COBURN: Medicare and Social Security ‘Are Things We Don’t Absolutely Need’

[Segami]

Last edited Mon Dec 10, 2012, 02:01 AM - Edit history (1)

Tell this PINT-SIZE weasel to GFH! Their TRUE agenda is starting to bleed through.





Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) is encouraging Democrats to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits because the programs are “things we don’t absolutely need.” Speaking to ABC’s George Stephanopolous on Sunday about the so-called fiscal cliff, Coburn said that he would be willing to accept tax hikes for the top 2 percent of earners if Democrats and President Barack Obama agreed to reform Social Security and Medicare.


The ABC host pointed out that Obama’s health care reform law had already achieved about $716 billion in Medicare savings and many Republicans — including former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney — ran against those cuts.

“The $700 billion in savings doesn’t save the government a penny because what it does is takes that $700 billion and spends it on other people,” Coburn insisted. “We’ve seen the president demand that we’re going to solve 7 percent of this problem [with tax hikes on the rich] but he’s totally inflexible on the other 93 percent.”

“It doesn’t really matter what happens at the end of this year because ultimately the numbers and the bond holders throughout the world will determine what we’ll spend and what we won’t. So, we can play the political game that is being played out in Washington right now or we can be absolutely honest with the American people and say, ‘Medicare is going bankrupt, Social Security disability will be bankrupt in two years, Social Security trust fund will be bankrupt in five years, Social Security total will be bankrupt in 16,17 years.’”

“The fact is we are spending money we don’t have on things we don’t absolutely need,” he concluded. “And there’s no grownups in Washington that will say, ‘Timeout, stop the politics, let’s have a compromise rather than play the game through the press and hurt the country.’ We’re already going to get another debt downgrade just from what’s happening now because nobody in positions of power are willing to do what’s important and necessary for our country.”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/09/coburn-medicare-and-social-security-are-things-we-dont-absolutely-need/

[niyad]

1. they really are not even trying to pretend anymore, are they?

[Segami]

3. The closer we inch towards December 31st, the greater the fear-mongering howls become.

FEAR,....the great motivator!

[plethoro]

26. They are enemies of the State and should be treated as such. Coburn is

one of the worst.

[freshwest]

27. +1

[lbrtbell]

2. Let's get rid of his health care

After all, WE don't need it.

[RC]

5. +100 BINGO!

These guys are marking themselves for being primaried when their time comes around.

[kelliekat44]

51. Double BINGO!!!

Rich people simply are out of touch with what the average working family has to go through to survive. They live in their own sheltered worlds. Even when disaster strikes their beach homes and yachts they don't get a sense of what it is like to be poor or average because they have enough money to move elsewhere and leave the rubble behind. But i bet they are the first in line for insurance, government help, law suits.

[burnsei sensei]

55. Add to that a massive cut in Congressional salaries--

say, to 22,000 dollars a year.
The figure is significant because it is the annual income of the average older American.
The bastards really don't need it!

[City Lights]

71. I wholeheartedly agree!

[patrice]

4. He's right. Congress doesn't need Medicare or Social Security. nt

[HiPointDem]

12. I'm not sure we need congress, either. I'd rather use a system of democratically elected volunteer

soviets.

[Segami]

13. LOLOL!!

[newfie11]

60. they sure couldn't do any worse nt

[socialindependocrat]

29. Yes,, Coburn doesn't need it so it isn't necessary - Out of touch! n/t

[LeftInTX]

6. How about if we get rid of a few wars & congressional salaries

Tax subsidies for oil and gas...the list goes on.

[Warpy]

7. Don't forget those redundant foreign bases.

That five sided black hole in Arlington is the one thing that needs the cuts, steep ones.

The shrieking from the far right will be nearly deafening, but this has to be done and soon.

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

52. I wish Obama would propose a salary cut for House & Senate

they all talk about shared sacrifice so a salary and benefit cut would be appropriate

[TwilightGardener]

8. Who's this "we", kemosabe?

[Segami]

9. He's referring to the 47%......you know, the moochers!

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. Yeah, the moochers who have paid into both these programs all their working lives.

Trying to take away something we paid for to justify continued tax cuts for the obscenely wealthy, isn't going play well with the 47% or the 99%.

[plethoro]

24. They will be on the streets with pitchforks. This would be the last straw.

dddddddd

[eShirl]

38. all the assorted, poorly-written real life villains

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

10. Coburn you fucking jerk.

We've paid into these all our lives. Why don't you take a pay cut you douchebag?

[ErikJ]

11. The corporations and rich have historic low tax rates so we HAVE to cut programs people need.

Someday the infantile, selfish Baby Boomer generation will relearn what the Greatest Generation learned 80 years ago. TAX THE RICH!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

14. Says the man who's health and retirement is guaranteed! n/t

[eShirl]

36. +99999

[sabrina 1]

15. He is such a liar. And I did not hear George Stephanopoulus interrupt him when

told that blatant lie that SS is going bankrupt. They should be stopped, and their mike taken away if they lie to the American people like that. But they do this all the time and the media just ignores them and moves on.

