President Barack Obama Backs Expanding Social Security

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Huffington Post

By Daniel Marans & Arthur Delaney

WASHINGTON — Marking a stark reversal from his past position, President Barack Obama said Wednesday the U.S. ought to increase Social Security retirement benefits.

“It’s time we finally made Social Security more generous and increased its benefits so that today’s retirees and future generations get the dignified retirement that they’ve earned,” Obama said during a speech in Elkhart, Indiana.

“And we can start paying for it by asking the wealthiest Americans to contribute a little bit more,” Obama said. “They can afford it. I can afford it.”

The announcement represents a major evolution in the president’s public position on Social Security and a coup for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, which increasingly views benefits expansion as a core element of its agenda.

FULL story at link.


BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/GETTY IMAGES
President Barack Obama came out in support of expanding Social Security benefits in a speech in Elkhart, Indiana on Wednesday, June 1, 2016.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/barack-obama-expand-social-security_us_574f55bfe4b0eb20fa0cb690

---

Link at the bottom of the letter: http://retiredamericans.org/ & http://retiredamericans.org/?s=expand+social+security

[LibDemAlways]

1. Wonderful, but what took him so long and why now?

[cstanleytech]

18. Probably an issue of not having to worry about working with the Republicans anymore. nt

[LibDemAlways]

19. Should have been championed early in his

first term when he had a Democratic Congress. Lost opportunity.

[cstanleytech]

26. Perhaps, hindsight though will not change anything. nt

[merrily]

53. It's not hindsight. Democratic politicians should always champion Social Security, not criticize it

or put it on the bargaining table.

Hindsight is realizing something only after the fact. Obama has been criticized for his stand on "entitlements" all along--at least since his January 2009 interview with WAPO, when he promised to cut "entitlements." The only one showing hindsight here is Obama. His critics on "entitlements" have been consistent all along.

Unfortunately, before this belated epiphany, or legacy-seeking, or attempt to help Hillary, or whatever his motives are:

1. Obama rang some bells that cannot be unrung, including that a popular Democratic President advocated for cuts to "entitlements" and, indeed, has cut some more than once. (Of course, his fellow New Democrat POTUS bragged about having ended "welfare as we know it.);

2. Democrats proved (again) that Democrats will allow a Democratic President to get away with almost anything, including, but not limited to, talking about cuts to "entitlements" and chaining CPI, cutting fuel subsidies to the poor and multiple cuts to SNAP; and

3. Republicans gained control of both Houses, so nothing can be accomplished.


In general, I have noticed that Democrats talk a much tougher and more liberal game when Republicans are in control and Democrats know full well that what they are advocating has not a prayer in hell of getting done; and Republicans also talk tougher when Democrats in control. It's all part of Washington D.C. Kabuki 101. And both constituencies are either blind to it or ignore it to their detriment because LOTE.

[saidsimplesimon]

64. Excellent comment merrily, thank you

[brooklynboy49]

68. Spot On Post

Well said, merrily.

[dragonfly301]

75. +1,000,000 eom

[florida08]

76. can I get an Amen!

absolutely. They are forgetting who brought them to the party

[Bohunk68]

93. My observations, as well, over the years.

[canoeist52]

95. Yep, I call it "barking behind the fence".

Sounds seriously tough, but no real power to get anything worthwhile accomplished.

[SusanCalvin]

96. Yep. nt

[madokie]

40. Personally I think he is a Sanders supporter

To be honest with you all.

[notadmblnd]

72. I do too

I also think that the meeting between Sanders and Obama- was Obama encouraging Sanders to stay in the race no matter what.

Clinton screwed Obama royally over what happened in Syria and Libya and I think he's pissed and that Hillary Clinton is absolutely no friend of his.

[madokie]

85. No doubt in my mind about that

Obama a smart man and if I can see that the clintons are con/frauds then I know he can too.

Bernie will be our next President

[liberalmike27]

70. I would agree

AND there should be at least a minimum amount one can collect, that constitutes enough on which to live.

And what she (or he) said, where has this guy been for eight years?

[madokie]

86. If you haven't figured this out by now

I suspect you won't. If Obama wants to kill a program all he has to do is be for it. Case in point, the SS fiasco the republiCONs were trying to crawm down our throats a few years ago until Obama said he was for it too. It died on the vine as if he'd sprayed roundup on it.

