Biden wanted to freeze the federal budget. That equates to cutting SS and Medicare benefits.

[HerbChestnut]

I found an article discussing a hypothetical 3-year budget freeze and what that would mean to various government programs. Here's how freezing the budget would affect Social Security and Medicare. (EDIT: Someone already pointed out that Ben Carson is mentioned in the article. That's not the important part folks, ignore it.)

https://www.crfb.org/blogs/3-year-spending-freeze-would-balance-budget

Social Security (24 percent of the 2018 budget): Social Security spending is projected to grow by $130 billion over the next three years due to more people becoming eligible for the program and benefits growing over time to keep up with wage growth and inflation. Avoiding this increase altogether would require cutting all benefits by 12 percent, and it would be impossible to freeze spending if current beneficiaries were exempted from cuts. No Social Security plan past or present has proposed a cut of close to 12 percent for all beneficiaries that quickly.

Medicare (14 percent of the 2018 budget): Spending on Medicare programs is expected to increase by $51 billion between now and 2018 as retiring baby boomers continue to enroll in Medicare and as health care costs increase.

Considering the budgets for Social Security and Medicare generally increase every year through cost of living increases and more people becoming enrolled, freezing their budgets would mean reducing benefits paid out by $130 billion and $51 billion over 3 years respectively for Social Security and Medicare.

Joe Biden has tried to freeze the federal budget at least four times. That is four times he has tried to cut Social Security and Medicare.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4843746/user-clip-biden-freezing-social-security

[sweetloukillbot]

1. Quoting a five year old article about Ben Carson?

That’s a bit of a stretch

[HerbChestnut]

2. Yeah

So the main point of linking to that article was just to show what freezing the federal budget would mean to various programs. Ben Carson being mentioned in the article is irrelevant to that point.

[stopdiggin]

10. I think the bigger point might be that -- NEVER HAPPENED (nt)

but it's a discussion board -- so you go ahead and sell your merchandise.

[HerbChestnut]

12. And it's a damn good thing that never happened, despite Joe's best efforts.

He was PROUD that he supported those budget freezes.

[Demsrule86]

27. I wonder if Sanders is proud of his campaign...I expect this will backfire...and Biden will be up

in the polls and crush Sanders when the voting begins. Sander scorched earth lying campaign will cost him the nomination...he could have been a contender...

[HerbChestnut]

32. It's not lying to point out Biden's spotty record on Social Security.

He got an 89% from the ARA, compared to 100% for Sanders and Warren. That 11% difference is because of things like wanting to freeze the federal budget.

[Demsrule86]

37. Ted Kennedy had 89% so...who cares...and it is a lie when you change the meaning of a video...but

doctoring it...and Biden looks just fine...but Sanders...looks like he is not telling the truth...his campaign does him no favors with this.

[HerbChestnut]

46. Taking a video out of context is not the same as 'doctoring' it.

'Doctoring' would imply using some kind of software to alter the contents of the video, like photoshop but for videos. The Sanders campaign clipped that Brookings Institute video to fit a narrative, yes. That was a bad move on their part, but it's not 'doctoring'. Although it should be said, later in that same speech Biden said Social Security and Medicare would need "adjustments", which is political speak for cuts, but whatever. There's plenty of other videos of Biden saying he would cut Social Security and Medicare. Here's a few:

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4843746/user-clip-biden-freezing-social-security

Link to tweet

?s=19

And here's a snippet of a transcript from a Meet the Press interview when Biden was running for President in 2007.

MR. RUSSERT: But, senator, we have a deficit. We have Social Security and Medicare looming. The number of people on Social Security and Medicare is now 40 million people. It’s going to be 80 million in 15 years. Would you consider looking at those programs, age of eligibility...

SEN. BIDEN: Absolutely.

MR. RUSSERT: ...cost of living, put it all on the table.

SEN. BIDEN: The answer is absolutely. You have to. You know, it’s—one of the things that my, you know, the political advisers say to me is, “Whoa, don’t touch that third”—look, the American people aren’t stupid. It’s a real simple proposition. We have to do—you and I were talking about Bob Dole earlier. I was one of five people—I was the junior guy in the meeting with Bob Dole and George Mitchell when we put Social Security on the right path for 60 years. I’ll never forget what Bob Dole said. After we reached an agreement about gradually raising the retirement age, etc., he said, “Look, here’s the deal, we all put our foot in the boat one at a time.” And he kicked—he stepped like he was stepping into a boat. “And we all make the following deal. If any one of the challengers running against the incumbent Democrat or Republicans attack us on this point, we’ll all stay together.” That’s the kind of leadership that is needed. Social Security’s not the hard one to solve. Medicare, that is the gorilla in the room, and you’ve got to put all of it on the table.

