Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumBiden wanted to freeze the federal budget. That equates to cutting SS and Medicare benefits.
I found an article discussing a hypothetical 3-year budget freeze and what that would mean to various government programs. Here's how freezing the budget would affect Social Security and Medicare. (EDIT: Someone already pointed out that Ben Carson is mentioned in the article. That's not the important part folks, ignore it.)
https://www.crfb.org/blogs/3-year-spending-freeze-would-balance-budget
Medicare (14 percent of the 2018 budget): Spending on Medicare programs is expected to increase by $51 billion between now and 2018 as retiring baby boomers continue to enroll in Medicare and as health care costs increase.
Considering the budgets for Social Security and Medicare generally increase every year through cost of living increases and more people becoming enrolled, freezing their budgets would mean reducing benefits paid out by $130 billion and $51 billion over 3 years respectively for Social Security and Medicare.
Joe Biden has tried to freeze the federal budget at least four times. That is four times he has tried to cut Social Security and Medicare.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4843746/user-clip-biden-freezing-social-security
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
sweetloukillbot
(11,098 posts)Thats a bit of a stretch
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)So the main point of linking to that article was just to show what freezing the federal budget would mean to various programs. Ben Carson being mentioned in the article is irrelevant to that point.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
stopdiggin
(11,387 posts)but it's a discussion board -- so you go ahead and sell your merchandise.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)He was PROUD that he supported those budget freezes.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)in the polls and crush Sanders when the voting begins. Sander scorched earth lying campaign will cost him the nomination...he could have been a contender...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)He got an 89% from the ARA, compared to 100% for Sanders and Warren. That 11% difference is because of things like wanting to freeze the federal budget.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)doctoring it...and Biden looks just fine...but Sanders...looks like he is not telling the truth...his campaign does him no favors with this.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)'Doctoring' would imply using some kind of software to alter the contents of the video, like photoshop but for videos. The Sanders campaign clipped that Brookings Institute video to fit a narrative, yes. That was a bad move on their part, but it's not 'doctoring'. Although it should be said, later in that same speech Biden said Social Security and Medicare would need "adjustments", which is political speak for cuts, but whatever. There's plenty of other videos of Biden saying he would cut Social Security and Medicare. Here's a few:
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4843746/user-clip-biden-freezing-social-security
Link to tweet
?s=19
And here's a snippet of a transcript from a Meet the Press interview when Biden was running for President in 2007.
SEN. BIDEN: Absolutely.
MR. RUSSERT: ...cost of living, put it all on the table.
SEN. BIDEN: The answer is absolutely. You have to. You know, itsone of the things that my, you know, the political advisers say to me is, Whoa, dont touch that thirdlook, the American people arent stupid. Its a real simple proposition. We have to doyou and I were talking about Bob Dole earlier. I was one of five peopleI was the junior guy in the meeting with Bob Dole and George Mitchell when we put Social Security on the right path for 60 years. Ill never forget what Bob Dole said. After we reached an agreement about gradually raising the retirement age, etc., he said, Look, heres the deal, we all put our foot in the boat one at a time. And he kickedhe stepped like he was stepping into a boat. And we all make the following deal. If any one of the challengers running against the incumbent Democrat or Republicans attack us on this point, well all stay together. Thats the kind of leadership that is needed. Social Securitys not the hard one to solve. Medicare, that is the gorilla in the room, and youve got to put all of it on the table.
MR. RUSSERT: Everything.
SEN. BIDEN: Everything. Youve got to.
Full transcript here: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/18381961/ns/meet_the_press/t/mtp-transcript-april/#.XiSAg4h7mUk
The video the Sanders campaign clipped may have been taken out of context, but it's not the only video out there of Biden wanting to cut Social Security and Medicare. There are examples across his entire 40 year political history.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)I believe nothing that comes from Sirota...and again more lip service... during a rightwing period...but no votes...were there?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
David__77
(23,553 posts)...
