Los Angeles Mayor Says Cutting Social Security Benefits Is A ‘Balanced Approach’ To Deficit

[Report1212]

The latest in a long line of mishaps from Los Angeles's "Democratic" mayor. At the link you can sign up to be a citizen support of Elizabeth Warren's truly balanced vision for deficit reduction over the long term -- much better than Villaraigosa's cuts to Social Security.

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Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has shocked progressives by joining the board of Fix The Debt, a group driven by corporate CEOs that seeks to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits while lowering the corporate tax rate. Over 12,000 people have signed a SignOn.org petition calling on Villaraigosa to reverse course and leave the organization.

Last night, Villaraigosa appeared on Huffington Post Live for an in-studio interview to discuss a variety of issues. Host Jacob Soboroff asked him about the controversy surrounding Fix The Debt, and the mayor responded by saying that he joined Fix The Debt to promote a “balanced approach” to the national debt:

VILLARAGOISA: “Isn’t what’s broken in Washington right now that Democrats wont talk to Republicans, Republicans won’t talk to Democrats? There’s this blind allegiance to ideology…I’m a progressive abashedly, but I’m also practical…It’s true that a large number of people on Fix The Debt coalition are Republicans, and have supported Republicans…they also said we need a balanced approach, supported the Simpson Bowles plan as a balanced framework..I understand why some people would take umbrage particularly on the Democratic side and the progressive side but I’m not a university professor, I’m a mayor.

Read more: http://boldprogressives.org/los-angeles-mayor-villaraigosa-says-cutting-social-security-benefits-is-a-balanced-approach-to-the-deficit/

[marmar]

1. The bipartisan screwing has begun.

nt

[DJ13]

2. …I’m a progressive

Progressive:

one who betrays another's trust or is false to an obligation or duty

[Report1212]

15. Yeah apparently you just have to say you are a progressive

You don't have to mean it, or not do anti-progressive things. Who knew?

[leveymg]

3. He was being touted as The Next Democratic Candidate at the Convention, too. Should tell you what

the real Democratic Party insider establishment and big money donors really want. GOP Lite smaller social spending. Low taxes on the upper income. Lower standard of living for most Americans.

Blue Dogs are the New GOP.

[Panasonic]

26. He is gone as soon as LA wises up

And sees the mayor for the huge asshole he really is

[Ya Basta]

4. Wow! who would of thought Raygun was more to left than a Democratic mayor of Los Angeles

That is just a damn shame. You disgust me Mr. Villaragoisa.

[JDPriestly]

5. Antonio Villaraigosa -- a dubious past, a sleazy guy.

I'll be glad to see him leave the mayor's mansion.

My warning to the rest of the nation: stay as far from this guy as you can.

My friends all worked to get him elected. I voted for him, but I refused to work on his campaign. I trust my instincts about people, and I instinctively do not trust him.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. Fuck you, Antonio.

I will NEVER support you for any higher office. NEVER.

[Johonny]

20. +1

It's a shame from what you hear when he started out he was a vastly more progressive person. Some ppl clearly sell out. A lot of LA progressives have him on the dislike list.

[abelenkpe]

7. Thank you for letting me know to never vote for your sorry, very wrong ass again. nt

[Daniel537]

8. Looks like Tony Villar is setting himself up for '16.

Another "New Democrat" type. Good grief.

[cbrer]

9. In an associated story; LA Mayor reported full of shit. nt

[spanone]

10. ignorance in high office

[bluestate10]

11. The current system depends on young, multi-cultural workers supporting elderly Whites.

As time goes forward, the number of elderly Whites being supported by young Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Muslims will only grow. Some people take a short term viewpoint and say that that is not right, I take a long term view and say that is what we are as a people, we take care of our elderly.

Changes can be made to the system, but those changes can't hurt current or future beneficiaries, those people PAID for their benefits. Removing the cap on the medicare tax is a must. Allocating different retirement points for a job class (type of work) should be implemented, people ike me that sit on their ass a lot during each day making money should be expected to retire later than a person sweating their ass off standing on a factory floor or working on a farm. Points should be allocated for each year a person over the age of 18 are in a job class, a higher point number should be awarded for more manually demanding jobs - adjustments should be allowed for unanticipated disability.

