The only way Obama could possibly win with the Social Security ploy...

[kentuck]

If the Republicans agreed to raise taxes, the Tea Party and the Republican base would come down so hard on the Republican leadership that the Republican Party could possibly splinter into opposing groups. But that ain't gonna happen. They are not going to agree to raise taxes.

Therefore, the President is left with the animosity of his own base for even suggesting cutting Social Security, even if nothing passes at all. It was a no-win for him from the beginning.

Of course, when he was running for office in 2008, many people thought he was a moderate at that time. Many others thought he was a progressive, regardless of what he said at the time. But, they all thought he was a Democrat.

[tokenlib]

1. We heard what we wanted -I trusted his support on changing the FICA cap..

..and took it to mean he would defend benefits and seek revenue to strengthen Socail Security.
To me this is the Great Betrayal.. Instead of going after the big banks and Wall Street..which his Justice Department could do.. he is turning on us..

Just waiting on my email from Organizing for America urging me "to stand with the President"...you know, the one with the QUICK DONATE button...

Ok so I was duped too..

[Hoyt]

3. Several problems with increasing cap, it won't pass the GOP Congress, it is a big tax increase for

some in middle class -- for example, a good Democrat who has a family of 6 and makes $140,000 a year should have a tax increase of 12% or so on $30,000, and receive little in benefits in the future.

While we sit here and gripe about what is a relatively small reduction in COLA for some -- but not all -- under a CCPI (assuming it even passes and is not adjusted in the future when times are better), Congress will continue to hold up funding for jobs, extension of unemployment, training, etc., which will help all of us.

Further, Obama has pushed through improvements in prescription drugs under Medicare, preventive services without cost sharing, improvements in quality of Medicare, expansion of Medicaid that will help seniors in states smart enough to take advantage of it, etc.

When I add it up, that little cut in COLA -- even over a lot of years -- is more than a sacrifice I'm willing to take, especially in the short-run. I'll be much better off. Heck, if Obama wants to pay my rent, they can cut my social security by an equivalent amount.

Most importtantly, the CCPI proposal might just help push through legislation that helps youngsters find good jobs. The truth is, if the economy does not improve, CCPI is going to be the least worry for seniors (and those on low-end, on SSI, etc., won't get a cut and might actually get an increase). There might have been other ways to avoid this, but personally I think Obama knows better what we are dealing with than most of us observing from the outside.

But, let's bash Obama and make the right wingers think we hate him as much as they do, so they just sit tight.

[stevenleser]

5. I've hit the cap three times in my life, it has zero impact. It's not in your budget.

You set up your budget at the beginning of the year and then, September, October or November comes and suddenly there is more money there than you expected. It's extra money you have been doing without for more than half of the year. You cant get used to it either because you will be doing without it again in a few months.

It's would be about the easiest tax increase in the world to deal with because of that.

[Hoyt]

8. If you can get the GOP to approve a 12% tax increase, I'm behind you.

I would suggest a smaller percentage might make sense over the current cap. In fact Obama has proposed that in the past, but got nowhere even among Dems. Did you support him when he suggested that?

In any event, if you have made that much in income, I think you can absorb the small impact of the CCPI. Fortunately, most of those who don't get as big a SS benefit, will likely not get hit by the Chained-CPI.

[bigdarryl]

2. Ploy this ain't no damn ploy

If the rethugs agreed to this budget he made up Obama would serve up Social Security on a platter just to get a bipartisan deal

[Marr]

4. I never even thought he was a moderate.

He's been transparently a Trojan Donkey for years. I remember seeing the whole corporate media swoon over him after his big national debut at the 2004 Democratic Convention. When the big media stooges were all calling him 'the future of the party', I knew he couldn't possibly be on my side.

[robinlynne]

6. To hell with what he can win. This is about 300 million people and what we all stand to lose.

I agree with you, btw.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. This toon explains it well: