If Obama cuts Social Security for deal with GOP, he'll repeat Baby Bush mistake

[yurbud]

of blowing his political capital to please a handful of rich cranks by screwing everyone else.

Ironically, cutting benefits and raising the retirement age would do directly what Republicans could only come at indirectly through their privatization scam.

The one promise I don't want Obama to keep is more bipartisanship with the GOP.

[djean111]

1. Yes.

It would make that "oh sure there is a difference between the two parties!" a little harder to sell.
Kinda funny if Obama contributes directly to that.

[edhopper]

2. Raising the income cap

would fix SS.
Medicare will be fixed when they make it universal. Though the ACA helps.

[RC]

6. Getting our Living Wage Jobs back into this country would fix Social Security too.

I agree that we need Single Payer, Universal Health Care to fix the corrupt, "Your Money or Your Life" system we have now.

[yurbud]

7. it's easy to fix without screwing everyone, but that's not the plan in DC

same with Medicare

[kansasobama]

3. yes, but it is a two-way street

I like what Michael Moore said: Mr. President, do not listen to the pundits who today call for you to "compromise." No. You already tried that. It didn't work. You can compromise later if you need to, but please, no more beginning by compromising. And if the Republican House doesn't want to play ball, do a massive end run around them with one executive order after another – just like they have done and will do if given the chance again.

Progressive activists have learned the hard way that Obama himself is best at keeping his own promises when he is held to them by organized and mobilized grassroots campaigns. Also, he needs help and support throughout the year. (Huffington Post)

Progressives do not do that. It is a two-way street.

Next, like the GOP, progressives need to be enthusiastic in 2014. They do not and that always hurts us.

[gravity]

4. Obama isn't that stupid

[BlueCaliDem]

5. President Obama has vowed NEVER to cut benefits.

It's even on the WH Website:

Obama-Biden

The President knows that guaranteed Social Security benefits are not handouts, but a bedrock of the commitment to retirement security America makes to our seniors. He believes that no current beneficiaries should see their basic benefits reduced, and he will not accept any approach that slashes benefits for future generations. President Obama stands firmly opposed to privatizing Social Security—the future security of hard-working Americans should not be dependent on the fluctuations of the stock market. That is why the President has called on Congress to develop a bipartisan plan that follows these principles:

Any reform should strengthen Social Security for future generations and restore long-term solvency.
The administration will oppose any measures that privatize or weaken the Social Security system.
While all measures to strengthen solvency should be on the table, the administration will not accept an approach that slashes benefits for future generations.
No current beneficiaries should see their basic benefits reduced.
Reforms should strengthen retirement security for the most vulnerable, including low-income seniors.
Reform should maintain robust disability and survivors’ benefits.
http://www.barackobama.com/truth-team/how-president-obama-and-mitt-romney-compare-on-preserving-social-security-f/

[tokenlib]

8. The word "slash" leaves the door open to a chained CPI, etc...

Sadly this is no time to be tired of politics.. As it is said.."out of the frying pan and into the fire." Fortunately, groups are mobilized and mobilizing to respond to the "grand bargain." Lots of progressive groups and unions--too many to name, seem to have been waiting for this...