Ed Markey Runs Against Obama’s Proposed Social Security Cut

[ProSense]

Ed Markey Runs Against Obama’s Proposed Social Security Cut

"Tell Obama," declared Ed Markey in the subject line of a Tuesday email to supporters. "Don't cut Social Security."

The Democratic nominee for Senate in Massachusetts is mobilizing his supporters against a proposal in President Obama's budget to reduce the growth of Social Security by cutting future benefits. The policy, known as Chained CPI, is opposed by progressives and even some conservative Democrats.

"You could think of 'CPI' as meaning 'Cutting Peoples' Income,'" Markey wrote, attacking President Obama for making a "wrong-headed move" on the cherished retirement program.

Markey wrote:

The President released a budget that would cut Social Security benefits for retired Americans by adopting something called a Chained CPI.

It's a complicated-sounding name that boils down to this: Social Security benefits for seniors would be cut. You could think of "CPI" as meaning "Cutting Peoples' Income."

This is a wrong-headed move. Too many seniors -- almost two-thirds, in fact -- rely on Social Security for at least half of their income. Budgeting requires compromise, but we cannot compromise by cutting Social Security.

Join me in telling President Obama: No cuts to Social Security. Add your name right now.

Democrats won huge victories in 2012. We reelected President Obama. We held the Senate and made gains in the House. We don't need to roll over to the right wing when it comes to budget choices.

There's plenty in the President's budget I agree with. But Chained CPI is just a bad idea. Investing in clean energy, education, and infrastructure should not come with the price tag of going back on America's promise to our seniors.

Tea Party Republicans may have pushed the President into making tough decisions. But that doesn't mean that this budget is right or fair for the most vulnerable among us.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/markey-runs-against-obamas-proposed-social-security-cut

Yup, there is plenty to like in the President's budget (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022807040), but chained CPI should scrapped.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

1. Excuse me, but I thought that your support for President Obama was stronger than this. Why would

you point out that a candidate, even a Democratic one, is running on an issue contrary to the position that President Obama has taken?

Can't we all support President Obama?

[ProSense]

2. As the saying goes,

"Excuse me, but I thought that your support for President Obama was stronger than this. "

..."don't think."

[Kolesar]

5. There's a sour apple in this crate ... eom

[AnotherMcIntosh]

9. Are you still curious as to what people do with their toenails?

Why did you ask about mine?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2809787

Do you have a foot fetish or something? Are you stalking my posts?

And, no, I'm not going to tell you about my toenails.

[whatchamacallit]

4. Playing all angles

to stay in the game.

[ProSense]

7. Um

"Playing all angles to stay in the game. "

...what "game"? Still, it's good to know that you're here playing some sort of "game." I suppose you've even invented teams.

[whatchamacallit]

10. Your pattern is easy to detect

Defend everything the president says and does, and deny all speculation even if there's grounds for it.

That is, until something becomes undeniable or indefensible.

Then jump out in front of it by posting about it yourself, thereby creating the illusion of impartiality and credibility (staying in the game)

[ProSense]

12. What's

Your pattern is easy to detect Defend everything the president says and does, and deny all speculation, even if there's grounds for it.

That is, until something becomes undeniable or indefensible.

Then jump out in front of it by posting about it yourself, thereby creating the illusion of impartiality and credibility (staying in the game)

...it like to waste one's time on an Internet discussion board inventing bullshit conspiracy theories and imaginary "games"?

[whatchamacallit]

13. I don't know

what's it like to toot this

97,416 times?

[ProSense]

14. Ah, posting more nonsense.

I should have known focusing on the topic was too deep for you, now you're posting stupid graphics to avoid the topic.

[bowens43]

8. Spport Obama cutting SS????? Are you kidding? Obama needs to be smacked on this issue.

Support bad policy just cause he's a Dem? Wow. What can you say to that kind of thoughtless support?

[AnotherMcIntosh]

11. With that kind of response, you probably want him to close Gitmo, not give de facto immunity to

openly-admitted war criminals, not give immunity and money to banksters, not destroy the economic future of our children and grandchildren by shipping more jobs to foreign countries with so-called "free-trade" agreements (he's signed three so far), not privatize public schools, ...

[karynnj]

22. We are not Republicans who will usually follow their President in lock step

Markey does support Obama in a huge percent of Obama's positions. There are MANY Democrats completely against the chained CPI - as it will decrease the amount that people get on Social Security, which incidentally is solvent for at least 30 years. When the economy improves and more people are back at work (paying SS taxes) the period will be even longer.

Bernie Sanders has legislation that will make it solvent for the foreseeable future - get rid of the cap that means you stop paying SS above a threshold income.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

24. Some of us are not. You've been here a long time. Have you not seen the hurrah-for-Obama-no-matter

what-he's-done crowd?

As for getting rid of the cap, that concept doesn't go far enough.

The rich and the super-rich make most of their money from capital gains. Because the rich and the super-rich let the government borrow from the Social Security trust fund to pay for endless wars and occupations, make capital gains subject to Social Security taxes.

[ProSense]

25. Some of us

"Some of us are not. You've been here a long time. Have you not seen the hurrah-for-Obama-no-matter what-he's-done crowd?"

...have been here a hell of a lot longer than you. Maybe you should stick to the topics and stop worrying about other posters.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

26. Well,

you've been on this board a lot longer than I have.

