Obama: Republicans’ Fault If Social Security Checks Don’t Go Out

cnsnews.com ^ | July 23, 2011 | Susan Jones

[PROCON]

(CNSNews.com) – At a hastily convened news conference Friday evening, President Obama offered his explanation of why debt negotiations with House Speaker John Boehner fizzled, and he once again raised the specter of entitlement checks not going out if the debt ceiling isn’t raised soon.

“Well, when it comes to all the checks, not just Social Security -- veterans, people with disabilities -- about 70 million checks are sent out each month -- if we default then we’re going to have to make adjustments. And I’m already consulting with (Treasury) Secretary (Tim) Geithner in terms of what the consequences would be,” Obama said.

“We should not even be in that kind of scenario. And if Congress -- and in particular, the House Republicans -- are not willing to make sure that we avoid default, then I think it’s fair to say that they would have to take responsibility for whatever problems arise in those payments.”

In the next breath, Obama said he’s “not interested in finger-pointing and I’m not interested in blame, but I just want the facts to speak for themselves.”

Obama said he’s getting letters from people who tell him they have to skip meals at the end of each month, as well as from senior citizens on Social Security “who are hanging on by a thread. Folks who have severe disabilities who are desperate every single month to try to figure out how they’re going to make ends meet.” He also mentioned federal contractors “who have to wonder are they going to be able to get paid and what does that do in terms of their payrolls."

Obama said a “huge” number of people would be affected by a government default: “(I)magine what that does to the economy, when suddenly 70 million checks are put at risk. I mean, if you’re a business out there, that is not going to be good for economic growth. And that’s the number one concern of the American people.”

'Working stiffs'

Like House Speaker John Boehner, President Obama said raising the debt limit “is not an option,” it has to be done.

Obama insisted that the only “fair” solution is one that includes tax hikes on wealthy Americans, including many small business owners who create jobs. "That’s all the American people are looking for -- some fairness,” he said.

Obama indicated that he and Boehner were not that far apart when it comes to deficit reduction. The difference was, he said, that the White House plan “didn’t put all the burden on people who are least able to protect themselves, who don’t have lobbyists in this town, who don’t have lawyers working on the tax code for them -- working stiffs out there, ordinary folks who are struggling every day.

“And they know they’re getting a raw deal, and they’re mad at everybody about it. They’re mad at Democrats and they’re mad at Republicans, because they know somehow, no matter how hard they work, they don’t seem to be able to keep up. And what they’re looking for is somebody who’s willing to look out for them.”

Obama said Americans “are just desperate for folks who are willing to put aside politics just for a minute and try to get some stuff done.”

Republicans have complained for months that Obama has advanced no clear deficit reduction plan, not has he been willing to say where he would cut spending. His goal, they say, is to raise taxes.

[Candor7]

I agree. Cut Cap and Balance has been tabled. It is not dead, and has never reached the floor. Its just sitting there ready for action. Its my fondest hope.

Outside that I could care less if default happens.Its a false crisis created by Obama, he would nopt bring his budget and take responsibility for it as a Socialist piece of destruction.He wants us to destroy ourselves.LOL. EFF HIM!

[MarkL]

Congress creates the bills allowing funding for government projects, but it's the executive branch that's actually responsible for allocating the funds and making the payments, in accordance with the congressional spending bills.

If anything doesn't get paid, it's at the discretion of the President and his minions.

In plain words, it will be OBAMA'S FAULT, and he can't just vote "present" on this one.

Mark

[Candor7]

Thre is 200 billion a month federal revenue. 40 billion goes to debt service, ;eavuing 160 billion to meet government payments due. Obama has different priorities over the so called vested entitlements of medicare and social security, or the military. His payments to the socialist network will be made, and he has the foolish habit of blaming the GOP? Obama has brought this on himself.

[evad]

Yo Barry

I triple dog dare ya..

and

Make My Day!!

[MarkL]

I PAID into Social Security during my entire working career, and my employers also PAID into my Social Security account for that same period.

In other words, my SS account is my investment account supposedly "managed" by the US Government, and money now being paid to me from my investment account is - most definitely - not an entitlement.

First off, let me say that I agree with you 100%... BUT, unfortunately the courts have ruled that the government doesn't have to actually pay us what we're owed, or even manage our funds responsibly... For all intents and purposes, the courts said that we're screwed, that the 12% we and our employers have paid into SS is really just an extra tax, and we can go pound sand, should the government decide to welsh.

Mark

[firebrand]

Boehner already called him a promise-breaking piece of Jell-o.

[silverleaf]

Dear Barky,

Go ahead then.

If it comes to this, and soldiers and seniors don’t get their checks - the GOP needs to make double damn sure the public knows who DOES get checks.

The public will know IN DETAIL who you and “Turbo” put at the top 50% of US govt spending priorities.

Facts being what they are and all...

[chessplayer]

“The checks will only stop if Obama orders them to stop”

And he is going to do just that, even though the money is there. Count on it. Imagine the mileage he could get out of it for re-election. He stops the checks and the media would have a field day blaming Republicans for it.

[chessplayer]

“Facts don’t matter. That is how the public will perceive it. A FOX news poll showed that the public will blame the pubs by a 3/2 margin, and the left-stream media will do everything to reinforce that.”

Exactly. And that margin will increase when he stops the checks. It`s to his advantage to stop the checks from going out. It would virtually guarantee his re-election by a landslide.

[Hugin]

No, this was a real poll, not an online poll. Of course some percentage of people who will “blame” Republicans are actually in favor of allowing a default, so blame may not be the right word. But on the whole I think it’s accurate.