MR. RUSSERT: Everything.

SEN. BIDEN: Everything. You’ve got to.

Full transcript here: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/18381961/ns/meet_the_press/t/mtp-transcript-april/#.XiSAg4h7mUk

The video the Sanders campaign clipped may have been taken out of context, but it's not the only video out there of Biden wanting to cut Social Security and Medicare. There are examples across his entire 40 year political history.

[Demsrule86]

60. They created a lie by doctoring the video...cut parts of it...liars (Sirota) gotta lie...I guess...

I believe nothing that comes from Sirota...and again more lip service... during a rightwing period...but no votes...were there?

[David__77]

3. Hopefully no Democratic candidate now advocates for budget freezes.

...

[fleabiscuit]

18. That information is currently freely available, if one really wants to know. nt

[Demsrule86]

38. You don't have to hope...could actually look up their positions rather ...spoiler, no one does...

[Thekaspervote]

4. The desperation is showing

Such a stretch!

[33taw]

5. Agree. The attacks are getting old.

[vsrazdem]

7. Yes, they are.

[fleabiscuit]

19. They are more than old enough... kind of reminded me of someone. Irony.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

23. Attacks on social security are getting old. Like 30 years old.

[33taw]

30. Biden did not attack Social Security.

[whistler162]

25. yup

another season of.... if Bernie doesn't win we are taking our ball and going home.

[Demsrule86]

28. Pretty much...if we can weather this toss Trump out...Sanders won't be running again so this is

his last chance...and then we are done with it. As my post indicates, I don't think Sanders has a chance at the nomination...no AA support but of course if I am wrong,Sanders gets my vote in the general.

[NYMinute]

6. So many threads on this fake news today

Did everyone get a memo from Sirota or was it a hot topic on JPR?? (or both)

[OilemFirchen]

8. Social Security spending is mandatory (non-discretionary).

So... bullshit.

[HerbChestnut]

13. The video linked in the OP shows Biden specifically mentioning Social Security...

...among the programs that would have been frozen.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

14. Facts don't matter... only that Bernie is the bad guy in all this!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[fleabiscuit]

20. Sign stealing in baseball is nothing new. nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

51. True, just like stealin Bernie's progressive policy positions...rather have Bern, the true original!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[fleabiscuit]

69. True, true...

Other than minority support, NRA blood money votes, and a righteous our way or the highway approach that is so beloved by all. Oh, and poor polling.

[33taw]

34. Frozen does not seem to equal cut. My government pension was frozen. Different from cut.

Once the economy recovered it resumed increases.

[Demsrule86]

39. Right, the doctored video...the one that is a pack of lies...put out by Sirota...yeah that one.

[Thekaspervote]

9. Nope!!

Link to tweet

?s=21

[HerbChestnut]

11. This tweet and the contents of my post are unrelated to each other.

[Thekaspervote]

15. Sure

[sweetloukillbot]

26. As relevant as a 5-year-old article about Ben Carson nt

[bluedye33139]

36. You claim that Biden is gunning for social security and Medicare.

[fleabiscuit]

16. The off-site bro's are working to get Trump elected again. nt

[fleabiscuit]

17. Smidge different...

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4796183/user-clip-biden-1995-discusses-past-support-freezing-entitlement-spending

The Fool had a say too...

https://www.fool.com/retirement/2019/05/31/joe-biden-on-social-security-6-things-you-should-k.aspx

[mucifer]

21. The article did not deny he said what he said on the congress floor.

[fleabiscuit]

50. One can watch what he said too.

[Sloumeau]

22. Biden rips Sanders campaign for Social Security attacks

[link:https://apnews.com/1b20256566e91f6bd70113c7f79285c9|]

Emphasis added by me:

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks to members of the audience at a campaign stop at Simpson College, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, in Indianola, Iowa. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) — Joe Biden has called for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign to “disown” what he calls “doctored video” that some Sanders supporters say shows the former vice president endorsing Republican calls to cut Social Security and Medicare.

“There’s a little doctored video going around ... put out by one of Bernie’s people,” Biden told supporters Saturday in Indianola, Iowa, referring to a 2018 speech in which Biden discussed then-House Speaker Paul Ryan saying rising deficit demanded action on the popular entitlement programs.