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,809 posts)Such a stretch!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
33taw
(2,448 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
vsrazdem
(2,177 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,347 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
33taw
(2,448 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
whistler162
(11,155 posts)another season of.... if Bernie doesn't win we are taking our ball and going home.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)his last chance...and then we are done with it. As my post indicates, I don't think Sanders has a chance at the nomination...no AA support but of course if I am wrong,Sanders gets my vote in the general.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NYMinute
(3,256 posts)Did everyone get a memo from Sirota or was it a hot topic on JPR?? (or both)
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
OilemFirchen
(7,143 posts)So... bullshit.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)...among the programs that would have been frozen.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,123 posts)Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,123 posts)Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)Other than minority support, NRA blood money votes, and a righteous our way or the highway approach that is so beloved by all. Oh, and poor polling.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
33taw
(2,448 posts)Once the economy recovered it resumed increases.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,809 posts)Link to tweet
?s=21
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Thekaspervote
(32,809 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sweetloukillbot
(11,098 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
bluedye33139
(1,474 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)The Fool had a say too...
https://www.fool.com/retirement/2019/05/31/joe-biden-on-social-security-6-things-you-should-k.aspx
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mucifer
(23,576 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Sloumeau
(2,657 posts)[link:https://apnews.com/1b20256566e91f6bd70113c7f79285c9|]
Emphasis added by me:
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to members of the audience at a campaign stop at Simpson College, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Indianola, Iowa. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) Joe Biden has called for Bernie Sanders presidential campaign to disown what he calls doctored video that some Sanders supporters say shows the former vice president endorsing Republican calls to cut Social Security and Medicare.
Theres a little doctored video going around ... put out by one of Bernies people, Biden told supporters Saturday in Indianola, Iowa, referring to a 2018 speech in which Biden discussed then-House Speaker Paul Ryan saying rising deficit demanded action on the popular entitlement programs.
Im looking for his campaign to come forward and disown it, Biden continued, pointing to his 2020 campaign proposals designed to shore up Social Security. But they havent done it yet.
This is just another sign that the Sanders campaign is desperate because Biden is LEADING in Iowa:
[link:https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/iowa/|]
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
redqueen
(115,103 posts)How many Dems suggest this course of action?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lapucelle
(18,359 posts)*******************************************************************************************************
*******************************************************************************************************
No wonder Biden is concerned about doctored videos.
*******************************************************************************************************
https://apnews.com/afs:Content:5714130337
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/biden-demands-apology-sanders-over-doctored-video-social-security-n1118481
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)Thing is, there are plenty more showing Biden wanting to make cuts to Social Security and even Medicare. Politifact did not take those into account for their article.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
lapucelle
(18,359 posts)Politifact supports its determination that the BS claim is FALSE by linking to both the COMPLETE transcript of the speech and the COMPLETE OFFICIAL C-SPAN recording of the event. The Politifact article was not about one specific video clip.
snip================================================================================
The Sanders campaign omits what Biden said next
snip=================================================================================
The Sanders campaign plucked out part of what Biden said but omitted the full context of his comments.
We rate this statement False..
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
still_one
(92,454 posts)The surrogates for Sanders think they are helping him. We will see soon enough how that works out for him
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)such obvious ratfucking.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lapucelle
(18,359 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
OilemFirchen
(7,143 posts)Context is important. This was during a government shutdown, when the Republicans were attempting to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment. There was a budget crisis, and, while Senator Biden did say that he supported a freeze that included "everything", he explicitly stated that the Republican-proposed legislation was subterfuge for their relentless attempt to do away with entitlement spending.
Remember, as well, that this marked a protracted period during which some asserted that a failure to increase spending was the same as a spending cut. A spending freeze could only affect entitlements in that regard, so it's likely that the Senator had proposed - as a compromise to the Republicans' attempt to literally cut entitlements (through the only mechanism available - a constitutional amendment), a freeze on COLAs.
There may be a transcript of this speech, but, as this was also user-submitted, C-SPAN doesn't link to one. If you're interested in this issue, however, a full viewing of the video is useful, especially the latter part where he explicitly corrects himself about "cuts" to SS and discusses compromise "cuts" to Medicare (probably, again, as they pertained to proposed increases in spending, like expanded coverage or reduced premiums).
