Posted on 08/16/2011 12:17:25 PM PDT by SkyPilot
President Obama has again acknowledged the necessity of doing something many Democrats fiercely oppose -- reforming entitlement programs, such as Medicare and Social Security.
On a Midwest bus tour stop in Minnesota, Obama spoke in favor of changes to entitlement programs being eyed by the 12-member congressional committee charged with finding budget savings that will get past partisan gridlock, stave off future credit downgrades and increase the federal debt.
"There have been times when our side, when Democrats aren’t always as flexible as we need to be," Obama said. "Sometimes I do get frustrated when I hear folks say, 'You can't make any changes to any government programs.' Well, that can't be right."
The president has repeatedly conceded that something must be done, saying Medicare in particular cannot survive without reform.
"We will not be able to sustain that program no matter how much taxes go up," he said in late July. "I mean, it's not an option for us to just sit by and do nothing."
In spite of that, just as the president suggested, many Democrats remain steadfastly opposed to any changes in any of the programs. In fact, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi boasted that Democrats had blocked such reforms in the deficit talks.
"We did protect the benefits, the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits. That is a priority for us," she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
IMHO, Obamacare replaces Medicare and, if it doesn't, another version will come forth.
>> Poor political strategy from Obama.
I’d mildly disagree; triangulation is a reasonable political strategy, and Bill Clintoon taught us that it can be effective.
Obama is clumsy at it though, and he’s screwing it up tactically. Tone-deaf perception, bad timing, bad execution. Which is no surprise, since he’s inept at pretty much every aspect of governing. He can talk, but he can’t *do*. He’s never had to learn to execute.
If he volunteered to travel less, and with less, that would be good. But the Narcissist in Chief won’t have that.
Not really.
He feels safe saying it because Reid and Pelosi stacked the commission with Rats to make sure it doesn’t happen. Obama can say he supports it because there is no chance it is going to make it to his desk. He will SAY ANYTHING to get re-elected. He is a liar and a snake. Probably going to tick off his base though.
Who would have thought the 2012 election would be over who’s gonna make the biggest spending cuts? Also, the Rats have no credibility on the issue because they had super majorities to back their rat President for 2 yrs. Why didn’t they do something then rather than ramp spending to astronomical levels and pass a new expensive entitlement?
His polling must be really bad though it he is out there saying this!
No, he won't. Food Stamps, SSI to illegals, Section 8 housing, Air To Families With Dependent Children, etc. That is his core constituency.
Washington is looking to slash money for America's heroes who are the most deserving: those who fought and bled for this nation.
Under debt deal, military pay, veterans programs in play for cuts
If THOSE programs are on the cutting table before Entitlement programs, we are lost as a nation.
What’s amazing? His idea of reform will be to make sure the Boomers, who have worked and paid into SS all their lives but are now getting older and beyond their usefulness, get nothing and in fact are channeled off to “die with dignity” somewhere before they get in the way of the really important government spending, such as income redistribution to his base.
He can say this, but won’t provide ANY specifics or ideas. I’m still waiting for him to go through the Federal budget “Line by Line”.
Disregard everything that Zero says. Watch what he does!!
If I were working for the RNC, I would already have three scripts for political commercials already written, and the Obama footage already edited.
"Hey Congress, I made a speech about the issue, You can call me when you have a bill"
No matter how hard they spin it, they cannot sell that as leadership.
Well, he knows that Congress' ratings are much lower than his. he's just trying to distance himself from them for re-election.
What’s stupid is for the politicians to refer to entitlement ‘reform’ which is scary. They ought to say entitlement ‘adjustment’. It really will be only an adjustment, not an upheaval. Actually it will be a series of adjustments over the next several years.
A grand plan such as Obamacare is not the proper way to change our medical system or our social security system.
bait-n-switch, and get Boehner to write the legislation...
It's the other "R" word: "Reelection"
He isn’t serious at all. It is mere words that he expects to never have to back up.
ALL LIES. It's campaign speak.
ALL LIES. It's campaign speak.
Let me ask you though: is it OK for the generations after the Boomers to get screwed out of those entitlements as well, and be saddled with the debt, as long as the Boomers get theirs?
The sad truth is millions of Americans have "paid into" this Ponzi scheme for the last 3 generations. There is no money there. There is no "trust fund." There is no "lock box." It wasn't "invested" anywhere.
They spent it.
We now have $14.6 Trillion on this debt clock, and winding up even faster.
http://www.usdebtclock.org/index.html
I know entitlement queens who will scratch your face off rather than even discuss changing the Cost of Living increases (as the Paul Ryan plan did) so that the programs can be rendered solvent.
This can't go on.
No sale.
Ubama and the rats are orchestrating Ubama’s “Sister Souljah moment” in order to try to con the ignorant chattering class into thinking maybe he’s not the communist everybody knows he is.
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