“I’m looking for his campaign to come forward and disown it,” Biden continued, pointing to his 2020 campaign proposals designed to shore up Social Security. “But they haven’t done it yet.”

This is just another sign that the Sanders campaign is desperate because Biden is LEADING in Iowa:

[link:https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/iowa/|]

[redqueen]

24. Just freezing the entire budget is not smart. No idea why anyone would get behind this.

How many Dems suggest this course of action?

[Demsrule86]

29. Everyone had to pretend to be open to the idea...we were even further to the right than now.

[lapucelle]

31. Who created the C-SPAN clip (dated January 7, 2020) that's used in the OP?

It wasn't C-SPAN.


*******************************************************************************************************

*******************************************************************************************************

No wonder Biden is concerned about doctored videos.

*******************************************************************************************************

Altered video misleads on content, style of Biden speech

https://apnews.com/afs:Content:5714130337

Biden demands apology from Sanders over 'doctored' video on Social Security

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/biden-demands-apology-sanders-over-doctored-video-social-security-n1118481

[HerbChestnut]

33. That politifact article was about one specific video clip.

Thing is, there are plenty more showing Biden wanting to make cuts to Social Security and even Medicare. Politifact did not take those into account for their article.

[lapucelle]

44. The Politifact article was about something Biden said that was taken completely out of context

by the BS campaign.

Politifact supports its determination that the BS claim is FALSE by linking to both the COMPLETE transcript of the speech and the COMPLETE OFFICIAL C-SPAN recording of the event. The Politifact article was not about one specific video clip.

The Sanders campaign plucked out what Biden said about Ryan, but ignored the complete passage which showed that Biden wanted Social Security and Medicare protected, and to accomplish that goal would require making changes to the tax code. The thrust of his point about the tax code was that he was saying it does too much to help the uber rich.

snip================================================================================

To understand Biden’s tone, you have to actually watch and listen to his words. The snippet of written text, which the Sanders’ campaign newsletter used, doesn’t relay Biden’s full point.

The Sanders campaign omits what Biden said next

snip=================================================================================

The Sanders campaign omitted what Biden said next: the importance of protecting Social Security and Medicare and to change the tax code, which he said benefitted the mega rich. Overall, the point of Biden’s speech was to criticize tax cuts for the rich and call for more help to the middle class.

The Sanders campaign plucked out part of what Biden said but omitted the full context of his comments.

We rate this statement False..

[still_one]

41. The Sanders campaign has distorted and misrepresented both Warren and Biden.

The surrogates for Sanders think they are helping him. We will see soon enough how that works out for him

[Demsrule86]

42. I never noticed that...guess I gave the Sanders campaign to much credit...wasn't looking for

such obvious ratfucking.

[lapucelle]

45. No wonder Joe Biden is concerned that the BS campaign is "doctoring videos". N/T

[Demsrule86]

58. Very true...thanks.

[OilemFirchen]

49. Here's video of the entirety of that speech:

https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4468932/user-clip-senator-biden

Context is important. This was during a government shutdown, when the Republicans were attempting to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment. There was a budget crisis, and, while Senator Biden did say that he supported a freeze that included "everything", he explicitly stated that the Republican-proposed legislation was subterfuge for their relentless attempt to do away with entitlement spending.

Remember, as well, that this marked a protracted period during which some asserted that a failure to increase spending was the same as a spending cut. A spending freeze could only affect entitlements in that regard, so it's likely that the Senator had proposed - as a compromise to the Republicans' attempt to literally cut entitlements (through the only mechanism available - a constitutional amendment), a freeze on COLAs.

There may be a transcript of this speech, but, as this was also user-submitted, C-SPAN doesn't link to one. If you're interested in this issue, however, a full viewing of the video is useful, especially the latter part where he explicitly corrects himself about "cuts" to SS and discusses compromise "cuts" to Medicare (probably, again, as they pertained to proposed increases in spending, like expanded coverage or reduced premiums).

[jalan48]

59. Thanks, I will watch it.

[jalan48]

62. He talked about working with Republicans on balancing the budget.

[OilemFirchen]

64. He was talking about the Balanced Budget Amendment.

He states that the budget would be balanced were it not for the Reagan and Bush tax cuts.

FTR, it's easy to disagree with 90% of his speech. I did, and still do.

It would have been nice if all of the Senate Democrats had simply opposed the BBA, but this was the first year of Gingrich's Contract on America. We had just lost six seats in the Senate and fifty-two in the House. The public mood was slash and burn.

Of most import, the BBA didn't pass and there was no spending freeze.

After days of persuasion, the Republicans supporting the amendment were unable to attract the one last vote they needed for a two-thirds majority, resulting in a victory for Democrats, who raised doubts in the final hours about whether the Social Security trust fund would be safe if the measure became law.

<snip>

Asked at one point why Republicans had not taken up the Democratic dare and simply exempted Social Security from the budget amendment, Mr. Dole shot back that Mr. Clinton could not be trusted to cut the budget, period. "If we had a real President down there, we might think about it," he said.

<snip>

Democrats continued even after the vote to press their political advantage on the Social Security issue, likening Republicans to political Willie Suttons plotting a holdup of helpless retirees. Had Republicans only agreed to leave the retirement trust fund alone, said the minority leader, Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota, the budget amendment would have sailed to adoption. "All we asked is that we not rob the bank to pay the debt," he said. "Too many people have put too much into the bank to do that now."

https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/03/us/104th-congress-balanced-budget-senate-rejects-amendment-balancing-budget-close.html

[jalan48]

65. He supported it along with the Republicans.

[OilemFirchen]

66. Along with thirteen other Democrats.

He gets no pass from me, but it still doesn't support the assertion made in the OP.

BTW, Senator Biden was up for reelection the following year, and it was well-known that the BBA was not going to pass. He (and others) likely decided to vote yea as a political calculation. And Majority Leader Bob Dole switched his vote (to nay), also for partisan advantage.

Remember, as well, that everyone had huge hair. I'm over it all.

[jalan48]

67. I see it differently but agree about the huge hair. I'm willing to work for whoever our nominee is

but am pessimistic that Biden doesn't bring the passion and energy necessary to stop the onward march of Fascism.

[Demsrule86]

61. Thanks...Sirota's lips are moving so he is lying...what a snake.

Look at the votes...Biden has the same score for SS as Ted Kennedy...89%. Liars like Sirota got to lie...but I will always remember who hired this guy. And the reduced number has to do with voting to increase the age during Reagan's term. Both Biden and Kennedy voted for it...as a compromise.

[bluedye33139]

35. Biden did not propose freezing social security and Medicare.

It seems rather duplicitous to state that he did. It seems misleading to say that because Carson wanted to do this, therefore Biden is it going to attack social security and Medicare.

It seems very unfair and duplicitous. I'm a little surprised.

[Iamaartist]

40. Joes Plan...read it....

I put this out the other day...a good plan...my opinion


Got our absentee ballots the other day ...voting for Joe March 10 primary ,,,nothing will change it for us....



https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287427893

[Demsrule86]

43. F'ing Ohio set the primary date for March 17th ...St. Patrick's day...this will cause all sorts of

issues in Cleveland...
'...the Ohio Senate set the election for March 17, 2020 — St. Patrick’s Day. Cleveland’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration draws massive, sometimes raucous crowds — estimated in the hundreds of thousands, which Cleveland’s tourism bureau says makes it among the largest celebrations of the holiday in the country. Democrats and elections officials in Cleveland are concerned the disruptions to Downtown polling places, and the competition for people’s time and attention will dampen turnout in one of the most populous areas of the state.'''

I will vote for Biden...

[Iamaartist]

48. Ours is in Mich

We are on outskirts ...of Grand Rapids Mich I am sure they will have some trouble in voting in GR. Downtown .Out here we never had any trouble even walkin ..voting was easy out her in suburban area of GR...

We need every vote....

[Demsrule86]

53. We do...every vote. Ohio is a state that has open primaries so the right will be voting for Sanders

because they think he is weaker than Biden...and he would lose a general IMHO.

[beachbumbob]

47. lol, the federal budget can be "frozen" without "cutting medicare or SS."

[katmondoo]

52. I knew Bernie was involved.

[Demsrule86]

54. Me too.

[totodeinhere]

55. That's a nice sound bite but the issue is much more complex than that.

I'm a Bernie supporter who will enthusiastically vote for Joe is he gets the nomination. And what we need to concentrate on is GOP hypocrisy. They talk about budget restraint but under Trump we are running record deficits. That should be our talking point, not attacking each other.

[Recursion]

56. SS and Medicare are not budget line items

I find it strange to have to remind Democrats of this

[LaurenOlimina]

57. I cannot wait for this election to be over.

[The Valley Below]

63. This crap only makes Democrats more convinced that Sanders must never be the nominee.

Scorched earth and dirty tricks.

[Blue_true]

68. No it doesn't. The federal budget has many items in it. nt