[kcjohn1]

2. Glad Sanders leading the progressive movement in this country and setting the dialog n/t

[99th_Monkey]

4. +10 nt

[840high]

21. .+1

[guillaumeb]

29. Agreed. And Sanders is obviously influencing the President as well.

Another reason for Sanders to keep on campaigning.

[JDPriestly]

46. Yes.

[Scuba]

71. + Eighty gazillion

[Wilms]

3. Thank You, Bernie! n/t

[PatrickforO]

14. More than just Bernie - it's all the millions of Americans who support his platform, and

who are now talking about these issues at their kitchen tables. I'm proud to say my family is part of those millions, and we ARE talking about these think both among ourselves and to our friends.

BECAUSE THINGS NEED TO CHANGE, and Obama is quite smart enough to read the writing on the wall.

[jwirr]

31. Exactly. Bernie has been telling us that he cannot do it alone.

What we have been doing ever since he entered the race is tell TPTB that we are not satisfied and that we want change. When President Obama was running I do not remember talking about what kind of change we wanted. This time we are saying it loud and clear.

[msongs]

5. one might think he is running for re-election again. good news still nt

[CountAllVotes]

6. No COLA for years

Many living in poverty. And now lets do something being the term is almost up for the President = why now indeed?

Better late than never?

Who the hell knows is going on.

[Bohunk68]

94. Tell me about it. After Medicare is taken out,

I have $734/mo, which is $8808/yr. The Poverty level for one is: roughy $13,000. I have been going through the VA to get my pension increased to at least the poverty line, which I am entitled to as a veteran. Started that particular process last December. Have gotten two letters telling me they are reviewing it. My VA rep tells me it may well take a year or more. However, IF I get it, it will start from the time of filing and I will receive a lump sum backdated.

[CountAllVotes]

100. My husband is a vet

He gets less than $500.00/month. I didn't know the VA could help. He was drafted into the tail end of the Korean War in 1959 and was shipped off to Germany not long after that. No one ever said a word about helping him.

The VA was trying to get him to say he was totally disabled but he didn't care to go that route (long story as to why). In any event, that is it for him, less that $500.00 a month is all he gets and add it what I get, you have two people living on less than $1500/month.

And yes, it is not easy and yes, there are some pricey medications needed like Lumigan, a glaucoma medication that big pharma keeps trying to get changed to something cheaper but the eye doctor has clearly said no damn way in hell!

Never knew about this in any event. Thank you. Poverty sucks!

[Bohunk68]

107. If your husband has a general or honorable discharge, he is eligible

for a pension from the VA. There was a law passed that essentially says that if a veteran is below the poverty line and can prove it, then said veteran is entitled to a pension supplement to bring that veteran to at least the poverty level. Go see your VA rep. I am lucky in that mine is a member of my congregation and she has been guiding me through this.

[CountAllVotes]

108. Thanks for this info.

He had no idea (of course).

[onehandle]

7. Thanks Hillary!

Wait... Pretty sure Obama is President.

Thanking Bernie or Hillary seems kinda silly.

Thanks, President Obama!


2015 Was The Year President Obama Gave Zero F**ks

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027873866

[scscholar]

8. Except it's pressure from her that has made him change his position

She has helped the people.

[retrowire]

10. See post 9. This was not Hillary's position. nt

[Wilms]

16. On the internet...

...nobody knows you're not a Ph. D. Actually, that's not true.

[840high]

22. No she didn't.

[notadmblnd]

74. Yeah she's helped people

You should see how she's helped people. Especially the people of Libya and Syria. But that's Hilary, she's all about people.

[retrowire]

9. Actually....

From the very first debate... http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/14/us/politics/democratic-debate-transcript.html

BASH: Secretary Clinton, the question was not just about tuition, though. It was about Senator Sanders’ plan to expand Social Security, to make Medicare available to all Americans. Is that something that you would support? And if not, why not?

CLINTON: Well, I fully support Social Security. And the most important fight we’re going to have is defending it against continuing Republican efforts to privatize it.

BASH: Do you want to expand it?

