Pelosi: "I'm not thrilled" with Obama's fiscal cliff proposal - but it's not a benefit cut

[ProSense]

24. Here's what everyone is forgetting:

"Social Security is not currently a driver of the deficit. That's an economic fact."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022028946

Yup, that was the official WH line.

The other problem with Pelosi's statement is are these key points from the WH:

MR. CARNEY: Well, let’s be clear about one thing: The President didn’t put it on the table. This is something that Republicans want. And it is --

Q But the Republicans --

MR. CARNEY: -- part of his -- if I could please answer Sam’s question, I’d appreciate it. And the President did include it in his counterproposal, his counteroffer, as part of this process, as part of the negotiation process. I would note that this is a technical change -- would be if instated -- to the way that economists calculate inflation, and it would affect every program that has -- that uses the CPI in its calculations. And so it’s not directed at one particular program; it would affect every program that uses CPI. There are also -- as part of the President’s proposals, he would make sure that the most vulnerable were exempted out from this change.

But let’s be clear, this is something that the Republicans have asked for, and as part of an effort to find common ground with the Republicans, the President has agreed to put this in his proposal -- agreed to have this as part of a broad deficit reduction package that includes asking the wealthiest to pay more so that we can achieve the kind of revenue targets that are necessary for a balanced approach to deficit reduction

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/12/18/press-briefing-press-secretary-jay-carney-12182012.

It's outrageous that Social Security is being included in these negotiations, but Carney seems to be stressing that the Republicans brought this to the table. Why the President went there is anyone's guess. The fact that he is vowing to protect the "most vulnerable," means that something negative is about to occur.

Another fact: Boehner was never going to agree to the proposal.

In any case, the offer has sparked outrage, more so than when Republicans were pushing it. No one wants it, not the American people, not the AARP, not the unions. The whole thing is unnecessary and absurd.

They're negotiating based on deficit reduction, and going in the opposite direction of the largest proposal, the President's $1.6 trillion offer. In the process, they're including Social Security, a program that has nothing to do with the deficit?

This is pure: WTF?