Third Way applauds Obama for laying hands on the “third rail” of American politics. [View All]

[madfloridian]

Third Way is the new policy shop of the Democratic party since the DLC closed its doors. Here is their take on the anger of "the left" over cutting Social Security and Medicare.

"Entitlement reform should be part of the solution to America’s deficit challenge..."

“Third Way has long argued that entitlement reform should be part of the solution to America’s deficit challenge. Not only will it put us back on a sustainable fiscal path, reform will save and strengthen our social safety net. We applaud the President’s willingness to do the right thing and lay hands on the “third rail” of American politics.

Some on the left will attack the President for putting Social Security and Medicare fixes on the table, but without action these programs will eventually crowd out our ability to invest in America’s future and force us to default on our promise to provide for tomorrow’s seniors. Postponing reform indefinitely is not an option, and to delay is not progressive.

The President is taking a step vital to any negotiation – offering a reasonable path to compromise on priorities dear to him.

Notice the continued tone they always use toward "some on the left". Well, they can include me in that number. I am very angry.

Robert Kuttner was right back in December 2010 when he said that Obama was blinking first.

Obama to blink first on Social Security

How to put this politely? For a Democratic president, this approach is bad economics and worse politics.

...If you think the Democratic base feels betrayed by Obama’s tax-cut deal, just imagine the mayhem when Obama proposes to cut the Democrats’ signature program. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) compared Obama’s tax deal to punting on first down. A pre-emptive cut in Social Security is forfeiting the game before kickoff.

Obama is already in trouble with older voters. Republicans have succeeded in convincing seniors that the health care reform bill diverted money from Medicare. Consider what the right will do when Obama moves to cut Social Security. Republicans, with no sense of contradiction or hypocrisy, will whack Obama once for not being sufficiently serious about deficit reduction — then whack him again for cutting Social Security.

Kuttner also points out that the Republicans win three ways.

Obama is finally getting the bipartisanship he craved — but entirely on Republican terms. Republicans win three ways. They have a Democratic president doing their work for them, destroying the Democratic capacity to use affirmative government to address dire national problems and annihilating his own party.

Back in December something else happened also that was painful to hear. The president used the words sanctimonious and purist in regards to his base in the party.

From R. J. Eskow. He points out that the tax deal had a poison pill for Social Security.

Obama's "Tax Holiday": A Poison Pill for Social Security

You know what they always say: Pay now or pay later. Middle-class Americans may pay very dearly for the president's tax deal, and at the stage of life when they can least afford it. By providing a temporary cut in the payroll taxes that fund Social Security, this deal starts the nation down a slippery slope that could lead to permanent benefits cuts for the middle class and even more wealth for the rich.

In other words, Obama's "payroll tax holiday" could send the financial safety of America's seniors on a permanent vacation.

The embattled president lashed out at his critics at today's press conference. (Well, not all his critics. Just the ones in his own party. That seems to be the pattern lately.) He sneered at those who, he said, just want to "be able to feel good about ourselves and sanctimonious about how pure our intentions are."

"Purity" is a strange word for opinions that are strongly held by seven out of ten Americans, including most Republicans, independents, and even Tea Partiers.

Mr. President, I do feel good about myself, as a retired teacher and as a senior citizen. And I am criticizing you, not applauding you as the Third Way did.

What you are doing is wrong and harmful, and it is hurting this country.