Obama Talks Up Entitlement Changes as Dems Resist (Holy Cow!)

Fox News ^ | 15 Aug 2011 | Jim Angle

[SkyPilot]

President Obama has again acknowledged the necessity of doing something many Democrats fiercely oppose -- reforming entitlement programs, such as Medicare and Social Security.

On a Midwest bus tour stop in Minnesota, Obama spoke in favor of changes to entitlement programs being eyed by the 12-member congressional committee charged with finding budget savings that will get past partisan gridlock, stave off future credit downgrades and increase the federal debt.

"There have been times when our side, when Democrats aren’t always as flexible as we need to be," Obama said. "Sometimes I do get frustrated when I hear folks say, 'You can't make any changes to any government programs.' Well, that can't be right."

The president has repeatedly conceded that something must be done, saying Medicare in particular cannot survive without reform.

"We will not be able to sustain that program no matter how much taxes go up," he said in late July. "I mean, it's not an option for us to just sit by and do nothing."

In spite of that, just as the president suggested, many Democrats remain steadfastly opposed to any changes in any of the programs. In fact, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi boasted that Democrats had blocked such reforms in the deficit talks.

"We did protect the benefits, the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits. That is a priority for us," she said.

[SkyPilot]

My goodness! This is amazing.

Note to mods: I put this in Breaking because it deserves to be there. You can move the thread to front page - however, this is an incredible news moment in light of recent political events, and the dire situation in which our nation finds itself.

I doubt the President really "means it" - but the mere fact that he is mentioning it on his taxpayer funded campaign misery tour is simply jaw dropping.

So....what the hell happened to Obama?

I can only guess, but it might be the "R" word: Reality.

Officials at the credit rating firm Standard & Poor’s, which recently downgraded the debt of the federal government, also point to soaring entitlement costs as a key reason for its action. "Entitlement reform is important because entitlements ... are the biggest component of spending, and they are the part of spending where the cost pressures are greatest," David Beers of S&P said.

Pelosi, Reid, and the Democrats are going to go ballistic, but for once Obama at least sounds like he is a rationale person.

Perhaps...just perhaps, after the S&P downgrade, the Community Organizer was sat down by senior Democrat, and shown this chart:

[NormsRevenge]

whatever it takes to get re-elected..

but,, I agree.. I’m semi-stuned..

the media should be all over this..

but wait, we’re talking reality here, huh?

[Madame Dufarge]

He'd announce that he's converting to Judaism if he thought it would save his sorry ass right now.

And he'd be lying about that, too.

[traderrob6]

Oh good grief, it’s political posturing for the election, nothing more. If he wins this will all go down the bottomless memory hole.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Bull Crap! He is saying this, the committee will deadlock and he will look like a hero while nothing gets done. Meanwhile, whatever tax hikes are in that POS committee bill will be implemented, republicans will get the blame, especially when the Bush tax credit expires.

And no one sees this coming?

[cripplecreek]

“We’ve got to educate the American people at the same time we educate the President of the United States. The Republicans, Speaker Boehner or Majority Leader Cantor did not call for Social Security cuts in the budget deal. The President of the United States called for that,”

-John Conyers July 27th 2011

[TribalPrincess2U]

Reality? This person is the biggest L.I.A.R. ever.

Remember this..

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/08/you-lie-rep-says-he-was-right-all-along-obamacare-does-cover-illegal-aliens/

[Nervous Tick]

>> So....what the hell happened to Obama? I can only guess, but it might be the “R” word: Reality.

My guess is, he’s moving to the center in preparation for the election.

The center of political gravity shifting to the right is not a bad thing. IMHO it makes it more likely that a more conservative (R) will be a) nominated and b) elected.

Just my 2c

[Nervous Tick]

Now I don’t care who you are, that there’s funny!

[DJ MacWoW]

47 Days And FR Is Still Short Of Its Goal
Name Another Site Where You Can Get As Much Information
Can't Think Of One?

Then Why Don't You Donate

[SkyPilot]

Your both correct, but are forgetting one very important point:

- The entire 2012 Democrat campaign strategy is based on one pillar: "The Evil Republicans Want to Steal Your Entitlement Checks and the Good Democrats Will Give You Even More Money, So Vote for Democrats."

Even with Obama "posturing", he is defusing their grenades before they can even toss them.

I guarantee you there are Democrats on their smart phones, going bananas right now.

Trust me on this.

[Jim Robinson]

The TEA party has Obama in a panic. He’s lying his Marxist ass off.

[SkyPilot]

I want to see Debbie-Wasserman-Hyphenated-Shultz-The-Nut go on the Rachel Maddow show now and defend entitlements.

I mean, just listen to this deranged woman.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBb6EU8uenQ

[Nachum]

The list, ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/

[rjeffries]

Poor political strategy from Obama. These Medicare defenders on the left are crazed zealots. They will not take kindly to this. If you don’t lie and defend Medicare (even if it means bankrupting the country), then you are going down because there’s another socialist in the batters box ready to lie and defend it. I expect a Dem Primary challenger to Obama if he keeps on this line.

[kempster]

“Hey Moderates, do you hear me out there? I’m talking cuts to entitlements. I know I said it before but, this time I mean it.” (wink-wink)

[Envisioning]

--reforming entitlement programs, such as Medicare and Social Security.

Did you forget Welfare reform?

[liberalh8ter]

such as Medicare and Social Security Instead of reforming the programs that people have paid into their entire adult lives, how about reforming the ones that the bloodsucking leeches of society have been milking for generations? He won't dare discuss that.

[Mr. Impatient]

President Obama has again acknowledged the necessity of doing something many Democrats fiercely oppose -- reforming entitlement programs, such as Medicare and Social Security. Hmm... smells like upcoming elections!

[SkyPilot]

I expect a Dem Primary challenger to Obama if he keeps on this line.

I thought the same thing.

There is something going on behind the scenes, and I can't quite figure out what it is.

I can speculate all day long, but the facts point to one conclusion: Obama has been told (by someone) that our complete economic collapse is even closer than previously thought.

The downgrade means that interest payments on the debt are going to increase by a large portion (how large?), and that will eat up even more of the pie.

Even if Defense is literally gutted, Federal workers pay frozen for 5 years and slashed, and active military retirement promises reneged on - that will still do nothing to stop the hemorrhaging.

Entitlements (including all welfare and unemployment programs) are destroying our nation at an exponential rate.