Posted on 07/13/2011 5:11:30 AM PDT by markomalley
President Obama on Tuesday told CBS News that senior citizens might not get their Social Security checks next month if Republicans won't agree on a deal to raise the nation's debt limit.
"This is not just a matter of Social Security checks -- these are veterans' checks, these are folks on disability and their checks. There are about 70 million checks that go out...I cannot guarantee that those checks go out on August third if we haven't resolved this issue," Obama said.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Republican presidential hopeful, advised Republicans to turn tables on Obama.
Gingrich said Republicans should immediately pass a $100-billion cut in spending, balanced by a $100 billion increase in the debt limit.
"That takes us all the way through to September," Gingrich said. "And they should call that the Social Security Payment Guarantee bill. And then they should say to the president, 'Here, we've taken care of August. All you have to do is get Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats to pass it. You sign it. We can guarantee every senior citizen their Social Security check. Now, Mr. President, are you prepared to stop senior citizens from getting their checks?'"
As CNSNews.com has reported, daily U.S. Treasury Statements show that the ongoing flow of federal tax revenue is more than enough to cover the combined costs of federal spending on interest payments, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Affairs department and federal workers wages and insurance benefits (including wages and insurance benefits for military personnel).
In the absence of a debt-limit deal, if Social Security checks don't go out in August, that would be President Obama's choice.
Just do it. The law will take over.
I know you’re only half kidding, but in this case the Newster is right. Zero’s painting himself into a corner shooting his mouth off, now is the time to dare I say it break it off in him.
Newt is douche bag... but I think he’s on the right track here. The GOPers must not cave to <0 and they must get their message across. This is one good way to do it.
I can't wait to hear Sarah's take on all this on Hannity tonight.
Nice Newt to try to get Republicans to rally ... but think about it ... why is that necessary. Do I need to be "rallied" by a Republican to know this Present is full of "it"? I don't need a bunch of politicians to convince me how to THINK ... thank you, that's even MORE government interference.
Time to double-down pubbies....grow a spine for once. It’s the right thing to do for the country.
Most SS recipients will just roll over and vote to protect their hand outs. Even FReepers.
You may not need the rallying cry, but the deciding faction of the electorate does.
Between Newt and McConnell, I think we see the strategy, at least for the present. zerO would be well advised to stop and think before he shoots his mouth off, but he may not be able to help it.
Obama’s remark can do catastrophic damage whether or not it’s bluff. Just putting the idea in enough heads, is bad. The senior citizen who is paying creditors faithfully so far, let him even think that maybe that won’t be happening anymore, and he will soon get used to the idea. Enough people do that, the creditors will be hurting. That’s the electric company, insurance, water company, phone, cable, and credit card lenders, plus the bank holding the mortgage or the landlord, plus the car loan lender.
The system would collapse if enough people concluded that Social Security isn’t coming, and bill payments won’t follow. And that’s even if the SS does arrive on schedule in August.
I think that is his objective, in part. Soften people up to the idea of defaulting.
“Zero’s painting himself into a corner shooting his mouth off, now is the time to dare I say it break it off in him.”
Sounds like a plan.
Just say no to debt limit increase.
Newt.....? Wasn’t he the Speaker who had to resign because he was so lousy at his job. Wasn’t he the adulterer who was preaching morality? He oughta run for Prez! (sarcasm)
Isn’t it odd how 0bama will only use this level of threatened force against his Conservative political opponents, while he says basically nada to the North Koreans, Iran, and the Chinese?
Really says allot about who he sees as the biggest threats to his visions of America, eh?
“The system would collapse if enough people concluded that Social Security isn’t coming, and bill payments won’t follow. And that’s even if the SS does arrive on schedule in August.”
Absolutely.
Whether he’s motivated by extreme reckless stupidity or something else, this threat by Obama re social security and veterans checks will cause people to start hoarding their cash immediately.
Something to this idea I like. Yet even Newt doesnt point out what I did here after 5 minutes of google research :
Democrats and the Social Security Trust Fund Lie Exposed today
It is a good idea.
This is the same tactic used over and over again whenever someone threatens to cut spending. The politicians threaten the most vulnerable people. Why don't they look at other expenditures? They're still bringing in billions in tax revenue every month. Why not furlough some government workers, delay some construction projects, postpone some congressional junkets, stop funding the UN and sending out foreign aid checks?
Yes, and defaulting is like going naked. First time, very very difficult. After that psychological mountain has been gotten over, it’s a lot easier.
That is what Obama wants. He wants people to give up. To get over their strange obsession with honor, with keeping promises and paying bills on time.
I agree, that the Republicans should not back off and give in to Obama’s scare tactics.
Among other things, I would say that Obama’s statement that he can’t even make payments due to our citizens shows what a failure he is.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.