2014 midterm – where it will be Absolutely Vital that Democrats hold onto the Senate and that they take over the House. Any progressive, still infuriated by cuts to social security and Medicare, who still refuses to get meekly in line behind the Party will be told that they are jeopardizing the Party's chances for winning that Vital Election and – as a result of their opposition - are helping Mitch McConnell take over control of the Senate and John Boehner retain control of the House.
(More of a good read at the link below:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/07/obama-progressives-left-entitlements

[Hotler]

24. I said it before and I'll say it again...

Obama has no spine, no fight, and no guts to tell the repugs and the 1%ers to go fuck themselves. He'll roll over like a puppy. He had no toughness in the first term, he won't be finding any in the second. Remember back when he was first running for office he talked some tough shit. Then within a week after getting the nomination it was "Now is not the time to point fingers.".

[serbbral]

37. Obama

I have to admit that I am concerned too. However, I think we should not jump the gun. We don't know if Obama is going to cut social security or not. I think he will look out for us, no matter the situation.

[leveymg]

28. That's exactly what I dread is about to happen. And, it may be amidst war hysteria - 2003 redux.

Bush got his tax cuts as a "Wartime President". Obama? Well, he does seem a nice guy, but that's just the way things gets done in Washington.

Please repost GG's Guardian piece as an OP.

[NorthCarolina]

33. Update to the above

This morning, the Washington Post reports:

"Quickly pivoting the political conversation from President Obama's reelection to Washington's looming budget battles, House Speaker John A. Boehner on Wednesday offered a potential path to compromise, saying Republicans are 'willing to accept new revenue' to tame the soaring national debt and avert an ugly battle over the approaching 'fiscal cliff'.

"With Obama's decisive electoral victory and Republicans' hold on the House, with a slightly smaller majority, Boehner (R-Ohio) said Tuesday's election amounted to a plea from voters for the parties to lay down their weapons of the past two years and 'do what's best for our country'. . . .

"In exchange, however, Boehner said Democrats must not 'continue to duck the matter of entitlements,' referring to the rising cost of Social Security and federal health programs, which he called 'the root of the problem'."

That's the language of the "grand bargain": very modest tax increases on the rich in exchange for cuts to entitlement programs. It's not a guarantee that they will reach a deal, but it's a guarantee that Obama will try.

[KoKo]

41. Thanks for the heads up on WaPo about Boehner..

I could see the battle beginning on the Cables as I surfed around today.

We are forewarned...so can we head this off?

[riderinthestorm]

47. This sounds an awful like what happened to single payer advocates

and appears to be THE blueprint for what's ahead on this battle as well.



I sure hope not. I really hope this isn't true.

Dammit

[stillwaiting]

48. This completely nails it. I've been through this before.

It IS a form of psychological manipulation that can lead to learned helplessness very easily in many I'd imagine. By design I'm sure.

We're going to have to rally the troops. And soon.

[robinlynne]

49. holy hell. That is exactly the story of the past 4 years.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

31. +1000 nt

[Junkdrawer]

7. Remember: It only *says* FICA and SS Tax on your paycheck....

That money actually belongs to the "makers" to pay for the imperial troops and bailouts.

Any SS benefits you may or may not receive are really social welfare gifts given to you directly from the pockets of the makers.

You ungrateful scum.

[RVN VET]

10. Your sarcasm is showing

but Romney-Ryan and the whole damned GOP would miss it.

But Obama is not a Randite, looking at the majority of us as useless eaters (a Kissingerism?). He is, unfortunately, a pragmatist who will bargain away the post 2016 future so he'll be considered heroically and historically "bipartisan".

I expect Bernie and Elizabeth will keep Social Security and medicare in the public eye. Ditto Alan Grayson. But Obama's handlers are going to be fighting them every step of the way, reaching foolishly for the extended hand of the GOP.

If he is allowed to sacrifice the safety net for a tiny bit of extra tax from Sherman Adelson and Donald Trump, it's going to be awfully hard for the Dems to retain the White House in 2016. And the GOP is going to get publicly softer on safety-net issues, making the choice in 2016 much less obvious than it was this week.

[Junkdrawer]

13. Precisely so. 2010 Redux....

Elizabeth Warren has the right idea: We need to put our unemployed to work rebuilding the infrastructure of the 21st century. And if the Republican House stands in the way, THEY should pay the price in 2014.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

32. And PBO..

needs to use the bully pulpit to put the onus squarely on the shoulders of the republics.

[inamatteroftime]

8. K&R

[closeupready]

9. Hearty K&R.

Do NOT cut social security. STRENGTHEN it.

[onethatcares]

11. you got that right.

