Let’s Demagogue The Deficit Commission Now, What A Great Plan!

[Political Tiger]

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Consistent with the Obama-haters other overreactions and made up controversies, they seem to have planted a virus in their heads that makes them think that the deficit commission is really the “eliminate Social Security commission.” They’ve even come up with a cute term for it ” the cat food commission”, aren’t they soooo clever. The main source of that virus appears to be Alan Simpson’s participation in the commission and they seem to have elevated him to being the only member of the commission and Social Security is the only topic. It’s so much easier to distort things to match your narrative than it is to actually deal in reality. It’s sooooo Republican of them. Besides the above “stacking” distortion, let’s look at some of the others…

Nobody really thought Alan Simpson could top his video appearance with Alex Lawson where he talked about “the lesser people” on Social Security. But once again, President Obama’s hand-picked Co-Chair of the Catfood Commission tasked with “tweaking” Social Security has proven us all wrong.

That’s from the one and only queen of hate, Jane Hamsher and notice how Alan Simpson is “tasked with ‘tweaking’ SS”. Really, that’s his job on the commission, huh? Very subtle and typical of Hamsher’s tactics. Somehow, she’s assigned roles to certain people on the commission and if you look at the title of her post, which I won’t link to…no fucking way…you see what her goal is in her snarky, misleading bullshit post. “Obama Appointed Deficit Commission Co-Chair Alan Simpson: Social Security Is Like “A Milk Cow With 310 Million Tits”. Man, she had to work her ass off to get all that propaganda right in the title of her post. She just had to make a direct connection between Alan Simpson’s comments and President Obama. Nothing too subtle there, I guess. From what I can tell the whole basis for the virus in their brains is that people have said that Social Security is on the table. That’s it, it’s on the table.

President Obama is not stupid, unlike many of his critics. There is no way in hell that he is going to mess with Social Security, people who are saying he will are out of their fucking minds. The most he would possibly do is minor tweaks and probably to make it better. He is a progressive, whether the haters will ever believe it or not. That’s where the demagoguing comes in. These haters are preying on people’s emotions with a completely made up idea, sounds a lot like a “death panel” technique to me. You wonder why I have such disdain for those people? They are getting their panties all in a bunch about something that hasn’t happened and never will happen, but that clearly is not their goal with the latest attack.

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http://extremeliberal.wordpress.com/2010/08/30/lets-demagogue-the-deficit-commission-now-what-a-great-plan/

[mmonk]

1. You call it demagoguery, I call it fighting back.

But I hear I'm f'king stupid.

[Political Tiger]

2. Well, if the shoe fits.....

n/t

[katandmoon]

7. What's pathetically stupid is DEFENDING the DRC just because it's Obama's baby.

That's just willingly and happily stretching your own neck out on the chopping block just because it's OBAMA wielding the ax. Would you still defend the commission if it were Bush's baby? Honest answer, please.

[mmonk]

18. Are you being a demagogue? "Obama haters" would seem to be

a term a demagogue would use. The commission has dubious co-chairs who aren't fans of public spending on the public. And when we react to that well known fact and the fact that entitlements aren't driving the debt and deficit spending and social security even has a dedicated tax that other spending does not, we are called "Obama haters". The term is meant to be a dismissal of any criticism on this "commission" without debate.

[AtomicKitten]

3. Demagoguery has become a favorite pastime here.

K and R

[Better Believe It]

4. And you think this commission member is a great defender of Social Security and Medicare?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9062853

Have you even bothered to look at the backgrounds and composition of the commission members and who is funding their "research"?

[katandmoon]

5. Why did Obama appoint Bowles and Simpson -- if his intentions are so benign and all?

Surely you know what their SS histories are?

At any rate, Unrec.

[mitchtv]

6. unrecc

:puke: defending the indefensible

[Political Tiger]

12. In other words:

"I can't make even one single coherent nor factual counterpoint to the post so I shall unrecc it and make a snarky remark to boot!"

[DJ13]

8. Some folks are blind

[county worker]

9. That post reminds me of the global climate change deniers.

If there was a 50-50 chance that man is causing global climate change which will bring about horrific outcomes for all of us, wouldn't a prudent person do all he/she could to reduce the risk to something less than 50%?

