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Bernie Sanders Applauds Obama for Taking Social Security Off the Fiscal Cliff Table
After the White House took Social Security off the fiscal cliff negotiating table, Sen. Bernie Sanders applauded the move and called it a step in the right direction.
Yesterday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Social Security was not on the fiscal cliff negotiating table, “We should address the drivers of the deficit and Social Security currently is not a driver of the deficit.”
In a statement Sen. Sanders said applauded the White House’s decision,
This is a step in the right direction for more than 55 million Americans who have earned Social Security benefits today and every working American who will receive Social Security benefits in the future. The simple truth is that Social Security has not contributed a nickel to the national debt so it makes no sense for it to be part of deficit negotiations.
The American people have been clear that Social Security is enormously important to their well being and that it should not be cut. The election and poll after poll show clearly that the American people want the wealthiest people and the largest corporations in this country, who are doing phenomenally well, to play a significant role in reducing the deficit.
One of the great red herrings that Republicans have successfully injected into the public discourse is that Social Security must be part of entitlement reform. In their lustful desire to privatize the program, the right has lumped Social Security in with the looming Medicare crisis. As Sen. Sanders and now the White House have both pointed out, Social Security isn’t adding to the deficit. In fact, Social Security will remain solvent until 2033. (This number fluctuates from year to year. A boost in economic performance will push the date back a few more years. Generally, the solvency range is 2029-2040.) Even if nothing is done, Social Security could still pay 75% of its benefits after 2033.
In short, there is no Social Security crisis. Social Security is not going broke, and it does not add a penny to the deficit.
The right wing’s manufactured Social Security was created to scare the public into supporting a privatization scheme.
After Harry Reid promised that any deal that cut the beloved program would not pass the Senate, Social Security was for all practical terms, taken off the table.
Republicans planted the seeds for their own demise when they created the fiscal cliff. They never expected Obama to be reelected, and Democrats to gain seats in the House and Senate. The outcome of the 2012 election has left President Obama in a position to dictate the framework of any potential deal. This means that Social Security is off the table, and Republicans will be forced to either swallow a bitter compromise or push America off the fiscal cliff.
Once Obama was reelected, Social Security was probably not going to be on the table, but the advocacy of Bernie Sanders made sure that it never was.
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9 Responses to Bernie Sanders Applauds Obama for Taking Social Security Off the Fiscal Cliff Table
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Moongal6
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
Yup. That old saying of “a lie can travel half way round the world before the truth can even get it’s pants on”, will not work for the GOP anymore.
They can start as many ‘fires’ as they want, tell as many lies as the always have, but now, at the end of the day, the truth is standing right next to the lie, and now the truth has legs.
luciboo
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Bernie Sanders has led this fight to protect Social Security.
I want to say thank you Bernie and thanks President Obama for listening. There is no reason to compromise Social Security at the hands of the Republicans. It would giving away the left wing’s signature accomplishment for the social safety net.
Congress should start trying to pay back all the money they have raided from the fund. Let’s have a liberal call to arms. Maybe Sen. Sanders will lead this fight as well.
Mark Bousquet
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
Whether or not his press secretary says it won’t be part of the talks we need to keep Obama’s feet to the fire on this…
1voice1vote
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 7:20 pm
I have my President’s back. It’s the Republicans that need the proverbial fire lit under their butts – McConnell, Boehner, Cantor, Ryan – all of ‘em. The Republicans are the obstructionists/cliff divers.
SeekingTruth
Nov. 27th, 2012 at 11:35 pm
Hats off to Bernie Sanders. Other Democrats need to step up to the plate and support him and protect Democratic social programs for the middle-class and poor!
Not only should social security be off the table, but Medicare and Medicaid should also be off until the Democrats come up with reliable reforms at a later time!
Furthermore, Obama, instead of going around the country garnering support, need to take a stand and stick to it. He has already won the election, the people have spoken! In a democracy, as in any race, the majority rules!
The longer the President hesitates, the more the Republicans will keep chipping away until he is on the defensive wondering what happened!
Why can’t Democrats accept the fact that they won, now it’s time to move FORWARD to governing and carrying out the wishes of the people!
A majority in the Senate and the White House is the majority! Democrats need to stick together and get the job done without wavering! USE THE POWER! Already the news is reporting the split among the Democrats! We better keep the pressure on them to recognize Republican tactics. The Republicans are counting on the President to cave to their demands!
Let’s not have a repeat of the Health Care debates. After watering the law down to what they wanted, not one Republican voted for it and turned around and blamed the President for rambling the law pass them!
There is no reason this time around to get bogged down with the same old GOP play book rules of doing the damage and blaming it on the opposition!
Maranon
Nov. 28th, 2012 at 1:03 am
Good job Mr Bernie!
We need your voice and your passion.
We also need to keep the grass roots engaged and in action to bring the fire to the doors of the obstructionist congress and remind them that they work for the people of the republic, not the people of their party.
Mr Obama can not do it by himself, it is the job of the citizens to stand up and make it happen. Call, tweet, e-mail or whatever you need to do, to let your congress representative, that you expect some action.
I have called my senator McCain and told his reminded his office that I am a registered and I vote, and will remember the obstructionist and ignorant ways he is displaying.
Sandra
Nov. 28th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
I think PO is doing the right thing, taking his message to the American people. Wish he and the Dems had done more during 2010, it may have saved them some seats in both Houses. Hope it’s a lesson learned, never give the R’thugs the upper hand on policy or messaging, take your message to the air waves ie the people of America, and to your constituents, let them decide what’s in their best interest rather than allowing the R’thugs to distort, manipulate and lie.
Tim
Nov. 28th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Go Bernie.
If only we had another sixt senators like this man.
clarence swinney
Nov. 28th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
BUSH TAX CUTS DISTRIBUTION
1% got 37.6%
5% got 48.3%
20% got 68.5%
Bottom 60% got 16.4%