Yes or no: Will Obama sign legislation cutting Social Security and/or Medicaid & Medicare?

[brentspeak]

(Raising the retirement the age for Social Security or Medicare = cutting benefits, as does instituting a chained CPI to calculate COLA).

I say: Yes, Obama will sign legislation cutting benefits for at least one of the three programs before this term is up.

[vi5]

1. Yes. It's not even a question.

It may not be with this debt ceiling fight, but he will do it. He keeps coming back to it more than anyone else.

[Big Blue Marble]

2. Yes, he wants to cut these programs.

He has wanted to cut them for a long time.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1540315">Link

[roxiejules]

17. Yes, Third Way supports the cuts

Third Way Press Room release:


“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."

[boxman15]

3. No.

This debt ceiling debate is going to end with one of these outcomes:

1. The Reid plan gets passed (which contains no cuts to any entitlements, but unfortunately no revenue)
2. A clean debt ceiling vote, which obviously has no cuts.
3. Obama invoking the 14th Amendment, which would require no cuts.

It's not going to happen here. I don't think he will by the end of his first term either, if only because it's bad politics.

[Skink]

4. He at this point wants to

Sad to say.

[gateley]

5. He's already agreed to some "adjustments", so if that's included

in the bill that he's presented, I think he will. Sadly. :(

If the Reid bill is what is offered, then it's my hope with the nasty taste the Baggers have left in America's mouth, when we next pick up the budget discussions (wars), we could be stronger and less "bi-partisan" since we wouldn't have a deadline breathing down our necks.

I'm not one of the ones who believes Obama "wants" to do this. I think he feels he needed to "compromise". I don't agree with his decision, just an objective observation.

[BlueCaliDem]

6. No. It would end his presidency and the careers of Democrats. He's

not stupid.

[liberal N proud]

7. 4 yes and 2 no

Who knows but I would worry,

[Autumn]

8. I say: Yes, that is what he wants

I can't see why, but it seems to be important to him.

[Run With The Roses]

9. I hope not. I don't think he wants to, either.

I am still hoping for a clan vote to raise the ceiling.

[graywarrior]

10. No

[Marrah_G]

11. Sure he would- without blinking an eye

[Morizovich]

12. I hope not

But I'm not wagering!

[daa]

13. Yes Michelle is tired of being first lady and he want to go home nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

14. Unrec

;)

[and-justice-for-all]

15. I dont think that is the plan at all...

I am more optimistic, I think that he is trying to hang repukes with their own rope.

I am anticipating the 14th Amendment.

[Howler]

16. Yep.

We have been had!

[crazylikafox]

18. Absofunkinglutely

[styersc]

19. Yes Absolutely!!!! May be his birthday present. to himself.

Take advantage of every opportunity to "punch a hippy" and make buddies in the GOP!

[COLGATE4]

20. Yep.

[JoePhilly]

21. Oh yea ... any second ... he and Boehner made the deal on the golf course ...

After all ... Obama is hell bent on dismantling these programs.

Yup ... any second ... tick, tick, tick .... :nuke:


Kind of like when he was absolutely, positively going to kill those plans during the state of the union (and every month since).

.... tick tick tick ... :nuke:

Ok, didn't happen .... but THIS time is THE time.

But wait!! ... OH NO ... the GOP seems unwilling to help him kill these programs, something they wanted for decades. They hate him too much to help him do it.

bummer ...

[HankyDubs]

42. quick lesson for you, Joe

The state of the union isn't a piece of legislation.

Would he sign a piece of legislation that did cut SS and medicare? You better fucking believe it.

[vroomvroom]

22. YES! ... Anyone paying attention for the last 3 years knows this president well.

[shanti]

23. yes, i believe he will n/t

[vroomvroom]

24. 17 YES / 4 NO

I did not include "hope not" because they did not give a definitive yes or no

[JoePhilly]

28. you might want to read the posts, not just the subject lines when you count.

[dana_b]

25. Yes. n/t

[golfguru]

26. Yes, but not because he wants to

but because he has little choice since US is borrowing 42 cents for every dollar spent.

[Jakes Progress]

27. Whatever happens SS will be adversely affected.

And there will be some weasel word way out.

Politicians may not be able to run a country, but they are adept at having it both ways.

[a simple pattern]

29. Yes, he will.

He didn't put that Catfood Commission together for nothing.

[TheKentuckian]

37. Yup and after the TeaPubliKlan sponsors fell off too boot.

It is borderline delusional to think he is against cuts here.

[thelordofhell]

30. No

[NorthCarolina]

31. If either, or all, pass Congress and are laid before him; he will sign.

He may opt to use the autopen though.

[blkmusclmachine]

32. Yes. Yes. And yes. It's what he's always wanted. He'll get his way.

n/t

[Critters2]

33. Yes. I said it during the campaign, and I'll keep saying it...

He's a centrist, NOT a progressive!

[Enthusiast]

44. If he was a centrist he would

be actively engaged in preserving these programs. It is very clear that the American people by a HUGE margin favor raising taxes to preserve these programs. THIS is your 'center', not some imaginary center we see propped up by media lies.

[treestar]

34. Not on its own

And cutting in what way?

[Bake]

35. Hell yes, so fast it will make your head spin.

There's never been any doubt about that.

Bake

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[harun]

38. Of course he will

[lucca18]

39. I sadly say yes.

But I still can not understand why. I just don't get it.

[newportdadde]

40. Yes, under the 'had no other choice' line.

It will be phased in so the boomers won't revolt that is key.

[Blue_Roses]

41. No

[Enthusiast]

43. Yes.

Obama wouldn't be actively pursuing additional payroll holidays if he wanted to preserve these programs. Obama also created the deficit commission and headed it with anti-New Deal zealots. No one forced Obama to take these actions, he did this on his own.

[Puglover]

45. He can't seem to open his mouth

without the words "entitlement reform" lately. So I would suspect so. I certainly hope not.

[Creideiki]

46. Yes, but we'll be told here that he didn't.

These are all things that Obama not only is willing to negotiate, but wants. Then again, Sasha and Malia won't get hurt. They're going to inherit right into the top .5% of the country and live a life of unexamined privilege. Obama *should* know better, but now that he is in the privileged class, he seems unable to remember what it would be like for those of us not in that class.