So too if there was a 50-50 chance that the deficit commission was going to recommend that social security and medicare be cut, knowing that Obama has stated he will push the commission's recommendations through the lame duck congress, wouldn't a prudent person be doing all he/she could to reduce that risk to something less than 50%?

Yes there is at least a 50% chance that social security and medicare will be cut by the deficit commission, Simpson has already telegraphed his hand!

I gave this my very first unrec! It surely deserves it!

[Political Tiger]

10. Where do you get this "50%" number???

Anything factual to back that up?

Oh, and I know if you only read propaganda you might think Alan Simpson is the only member of this commission, and/or that he has the final say, and/or that Obama and Congress are subservient to him, but just like your "50%" estimation, them's just ain't the facts, Jack!

Here are some facts just in case anyone out there are interested in facts and not just propaganda:

Membership. The Commission shall be composed of 18 members who shall be selected as follows:

(a) six members appointed by the President, not more than four of whom shall be from the same political party;
(b) three members selected by the Majority Leader of the Senate, all of whom shall be current Members of the Senate;
(c) three members selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, all of whom shall be current Members of the House of Representatives;
(d) three members selected by the Minority Leader of the Senate, all of whom shall be current Members of the Senate; and
(e) three members selected by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, all of whom shall be current Members of the House of Representatives.


Mission. The Commission is charged with identifying policies to improve the fiscal situation in the medium term and to achieve fiscal sustainability over the long run. Specifically, the Commission shall propose recommendations designed to balance the budget, excluding interest payments on the debt, by 2015. This result is projected to stabilize the debt-to-GDP ratio at an acceptable level once the economy recovers. The magnitude and timing of the policy measures necessary to achieve this goal are subject to considerable uncertainty and will depend on the evolution of the economy. In addition, the Commission shall propose recommendations that meaningfully improve the long-run fiscal outlook, including changes to address the growth of entitlement spending and the gap between the projected revenues and expenditures of the Federal Government.

Sec. 5. Reports.

(a) No later than December 1, 2010, the Commission shall vote on the approval of a final report containing a set of recommendations to achieve the mission set forth in section 4 of this order.
(b) The issuance of a final report of the Commission shall require the approval of not less than 14 of the 18 members of the Commission.


http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-national-commission-fiscal-responsibility-and-reform

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. OK, feel free to make your case.

List the 18 members of the commission, and show, with quotes, what their positions are on 'reforming' Social Security.

I'm not holding my breath.

[Ichingcarpenter]

19. Do the Math

the representation of so many Republicans stink.

Eight republicans to ten democrats when we have the senate, the presidency and the house.

It gives them an overall of 44.5% representation on the board

when they

1. have a 40% minority in the senate but Obama gave them 50% representation on the board

2. a 41% minority in the house but Obama gave them 50% representation on the board

3. a 0% in the presidency and Obama gave them 33% representation on the board


That's messed up

[county worker]

20. It could happen or it couldn't happen that is 50-50 chance.

Here is where you don't make sense. You are willing to believe that the commission will not recommend cuts in the entitlement programs yet politicians on both sides have been trying to do that for a long time. The reason they fail is because of fear of losing elections.

The rules of this commission give politicians cover to make cuts in entitlements, there will not be another election for two years, that is the main reason the chance is at least 50% if not better.

I'm afraid you are as guilty as those you call out in the OP. You are blinded by your beliefs and not willing to see beyond them. I'm afraid you will get a rude awakening before the year ends. At that time we'll welcome you to the side of the realists.

[bobbolink]

28. risk reduction vs loyalty oath.

I fear this won't come out well.

:hi:

[Fumesucker]

11. A proud unrec..

[bullwinkle428]

13. Another proud unrec!

[ibegurpard]

25. count me in

[gratuitous]

15. Indeed

A commission of millionaires, shepherded by a man with a career-long record of antipathy to anyone who's not rich, a man with a mile-long record of quotes about greedy geezers and selfish veterans sucking up Treasury dollars, why in the world would anyone think that this commission won't come up with the most progressive, fair-minded proposals for reducing the federal deficit? And if they do come up with a whole bunch of proposals to balance the federal budget on the backs of the retired, the poor, the disabled and veterans, well, that's probably what's best for America (defined as people in the same income bracket as the commission members). As for the connection between the commission members and President Obama? The writer is stretching far past the point of rupture to pretend that the members of the commission don't serve at the sole discretion of the president.

