Alarms Go Off as Obama Plays Footsie with Raising Medicare Age

[sabrina 1]

160. Ranting on DU has no merit unless they are part of the huge coalition of Progressive Orgs and

the Unions who have been active on SS being taken OFF the Deficit table where it never belonged, since before the election.

This coalition is a driving force now behind getting Democrats in the House and Senate to refuse to go along with any 'bargain' that includes the Social Safety Program. There are hundreds of organizations now participating in this Coaltion having learned that Progressives can no longer stand on the sidelines hoping their Reps will fight for them.

Demonstrating that there really is strength in numbers, leaders of this huge Coalition met with the President after the election. Too bad this coalition had not formed before 2008 but better late than never.

Today's action in my state is to call Feinstein and Boxer, neither of whom have yet to come out strongly on their expected (they ARE Dems after all) opposition to SS being on any Deficit discussion table. I have been trying all day to reach them but both their lines have been busy. That is a good sign, if frustrating. This coalition will be responsible if SS/Medicare is removed from the Deficit talks. They have been active 24/7, together with the Unions, doing what only the Right Wing lobbyists have done up to now, letting the people they elected know that if there are any cuts, age raises, or any other kind of manipulation of these programs for Wall St, as they said, 'there will be hell to pay'.

This past week they received their first big victory from a Dem Senator formerly in favor of SS being 'on the table'. He listened and he changed his mind.

If we ever get through to Feinstein and Boxer they will be asked where they stand on this issue. As the Coalition leaders have made clear, 'SS/Medicare are the 'red-line' which must never be crossed by Democrats.

Since the formed the coalition, Dems have been talking less about considering 'strengthening' SS and Medicare in the same sentence as the Deficit.

This is Labor finally taking a stand and either the Dems listen or they don't. But if they don't there will be now on the Left a very powerful organization which intends to work on getting candidates in Congress who represent the people who elect them. No more allowing the choices of candidates to be in the hands of any entity that is working for Wall Street.