Matt Bai, NY Times: Will Obama Agree to Entitlement Cuts?

[amborin]

Will Obama Agree to Entitlement Cuts? He Already Has

By MATT BAI

Labor unions and other liberal groups that helped re-elect President Obama are starting a push this week to make sure that any new budget deal does not chisel away at entitlement programs.

Their message to the president, beginning with a meeting at the White House on Tuesday, is that he won a mandate to raise taxes on the wealthy while resisting cuts to Medicare and Social Security, and that they intend to stand firm with him on that position.

.The problem here is that urging Mr. Obama not to join House Republicans in reducing entitlement spending is like pleading with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John not to reunite for a Christmas album. It’s just too late.

snip

But both candidates had to know how thoroughly disingenuous this debate really was. The fact is that Mr. Obama, during his “grand bargain” negotiations with the House speaker, John A. Boehner, in the summer of 2011, had already signed off on painful cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, even if he never once mentioned that during his re-election campaign. So he knew there was a deal to be had that would preserve — and perhaps even strengthen — these programs without destroying them...."

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/will-obama-agree-to-entitlement-cuts-he-already-has/?hp


this article has a comments section, for anyone who cares to respond

(Matt Bai is typically not well-informed)

eta:

some good comments, such as this one:

"1. Uncap the limit on Social Security, which is currently at approximately $106,000.

2. Eliminate the carried interest deduction, which has created obscene numbers of multi-billionaires.

3. Gradually, over a decade, introduce a VAT tax on every transaction except food/drugs, but definitely including computer-generated financial trading.

4. Gradually, over a decade, introduce a single payer health care system, or alternatively, expand Medicare to be available to everyone.

5. Eliminate subsidies for corporate agribusiness and oil and gas production."

[Angry Dragon]

1. Entitlement is a word that the republicans use as a slur

We need to frame the debate. Use 'retirement insurance' for SS, use 'medical insurance' for Medicare and Medicaid

[amborin]

3. Dems need to improve with framing! why do we keep ignoring Lakoff's advice? eom

[sabrina 1]

2. One of the commenters solved the entire fiscal problem we keep hearing about. Someone should

hire this guy:

PaulBCincinnati, OH
FLAG
1. Uncap the limit on Social Security, which is currently at approximately $106,000.

2. Eliminate the carried interest deduction, which has created obscene numbers of multi-billionaires.

3. Gradually, over a decade, introduce a VAT tax on every transaction except food/drugs, but definitely including computer-generated financial trading.

4. Gradually, over a decade, introduce a single payer health care system, or alternatively, expand Medicare to be available to everyone.

5. Eliminate subsidies for corporate agribusiness and oil and gas production.

Folks, this isn't rocket science. . .

I believe his solutions are in line with the Progressive Caucus.

I would add, increase benefits to SS beneficiaries. They earned it, it is their money. It would serve to stimulate the economy as those are the people who are most likely to spend what they earn. And without touching Federal Funds.

Teach Republicans a lesson. They were offered candy and they turned it down when they were feeling omnipotent. Now offer them nothing, those days are gone, they lost we won.

They lost seats in the House, the Senate and they lost the WH.

Take SS off this 'deficit table' where it never belonged and let the Bush tax cuts expire. No one has to do anything except wait them out.

[amborin]

4. he had great suggestions; yours, too!

maybe you can post it in the comments section of that article?

[Megahurtz]

5. Great Idea!

[zbdent]

6. Didn't he already?

And didn't Boner agree to the agreement? And didn't Boner go back to have his House vote on it, and he got his marching orders, and go out to the "liberally-biased media" to say that Obama was failing in his leadership???

[Honeycombe8]

7. I know. Woodward got a copy of the deal offered. BUT, the Repubs won't get the same deal

this time.

The Dems are in a stronger position. The Repubs are now wishing they had taken that deal last year, probably.

Still, I expect cuts in Medicare and, later on or as part of a deal, Social Security a bit. I HOPE SOCIAL SECURITY IS HANDLED SEPARATELY, SINCE IT IS NOT PART OF THE BUDGET. If he sticks with that, then we're looking at some cuts to Medicare only, and they may be able to do that through cutting more fraud and waste.

The Obama administration has actually arrested way more people for Medicare fraud than Bush ever did.

Whatever the deal is, and there has to be a deal, I'll take it on the chin. I trust that he and his will do their best to protect the middle class. I read that Medicare is indeed in trouble financially and needs some fixing. Others tell me that's not true. I don't know who to believe, and I'm not an expert.

I'll wait and see.