I wonder if "extreme liberal" is willing to put a hundred bucks where his polemic is? Because I'll bet that President Obama will indeed advocate for, sign off on, and if at all possible, enact major changes to Social Security, and not just "minor tweaks." In fact, I don't know what would qualify as a "minor tweak," but I'll give a partial rundown of what would be major changes: Means testing for benefits; raising the retirement age again; increasing the payroll withholding rate again; and reducing benefits for either present or future retirees.

This column is bullshit.

[DrDan]

16. I have yet to hear anyone claim the goal was to "eliminate social security"

[Marr]

17. I guess you'd prefer everyone sit quietly, wait for the cuts to be made,

then "move on" since it's yesterday's news, and a done deal, and actually was a pragmatic move anyway when you think about it.

Right?

Here's a question for you. Since Social Security has nothing to do with the deficit, why do you think a "Deficit Commission" is looking at it?

[Subdivisions]

21. unrec for hateful demagoguery. n/t

[BzaDem]

22. While Jane Hamsher is obviously distorting Obama's involvement and intentions, the commission is

definitely looking at Social Security cuts. Multiple independent well sourced reporters have all said the same thing, and given the secrecy of the commission's proceedings, this is the best information we have to work with.

These potentially proposed cuts might not be large, and they might be proposed to phase in over a long time. But Obama has made it clear that he believes some cuts and tax adjustments are necessary to keep it in actuarial balance over the long term.

The question is what they do. Is it just means-testing Social Security? Or is it raising the retirement age by a year and phasing it in over several years? Is it adjusting the COLA formula? ALL of these options have been discussed, and Obama has not expressed opposition to any of them since he formed the commission.

Does this mean Obama isn't a progressive? Of course not. But the idea that changes to Social Security are not on the table is false, and people opposed to those changes are providing a service by calling attention to them in hopes of staving them off. Though I would agree with you that people like Jane Hamsher who distort Obama's positions and the commission's power are not helpful. There is plenty about this commission to rationally criticize without making things up and distorting the truth.

[mmonk]

23. Cutting is the wrong direction during hard times and is by no stretch

of the imagination progressive.

[Caretha]

24. If you would

spend just 25% of your time actually investigating the "Deficit Reduction Committee's" members and political allies/agendas as you did f*cking with the html option on DU, you might have a clue.

BTW, do you get paid more for underlines, bolds and the bold underlined, LARGE RED FONT per post, than just normal every day posts without all the BLING?????.

PS I'm editing this post to let you know that I've rec'd your thread so that others may see what wonderful crap you personally bring to DU. ...

PSS...you're welcome :)

[sendero]

26. Whoever wrote this tripe..

.. will feel pretty stupid in a couple of years.

[MadHound]

27. Hmm, if Obama wasn't willing to come after Social Security,

The why did he form the Catfood Commission? Why did he state that everything was on the table when it came to cutting deficits, including SS? Why the hell did he appoint Simpson, a notorious SS hater, to head the commission?

My question for you is whether or not you're ready to eat your words come December when the Catfood Commission recommends cutting SS benefits in some way, and the Democratic lame duck Congress follows along like good little sheep? Or will you find some bullshit reason to defend even this travesty?

[Marr]

29. By then, the sales pitch will have been released.

The defenders will know what they think then.

[bobbolink]

31. It's not about eating the words, or even an apology.. its about taking care of the people who will

be hurt!

We/they are lost in all of this... invisible... unimportant.

Collateral. Damage.

[gulliver]

30. I really don't see how it can be anything but Freeper...

..."dipfiltrators" who are doing all of the yowling. I just can't believe liberals could be such complete bozos. I don't know a single liberal personally who talks about "cat food commissions" or, equivalently, Obama's refusal to put up mosquito netting around the borders to repel flying elves.

Note: This is a joke "catfood people." There are no flying elves, only pixies. And they only do jobs our pixies won't.