CLINTON: I want to... (She actually paused to think of another word to avoid saying expand. Go see the video.) enhance the benefits for the poorest recipients of Social Security.

Why not just say yes?

[PatrickforO]

12. Because she doesn't believe 'yes.'

To me it's that simple.

[retrowire]

13. Always the dancer around answers and questions.

WHY HILLARY. WHAT THE FUCK.

[CountAllVotes]

17. Exactly

[840high]

23. Thanks

[bettyellen]

45. She wants to expand it to cover more workers

[Hoyt]

51. Why not be honest, the best we can do right now with our Congress is increase benefits for

those on lower end. Even "catfood comission" supporated that. Clinton is at least practical. Sanders will promise everything, but get nothing. It's tough being honest when people want ponies, but Clinton is honest on social security.

[CountAllVotes]

56. Cat food commission

Don't laugh too hard. I found out recently that Fancy Feast cat food is approved for human consumption. I often see elderly people buying cat food at the discount store WINCO and it sure isn't for a cat, that is for sure.

How sad is this exactly? Can't we do better for our citizens that a lousy 1.7% COLA which is the projected SS increase effective Jan. 1, 2017?

That will go will far on $1000 a month, a whole $17 = 1/2 box of Fancy Feast cat food.

[Hoyt]

60. I agree, but getting it enacted is tougher than saying it with our

Congress.

[PatrickforO]

11. Excellent! Obama is the leader of the party and we have convinced him through our

support of Bernie and other conversations that have happened, petitions and the like. I believe Obama is signalling the rest of the party that they need to throw the people a few bones or else the party will really split. Good for our president.

[rhett o rick]

15. This is a hint of the Obama we thought we elected. Why did he wait? I think he sees that

if it's Clinton vs. Trump that SS will be in grave danger. Goldman-Sachs has a bid in for control of SS.

[DonCoquixote]

20. pete peterson and erskine bowles

Will probably tell Obama he was very very bad, and make sure he lets Auntie Hillary do their job and make all those yucky old poor people eat catfood.

[tartan2]

24. Okay President Obama just what exactly are you up to?

expansion of social security... really, seriously come on give me a break!!! It will be interesting to watch were this goes!!!! I have an idea but let's watch this.

[sulphurdunn]

25. Why would anyone believe

that any DLC lineage democrat would do anything for SS that didn't entail giving with one hand and taking with the other?

[CharlotteVale]

33. Good question. I certainly don't.

[mrr303am]

43. Says he wants to expand S.S. while pushing for TPP, doesn't add-up.

[sulphurdunn]

61. Which one is likely to be enacted quicly

and with much fanfare? And which is likely to swallow a poison pill or just die slowly in a committee somewhere if it even gets that far? That might explain it.

[mrr303am]

88. My guess:

TPP enacted 99.99% probability.
S.S. expansion 99.99% not going to happen, but saying you endorse it sounds good.

[sulphurdunn]

90. I agree. You win a cupie doll.

Probably made by child slaves in some hell hole and laundered through a couple of treaty partners on its way to you.

[Purveyor]

27. What a fucking joke. eom

[notadmblnd]

28. Oh the Clintons aren't going to like that

What with that video of Bill and Paul Ryan wanting to work together on cuts to social programs.

Notice how Clinton speaks of Democrats as if he isn't one of them?

[slipslidingaway]

49. Thanks for that clip, Obama stated from the beginning that we needed to cut entitlements ...

so for Obama to now say that we need to expand entitlements is perplexing.

[saidsimplesimon]

65. thanks notadmlnd, for sure

I have never seen this video. Confirms my worst fears, the truth really does sting at times.

[noiretextatique]

105. DLC/3rd way/New Democrats

Are not Democrats.

[notadmblnd]

106. Yes, I know. I just like to point it out when one of them lets it slip out.

[noiretextatique]

109. [phone]

[Downwinder]

30. Maybe I'll be able to afford some heat next winter.

[jalan48]

32. Sounds good.

[MadDAsHell]

34. SS is not the answer for a "dignified retirement."

If the President considers living on Social Security a "dignified retirement," then this country truly has gone to the shitter. We could double the benefits and it wouldn't be a "dignified retirement."

How about we start the conversation a few paces back and work on making sure that SS is truly an "insurance" program and not the sole retirement income for so many people?