I emailed my newly re elected senator this morning about the same thing. Told him to raise the cap on earnings and don't mess with either Social Security or Medicare.

That would be Bill Nelson, Florida.

[SidDithers]

12. Neither does Obama...nt

Sid

[starroute]

14. I have several questions about that $50,000-$100,000 range

The movement of lower income earners towards Obama seems real and meaningful. But I suspect there's a more complex mix of factors for those earning over $50,000.

One question I have is at what point the shift to Romney kicks in. Did a majority of people making $50,000 a year support him? Or not until $60,000 a year? Or just where?

A second is whether this refers to individual incomes or family incomes. A family earning $50,000 a year is very different from one with two breadwinners, each earning that amount.

A third is what happens to the numbers if you control for race and gender. Since women and minorities earn less on average, it could be that the shift to Romney among individuals earning over $50,000 to some extent just reflects a larger proportion of white males.

And a fourth is to what extent the people in that $50,000 to $100,000 group are comfortably off and see the Republican agenda as a good fit for their own desires, and to what extent they're struggling to make ends meet with an income that they've been told should put them in the upper middle class and have bought into the GOP line that the problem is the government is overtaxing them to spend lavishly on the poor.

[on point]

17. Cut the DOD massively and raise taxes on the wealthy to at least 50% BEFORE ANY other cuts

There is NO need to cut SSI. Eliminate the tax cap, problem solved.

Put in single payer and reduce health costs by 1/3, big part of medicare on its way.

Raise taxes on the wealthy, cut the DOD MASSIVELY (down to 300 billion max) and you have the deficit fixed.

DO NOT COME TO THE PEOPLE BEFORE CUTTING THE DOD AND RAISING TAXES ON THE WEALTHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT EVEN DISCUSS OR CONSIDER IT !!

You were not given the office back to do the bidding of the right wing

[BlueMan Votes]

35. massive defense cuts would be very bad for the economy...

military toys are one of the largest manufacturing sectors we still have.

[on point]

44. The money would be better spent investing in infrastructure and education

Military (except for some limited R&D) is all waste and has no positive benefits to the economy.

[BlueMan Votes]

46. you're preaching to the choir...

but- big defense cuts will result in a lot more americans out of work.

[bvar22]

51. We could easily adresss that with JOBs Programs...

... for ex-Defense Contractors,
like cleaning up our Federal Parks or patching up our roads.
Of course, they would miss their private jets and Summer Homes in Aspen,
but at least they would be doing something that actually helps America,
AND look at the Karmic Benefits for them!
PLUS, The World would be a much safer place.
AlQaeda and other Mid-East Terrorist organizations would wither & die without the Great Satan building bases in their countries and killing their families & friends.

A WIN/WIN for EVERYBODY!!!!

[BlueMan Votes]

52. i don't think that too many defense plant workers have private jets and summer homes in aspen.

[bvar22]

53. The CEOs do.

You missed the point.
ALL the plants could be converted to a better use producing products that actually ADD to our Common Wealth,
AND America would have something useful to point to after the money is spent.
Defense Plants produce NOTHING that helps build the WEALTH of the USA.
They are a Black Hole for taxpayer dollars.

How about a national, State of the Art, efficient, High Speed Rail system made by Americans using American products instead of Stealth Bombers?

Justifying Defense Industry Spending because it "provides jobs" is not very creative.

[Kaleva]

57. Another way to do it.

Eliminate the cap on the social security tax which would raise about 100 billion a year. Make the special bonds held by the Social Security Trust fund interest free which would reduce federal spending paying that interest by over 100 billion a year. Then use that money not being spent on interest to fund infacstructure improvements, such as road and bridge repair and upgrading the national electrical grid, and renewable energy.

I don't have the references readily available but below is what I recall.

For every billion spent on interstate highway construction and repair, about 40,000 jobs are created. Spend an extra 50 billion on our national highway system and that ought to create 2 million good paying new jobs.

South Dakota is prime real estate for locating wind turbines but the problem is no one is interested in building the high power transmission lines needed to transfer that electrictiy to places like St. Paul, Minneappolis, Milwaukee and Chicago.

The South West has many thousands of square miles where solar energy could be harvested but again, the problem is the lack of high powered transmission lines which could transfer that power not just west to California but also east as far as Atlanta.

[bvar22]

59. There are many GOOD ways to spend this money...

...that ADD to the Common Wealth, Health, Education, Beauty, Livability, Comfort, and Productivity of OUR country.
Military Spending simply flushes most of our Public Money down a BIG toilet.

[Beowulf]

19. Cutting a bargain with the GOP on SS and Medicare

would turn 2014 into 2010. I'm hoping the Obama people are smart enough not to repeat the mistake of dumping on their base again.