I doubt that you've been here longer than I have.

If you consider yourself to be in the hurrah-for-Obama-no-matter what-he's-done crowd, maybe there is a reason for that. I value Democratic principles more than principals. I value the rule of law and due process of law. What you value is up to you.

[ProSense]

27. That's the problem

Well, you've been on this board a lot longer than I have.

I doubt that you've been here longer than I have.

If you consider yourself to be in the hurrah-for-Obama-no-matter what-he's-done crowd, maybe there is a reason for that. I value Democratic principles more than principals. I value the rule of law and due process of law. What you value is up to you.

...why do you think anyone gives a shit about what you value to the extent that you have to hijack threads, ignoring the issue at hand, to discuss other people and your values? Yes, I (and a lot of other people) have been here longer than you, long before Obama became President, but you seem to think you're justified in making your bullshit observations about others.

It really appears that you need to get over yourself.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

28. Why don't you take your own advice.

[ProSense]

29. You're the one posting bullshit.

First step is to acknowledge that fact.

[karynnj]

31. I am aware of the fact that the rich have enormous income from capital gains

I do not know if that income is included in the Sanders legislation. I do know that there was a tax added as part of ACA on capital gains for people above a certain income level. The point I was making was that SS is NOT the cause of the problem. It is not now insolvent and with even the minor change of changing the cap, it would not have a problem in the foreseeable future.

I do think that - without ANY connection to SS - that the IRS rules that tax capital gains at rates below wage based income need to change.

As to the Obama can do no wrong posts, I suspect that the vast majority of them are a reaction to antagonistic posts that assume the worst motivation for anything done - or even speculated as potentially to be done. That background brings out the defenders for anything. I get more tired of the Obama is almost like Bush meme - when that in fact is NOT the case. (Witness the administration having gotten us out of Iraq, working on getting us out of Afghanistan, avoiding the media/establishment push to jump into Syria and the fact that we have NOT gone into Iran. On domestic issues, Bush cut taxes disproportionately on the wealthy while Obama used political capital to pass ACA. )

No President can be perfect - and even if a President - on each and every issue - took the best position that was most likely to work, we would not know that that was the case - because there are some that would always see something not done as potentially better. If not done, we can not (except for things where support is obviously not there) know for sure it could have been done or if it would ultimately have worked.

[Nika]

3. Let us hope John Kerry's seat does not go to a Repug thug

I was surprised when Kennedy's seat turned R after the special election after his death. I can do without more surprises like that.

[Kolesar]

6. IIRC, this is a dead issue...eom

[bvar22]

15. President Obama's numerous proposals to cut Social Security is a "Dead Issue"?

You ain't seen NOTHING yet.
Wait till Campaign Season 2014!

[center][font size=6] Obama Tried to CUT
YOUR Social Security.
We STOPPED him COLD!
Vote REPUBLICAN!

[/center][/font]

Better get used to it now,
along with the Videos of President Obama proposing the cuts Ad Nauseum.

[ProSense]

16. Are you supporting Gomez or Markey?

"You ain't seen NOTHING yet. Wait till Campaign Season 2014!"

You think Republicans have it in the bag?

[bvar22]

17. Republicans WILL run on that in 2014.

Duh!

[ProSense]

18. Ah,

"Republicans WILL run on that in 2014. Duh!"

...you think Republicans will fool people again and win?

These Republicans:

House Republicans pushing bill to make people work more for less
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/07/1207488/-House-Republicans-pushing-bill-to-make-people-work-more-for-less

House Republicans vote to end Medicare, again (passes Paul Ryan's Budget)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022546279

[bvar22]

19. Republicans WILL run on Obama's attempt to Cut Social Security.

If I typed it in all CAPS, would I be any clearer?
That is as inevitable as the sunrise.

What I "think" and who I "support" and what the Democratic Party does for Damage Control doesn't matter.
Republicans are smart enough to pick up this gift, and RUN with it.



They will also RUN on:
"We voted AGAINST it!"
...as 30 Million to 60 Million angry Working Class Americans are MANDATED into the State Insurance Exchanges in 2014, and forced to BUY Junk ("Bronze&quot Insurance they don't think they need, and can't afford to use.

2014 is going to be an exciting year.

[ProSense]

20. So? Easy enough to expose their hypocrisy and lies. n/t

[bvar22]

21. Yeah. That has worked so well for the Democrats over the last 30 years.

God help us.

[ProSense]

23. Actually,

"Yeah. That has worked so well for the Democrats over the last 30 years."

...it worked wonders in 2012.

Still, Democrats can and will reject chained CPI.

Red-State Democrats Buck Obama On Social Security Cuts - HuffPo
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022807222

...and it's easy enough to call out the RW. From the OP:

Democrats won huge victories in 2012. We reelected President Obama. We held the Senate and made gains in the House. We don't need to roll over to the right wing when it comes to budget choices.

There has been no vote on chained CPI, and House Republicans aren't going to touch it, but as I pointed out, they are hypocrites and liars with their own problems.

House Republicans vote to end Medicare, again (passes Paul Ryan's Budget)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022546279

[smirkymonkey]

30. Voting for Markey and I am perasuading all my friends here in MA to do

so also. I am pretty sure they will. He is very strong on women's rights and I think he will get a majority of the female vote.