[dynamo99]

48. not the sole retirement income?

As in, require all employers to pay into a pension fund that's independent of the employer, for every employee?

[Ed Suspicious]

87. Lol

[CountAllVotes]

55. Sadly it often is not

I'm one of them as are many women, as they have likely never earned what a man does hence a lower SS benefit tends to be the reality.

I'm living on less that $1,000/month and have been doing so for a long time. No COLA's doesn't help and getting hit with some big unexpected expenses requiring one to take out large loans is pure misery as they take forever to pay back with such a low income.

You cannot always plan no matter how hard you think you've got it all figured out in life as things happen, like getting hit with a serious disability out of the blue.

Big words they are indeed Pres. Obama, but nothing to see here is my take on it so move right along and just forget it. There is nothing "dignified" about any of this and no, an extra $20 a month isn't going to do much around here.

[fasttense]

58. The average Social Security pay out will leave most people in poverty.

On June 2011, the average Social Security benefit was $1,180.80 per month.

So, who can live on $14,000 a year and afford to buy medicine?

I suspect Obama is talking like a liberal about Social Security NOW because old people maybe very poor but they VOTE a lot.

And Bernie made it a topic of conversation. Before Bernie, only the RepubliCON meme of killing Social Security was discussed as the intelligent thing to do. Even Obama had the cat food commission look into killing Social Security.

[CountAllVotes]

99. What a hypocrite

None of this would have ever come up if Bernie had not brought this out.

[KG]

35. I lulz'd

[MisterP]

36. with a Republican House and Senate, and with only months until the election

[DJ13]

37. SS benefits need to be indexed to keep pace with increases in the minimum wage

When the baseline for wages increase SS benefits slip further and further behind due to the immediate increase in prices passed through by employers while retirees have to wait nearly a year for the rising prices to show up in an economist's chart.

Sure (theoretically) the next year should see a corresponding rise in cost of living, but those adjustments never seem to actually be enough to truly cover the increases, leaving people in an ever decreasing standard of living, so lets include the immediate increase in minimum wage in a separate (and immediate) increase in benefits.

[dynamo99]

50. Except that the federal minimum wage was last increased in 2009.

Maybe after the minimum wage is solidly fixed to a cost of living index that can't be tampered with by politicians. But I wouldn't want to have to wait for an increase from 2009 to... 2017?

Another option is to tie SS to the CPI-E ("CPI-Elderly&quot , which weighs items based on what people over 62 buy. More weight to health care and shelter, less to spiffy clothes and musclecars. But ANY reference number that the politicians can tamper with, they will, sooner or later.

[DJ13]

52. I agree with using the CPI-E

My idea about the minimum wage was an 'in addition to' the standard COLA.

A one time adjustment under that specific circumstance.

[LS_Editor]

38. Pretty meaningless coming this late from a two-term president.

[hay rick]

44. Empty words.

Maybe he's trying to put some polish on his legacy now that there is no possibility of doing anything. I don't know if he could have done much if he had tried but his SS legacy will be that he attempted nothing.

[Dont call me Shirley]

39. Do it now, since we've had so many SS cuts in the past many years.

[johnnyrocket]

41. We've come a hell of a long way from Bush's "privatize Social Security"

[bbgrunt]

42. gee, I wonder if he'll put as much effort into SS expansion as he does TPP.

[slipslidingaway]

47. What happened, has he been listening to Sanders?

"And we can start paying for it by asking the wealthiest Americans to contribute a little bit more,” Obama said."

Will he advocate for a SP health system again once the Dems take the WH and Congress?

[AzDar]

54. He baffles me... but, better late than never, I guess?

[hollowdweller]

73. Now that Trump is against cutting SS he's upping the ante.

Think about it.

Dems have always had to go half conservative to win votes and now the Dems are forcing the GOP to the left on inequality.

[eridani]

57. Good. Looks like pushback on the Catfood Commission accomplished something n/t

[greymattermom]

59. A senior COLA

that focuses on food, heat, prescription drugs, and items most used by seniors, would help.

[Fuddnik]

62. I can't find the link to The Onion.

If true, it's a major policy advancement for him.

But, I'm a little leery of Simpson, Bowles, Peterson, and Ryan lurking in the weeds.

[saidsimplesimon]

63. Thank you Omaha Steve, recommended

[NaturalHigh]

66. Glad he's finally on board.

[EndElectoral]

67. Just wished he hadn't waited 8 years in to really get behind this

[harun]

82. Yeah, here come the Progressive plans to fire us up to vote (8 years too late)

[TBF]

69. As long as he's not privatizing it

along the way I am good. This is the Barack Obama I initially supported. I'm glad to see traces of him return.

[LonePirate]

77. There is no pleasing some people it seems.

[harun]

83. I think it is the right thing to do, but would have been right when

it could actually pass too.

[LonePirate]

84. And when exactly was that?

There was no public impetus on the issue during those few short months in 2009 when there was Democratic super majority in the Senate. The issue would have gone nowhere.

[Zorra]

78. If the President and the Democratic Congress had done this back in 2009,

Dems would have a super majority in both Houses of Congress right now.

Instead, they held the Third Way line, and now we're fucked unless Bernie Sanders is nominated and elected POTUS, which will cause us to regain and expand the huge Democratic majority we lost in 2010 because of Third Way pandering to the corporate 1% at the expense of the 99%. Yes, it's nice that the President acknowledges the blatant fact that SS desperately needs to be expanded a few months before leaving office...but, like, woop-dee-doo, ya know?

What's Clinton gonna do if she's elected? She's not trusted or popular enough to ever help increase the number of down ticket Dems in congress. If she's elected, we'll have a huge republican congress for the next 4 years, with no hope of increasing Dem numbers in congress.

Only Bernie Sanders can bring back a Dem majority to congress, and in a big way.

[olddad56]

79. If this, if that, he should have done this, he should have done that, why did he wait so long...

how about everyone just be grateful that for the past 8 years, we have had a compassionate human being for a president rather than someone like GWB or Donald Drumpf.

[Enthusiast]

80. Social Security is for the lazy moochers!

[CrispyQ]

81. Timing is everything.

[hibbing]

89. Call me a cynci...instead we'll get cuts passed as "reform" n/t

[Divernan]

91. Nothing says dignity like being blind, deaf & toothless!

It's not just Social Security which needs to be increased, but Medicare benefits, i.e., expanded to cover HEARING AIDS, EYEGLASSES AND DENTAL CARE! ! !

But hell! why should the US of A provide the same level and standard of care for its elderly/citizens as does every other friggin advanced country!

We've got anti-corporate governments to overthrow around the world! We have a massive military industrial complex to grow! We have to protect our title as Merchants of Death. We can't spare our citizens' tax payments on frivolities like health care and infrastructure.

[CountAllVotes]

104. Tell me about it

The mister lost one of the six teeth he has left last week. The cost was almost $400. to remove what was left of it and his plates need to be fixed now too, another $300. for that.

Well, there goes his check and half of mine for the month almost!

Shame shame shame on you America for allowing hard working citizens AND veterans to live in such a wretched fashion that totally lacks integrity!

[Mark 750]

92. Obama Wanted to Cut Social Security. Then Bernie Sanders Happened.

This is the leader we need - The Intercept has this story:

https://theintercept.com/2016/06/02/obama-wanted-to-cut-social-security-then-bernie-sanders-happened/

[merkins]

97. A Meaningless Sop

Caved in on COLA and trots this out as a lame duck president ... yeah that 12th level chess game is working wonders.

[ozone_man]

98. The same president who appointed cat food commission?

He's getting as bad as Hillary. Which Obama?

[hollysmom]

101. but but Hillary says we can't have that - it is rainbows and unicorns.

[passiveporcupine]

102. This is great news.

Thank you for posting this.

I doubt it will affect anyone but those living at poverty level or below (I hope it does, because our poverty level is way too low as it is)...but anything would be a help for single people on SS who have very low SS benefits and no other source of retirement fund and maybe can't supplement with a job because of health issues or just can't find a job. I worry most about single people, because it's more expensive to live alone, and a couple may have two sources of income coming in (even if it's only SS). That doesn't mean they aren't still living in poverty though.

We really need to do something about poverty in this country. I'm glad Obama is moving left on this. I have a feeling the size of the Bernie movement has had some affect on him.