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jalan48
(13,901 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
jalan48
(13,901 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
OilemFirchen
(7,143 posts)He states that the budget would be balanced were it not for the Reagan and Bush tax cuts.
FTR, it's easy to disagree with 90% of his speech. I did, and still do.
It would have been nice if all of the Senate Democrats had simply opposed the BBA, but this was the first year of Gingrich's Contract on America. We had just lost six seats in the Senate and fifty-two in the House. The public mood was slash and burn.
Of most import, the BBA didn't pass and there was no spending freeze.
<snip>
Asked at one point why Republicans had not taken up the Democratic dare and simply exempted Social Security from the budget amendment, Mr. Dole shot back that Mr. Clinton could not be trusted to cut the budget, period. "If we had a real President down there, we might think about it," he said.
<snip>
Democrats continued even after the vote to press their political advantage on the Social Security issue, likening Republicans to political Willie Suttons plotting a holdup of helpless retirees. Had Republicans only agreed to leave the retirement trust fund alone, said the minority leader, Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota, the budget amendment would have sailed to adoption. "All we asked is that we not rob the bank to pay the debt," he said. "Too many people have put too much into the bank to do that now."
https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/03/us/104th-congress-balanced-budget-senate-rejects-amendment-balancing-budget-close.html
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jalan48
(13,901 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
OilemFirchen
(7,143 posts)He gets no pass from me, but it still doesn't support the assertion made in the OP.
BTW, Senator Biden was up for reelection the following year, and it was well-known that the BBA was not going to pass. He (and others) likely decided to vote yea as a political calculation. And Majority Leader Bob Dole switched his vote (to nay), also for partisan advantage.
Remember, as well, that everyone had huge hair. I'm over it all.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jalan48
(13,901 posts)but am pessimistic that Biden doesn't bring the passion and energy necessary to stop the onward march of Fascism.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)Look at the votes...Biden has the same score for SS as Ted Kennedy...89%. Liars like Sirota got to lie...but I will always remember who hired this guy. And the reduced number has to do with voting to increase the age during Reagan's term. Both Biden and Kennedy voted for it...as a compromise.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
bluedye33139
(1,474 posts)It seems rather duplicitous to state that he did. It seems misleading to say that because Carson wanted to do this, therefore Biden is it going to attack social security and Medicare.
It seems very unfair and duplicitous. I'm a little surprised.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Iamaartist
(3,300 posts)I put this out the other day...a good plan...my opinion
Got our absentee ballots the other day ...voting for Joe March 10 primary ,,,nothing will change it for us....
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287427893
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)issues in Cleveland...
'...the Ohio Senate set the election for March 17, 2020 St. Patricks Day. Clevelands St. Patricks Day celebration draws massive, sometimes raucous crowds estimated in the hundreds of thousands, which Clevelands tourism bureau says makes it among the largest celebrations of the holiday in the country. Democrats and elections officials in Cleveland are concerned the disruptions to Downtown polling places, and the competition for peoples time and attention will dampen turnout in one of the most populous areas of the state.'''
I will vote for Biden...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Iamaartist
(3,300 posts)We are on outskirts ...of Grand Rapids Mich I am sure they will have some trouble in voting in GR. Downtown .Out here we never had any trouble even walkin ..voting was easy out her in suburban area of GR...
We need every vote....
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)because they think he is weaker than Biden...and he would lose a general IMHO.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
katmondoo
(6,457 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,715 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
totodeinhere
(13,059 posts)I'm a Bernie supporter who will enthusiastically vote for Joe is he gets the nomination. And what we need to concentrate on is GOP hypocrisy. They talk about budget restraint but under Trump we are running record deficits. That should be our talking point, not attacking each other.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Recursion
(56,582 posts)I find it strange to have to remind Democrats of this
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LaurenOlimina
(1,165 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
The Valley Below
(1,701 posts)Scorched earth and dirty tricks.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden