The winning card--Obama and Democrats need Social Security and Medicare

[eridani]

1. Sanders and retiree groups find Obama's debate stance shocking

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/260395-sanders-and-liberals-slam-obama-on-social-security

“The American people in poll after poll after poll have been very clear, do not cut Social Security and for the president to say I expect that my position is somewhat similar to Gov. Romney is very, very distressing,” Sanders said.

Obama said he did not see a major difference between himself and Romney when moderator Jim Lehrer asked about Social Security at Wednesday night’s debate in Denver.

“You know, I suspect that, on Social Security, we've got a somewhat similar position. Social Security is structurally sound. It's going to have to be tweaked the way it was by Ronald Reagan and Speaker -- Democratic Speaker Tip O'Neill. But it is -- the basic structure is sound,” he told the national television audience.

The answer sent shockwaves among Obama’s liberal and labor allies, who have made protecting Social Security from cuts one of their highest priorities.

“My jaw dropped,” said Nancy Altman, co-chair of the Strengthen Social Security coalition and campaign, which includes the AFL-CIO, MoveOn.org Political Action, and the Service Employees International Union.