[RB TexLa]

22. And those whites nearing it are going to do everything they can to protect their "birthright"

[catchnrelease]

12. Slime slime slime

I worked for the city of LA for 30 years, and I detest this guy. He is as phony as a $3.00 bill. If there is a camera anywhere around he will get his mug in front of it. I'm sure he would sell out his mother to get ahead, so this does not surprise me one bit. How do I really feel???? *spits*

[DavidDvorkin]

13. Isn't he the guy who cheated on his wife with a glamorous TV news babe?

[Jack Rabbit]

16. Well, in Los Angeles, yes

It's another case that needs to be carefully qualified.

:

"Cheating with a glamorous TV news babe" could refer to former South Carolina Mark Sanford and his Argentine squeeze, too.

[DavidDvorkin]

18. Right!

[RomneyLies]

14. What a fucking moron. Social Security has fuck all to do with the national debt other than the fact

that SS LOANED all of it's money to the US.

I EARNED THAT SHIT! TAKE IT AT YOUR OWN POLITICAL RISK!!!!

[musiclawyer]

17. I never understood this guy getting any responsibility with dem election committees

Dude is the a 20th century politician " I'll fuck around as long I want and do what whoever gives me more money says."

You want to survive as a 21st century DEMOCRATIC politician, then live clean, don't lie, and understand how the bottom 25 % live and why they stay there. Although there is ample bullshit on the internet, the internet also also makes it easy to spot. Antonia gets spotted all the time

[Blue_In_AK]

19. And in other news

Los Angeles mayor is an idiot.

[hobbit709]

21. Let's cut his pay to the $923/mo I'm getting on SS.

And then see how much he likes it.

[madfloridian]

23. Look up his views on education.

He seems to have contempt for teachers.

[Panasonic]

24. Fucking Third Wayers. I HATE Third Wayers.

They do not read the notes that tells Democrats that Social Security is not part of the deficit.

Villagrosa has to go. He haa been bad since he fucked up the vote at the DNC convention regarding Israel and Jerusalem

[allrevvedup]

25. That figures. This guy is big on charter schools.

Bigger than Riordan in fact:

Since 2005. . . There has been a 100% increase in the number of charter schools, and nearly 100 low performing schools have undergone innovative transformations, with leadership dedicated to improving student learning.

Since 1996, Villaraigosa has co-chaired bond initiatives that have brought in $20 billion to finance the building of 111 new schools and 60 school addition projects, providing 124,000 new classroom seats and decreasing the number of schools operating on a multi-track calendar by 89%. http://mayor.lacity.org/MeettheMayor/index.htm

For example, there's this conspicuous nightmare just off Grant near downtown:



Now imagine it covered with graffiti. No wonder kids are getting ADHD in record numbers. And what do you know, Tony's getting a share of the action through a "consulting" firm he and his wife run:

Villaraigosa founded the Partnership, one of the largest school turnaround organizations in the country, to improve student learning at low performing schools and pilot innovations that can be replicated throughout the District. The Partnership serves nearly 17,000 students across 22 schools in LA’s most underserved neighborhoods.

Not exactly squeaky clean.

[jsr]

27. Well, fuck you, Antonio Villaraigosa.

[kestrel91316]

28. Villaraigosa is an opportunist. My guess is,

SOMEBODY promised him a great corporate gig once he leaves the mayor's office if he did this.

He only cares about his private parts and money.

[Trillo]

29. Wasn't there a conservative take-over or buy out of the LA Times some time back?

Last edited Sat Dec 8, 2012, 06:24 PM - Edit history (1)

Is there a connection?

edit:
I kept thinking about this, wondering what I had read. A Google search was pretty much unrevealing, and wikipedia didn't mention it. Here it is, something about Murdoch buying up assets from LATimes bankruptcy (which wikipedia does mention).
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014273189

[wundermaus]

30. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is a "politician"

"It should have been a high moment in Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's political career: chairing the Democratic National Convention. Instead, he was greeted with boos.

Villaraigosa had the unenviable task on Wednesday evening of pushing through a party platform plank that US President Barack Obama was said to have personally intervened to include: Stating that Jerusalem is Israel's undivided capital.

Despite loud opposition following each of three voice votes, Villaraigosa approved the plank, which is unpopular internationally and among the party's liberal wing, but which some Democratic leaders may see as necessary to win support from Jewish voters and donors."

Just because you put Democrat next to a name doesn't make it so.

[DearHeart]

31. Why can't they understand that SS does NOT contribute to the deficit!!

SO freakin tired of this crap!! This is NOT a difficult concept...that fund was paid into, by millions of workers, some of us since we were 14 or 15 years old. It is a "TRUST" and is not supposed to be touched! Bush & Co already raided the fund once, IIRC and now people are supposed to take cuts on the money that WE contributed?? NO WAY IN HELL!!!