[Hydra]

36. In a word? Nope.

The Administration doesn't have to worry about running again. EVER. They can set up all the sweet deals they want on their way out.

I'm fully expecting a Clinton last minute Glass-Steagel repeal redux.

Cuz you know, the 1% are gods, and the rest of us are "retards" or "takers."

[Hotler]

21. Good morning Chrom. Thanks for posting this. nt

[xchrom]

23. hi hotler!

[hootinholler]

22. The question is will the Democrats in congress take note?

I think the time is ripe for a hard left pull in congress. But then again, who am I to suggest such things.

[former-republican]

26. Did I miss something as I was sleeping

That is the biggest reasons I switched my vote and party.
Is cutting Social Security and Medicare back on the table ?

I will feel betrayed by President Obama and Biden if this happens.

[dotymed]

27. No, we can not endure any cuts to our social security or medicare.

Yes, we need to strengthen them and move our country in the same direction of most other first world countries. Fuck the greed that has been the impetus for everything since reagan. We need to do what we did pre-reagan and tax the wealthy at a very progressive rate. This will help to rebuild America and we must continue our fight for Universal health care. It is a right and the least expensive road to take.
IMO, hemp should be legally grown and harvested. That alone would create thousands of jobs and save our forest's, etc.. Hemp makes great paper, strong fabrics (much better than cotton) and its' uses are limited only to our imagination. Fuck privatization of any services that can (and used to be ) provided by our government at a fraction of the price while paying living wages.
Marijuana should be legalized for adults. That may have the bonus of stopping the horrific "legal" drugs that are destroying our children and adults. We have a lot to do to become #1 again. President Obama should emulate FDR and get the ball rolling. If he does, we are guaranteed a long run in power. Elizabeth Warren would make a great President in 2016.
Let's start by fixing the election process and killing citizens united. WE came back after 2010 to give our party another chance. If they capitulate and do not go progressive, we will need to start a party that will. Hopefully, there are enough TRUE DEMOCRATS left in our party to do the will of the people.
Good Luck President Obama and we have your back on getting America back on course...equality for all. If you propose and use your "bully pulpit" for justice and the average person, we WILL take to the streets in support.
Please, now is the time to EARN that Nobel Peace prize.

[TheKentuckian]

29. Maybe the only thing that can save the TeaPubliKlans from being a regional do nothing party

is striking up a "grand bargain" and taking a hit that will give them a chance to get off the mat.if someone actually really wanted to put a fork in the fuckers, they'd let them foam at the mouth about resistance to starving grandma for a few years while Democrats unfailingly act as granny's defenders.

If making sure Democrats win elections is priority #1 then it is crucial not to allow them to do stupid things that fundamentally threaten that goal while giving the opposition a hand up.
Don't pretend that any amount of spin or pointing to the other side or excuses will fix it either. Just say fuck no.

The TeaPubliKlans are on there way to not being able to carry Texas at some point. Don't fuck around and breath new life into them. Let them wither and die. Tell the beltway to shut up, sit in the corner, and put on their dunce caps.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

34. Most of the people I've met pulling in 100k a year think everyone makes that,...

....that's willing to work, that is.

If you make less they feel there is something wrong with you.

[Hydra]

38. Yup

When you're comfortable, you think everyone else could be if they "did the right things."

I was comfortable too during the Clinton era, so I thought he was doing the right things. When I got dumped on the junk pile, I found out how much my shining star was not so shiny to the less well off.

Lesson learned- I always check the facts now, not the hype.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

39. In Orange County in the eary 80s there were a LOT of "dynamic young men",...

....blasting around in 280Zs acting like they owned the whole world. Most were installing computers in businesses. This was back in the days when a computer cost thousands of dollars and COBOL and FORTRAN were the wave of the future. Those guys were WAY overpaid for what they did and got away with a lot of over billing by tossing jargon at the suits who didn't know a thing about computers but knew they needed them to compete. Their egos were through the roof. The #1 password used back then was "God".

Those guys are gone now but all of their high end stereos and other trappings still turn up in thrift stores and their "Z Car" is going cheap...



When people started learning about computers those guys lost it all.

Now we have a whole generation of people in their mid-50s being told they have a choice, make due with low skill jobs for 10 years and get on Social Security or go back to school only to come out and try to compete in a job market with 20 somethings that know more and will accept a lot less pay.

[woo me with science]

40. Kick

[woo me with science]

42. Kick

[leftstreet]

45. DURec

[woo me with science]

55. kick

[Poll_Blind]

56. +1 K&R!

PB

[woo me with science]

58. Kick