What an outrage that our government is run by these liars. Greedy, opportunists that in any other profession would be called what they are, 'Conmen'.

I blame Democrats who are not out there educating people so they recognize the lies when they hear them.

And he has the gall to say 'we are spending money we don't have'. Yes and you stole it from the SS fund to give tax breaks to your buddies and to fund your wars for profit.

I wish we had some real journalists in this country. Without that as a check on these liars, there is nothing we can do.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

18. Get the sales Dept. out of the news room and then you will have real journalists again!

It is a big problem, huge! The journalist can't be a journalist when his/her hand are tied by outside sources.

[The Wielding Truth]

22. I'm with you 100%!Lies and more lies and the press let's them go on and on!Coburn is a big fat liar.

[Third Doctor]

17. I guess we should stop paying for congress healthcare and pension.

Plus I bet this guy is rich and can pay for healthcare out of his pocket.

[Segami]

19. Senator Coburn is a Medical Doctor.

[burnsei sensei]

56. Yes, and a medical doctor in violation of the

Hippocratic Oath.
Which, in light of medicine for profit, means little or nothing.
"Do no harm," was replaced with "profit massively."

[ReRe]

20. K&R

"Social Security and Medicare...are things we don't absolutely need."

Realistically, seriously.... "..things we don't need"????? Does he know how absurd that sounds? Why don't the journalists ask him what he would put in their place? What would that kind of America look like, exactly? There's no way those programs can be privatized, as the people who use/need/ and paid for them already, wouldn't be able to pay the exorbitant charges that the private health and retirement industry would charge.

Really, if we have a social science fiction writer on DU, I wish you would write us a scenario or short story of what America would like if those programs disappeared? Oh, yeah, include the elimination/privatization of all other programs/agencies that they hate, like Dept of Ed, EPA, any/all regulations, etc., etc., etc.....

[Segami]

23. Did you intend to say " what America would LOOK like if those programs disappeared?

[ReRe]

42. Exactly, I did intend to say "what America would look like if those programs disappeared."

.... Do you think I should edit it? Sometimes my mind gets ahead of my fingers. Or the keyboard can't keep up with my fingers. ...

[Segami]

43. Thats entirely up to you should you decide to correct it or leave it as is.

[AllyCat]

25. Okay so what are thing we "absolutely need" Sen Coburn?

Is food and water "optional"? Housing? Clothing? How about air?

A$$hole.

[eShirl]

37. Ooo!! I know this one!

Tax cuts for the rich!

[RyanThomas]

28. Weren't the Republicans trying to attack Obama on the false claim he took 700 billion from Medicare

and used it to fund Obama-care? I love flip flops like this from them. They scream about the government trying to cut Medicare... falsely... during election year to curry favor with seniors, and then after the election they say we need to be "responsible" and end it. It's an almost painful reality flip flop that NOBODY CALLS THEM ON.

[ReRe]

44. Ha! ;-)

Bait and switch. Bait and switch. Flip flop. Flip flop. Bait and switch. Bait and switch. Flip flop. Flip flop. I have trouble keeping up with it all. What you said is so true. I just hadn't heard anyone say it yet...

Welcome to DU!

[still_one]

30. It is way past due that the pensions and healthcare that congress gets when they leave office be

taken away. They should be treated like the citizens they are supposed to represent.

In fact I will go a step further, they should be treated like the poorest citizens are

[Segami]

32. And drug tested if they want to continue receiving their welfare government cheque.

[aquart]

31. We have it on tape. Clip it. Repeat it.

Wherever he goes. Let it come with his morning paper and his coffee. Let it be in his French fries. Carve it on his tombstone.

[aquart]

33. You know you're a #bananaRepublican when you claim Social Security isn't "necessary.

[ReRe]

45. I'm writing that down...

... you need to start an OP starting with "You know you're a BananaRepublican if you _________________________________________________________

fill in the blank.

[Initech]

34. $700 billion a year for unwinnable stalemates vs. medicare and social security for all.

Hmm... which one would I choose?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

35. He said WHAT???

[DallasNE]

39. What Does Coburn Mean

He is not dumb so did he misspeak or what when he said "the bond holders throughout the world will determine what we’ll spend". No, what Congress authorizes in the appropriation process will determine what we'll spend. The bond holders will determine interest rates on the money we borrow but they will not determine what we'll spend.

He is also full of himself if he thinks he is the only one that knows "what's important and necessary for our country". Republicans lost the election and it doesn't seem as though it has sunk in with them yet. This windbag can't actually believe what he is saying so why is he saying this stupid crap.

[ReRe]

47. They send him out there because he's pretty....

... I'm going to start calling him Bighair Coburn.

[LarryNM]

40. Those Who Voted to Hide Plethoro #21 Comment

Are the types who would peacefully and obediently march to the gas chambers.

[eShirl]

41. take it to Meta-discussion forum

[Berlum]

46. wow - 1% WhackJob Greedhead (R)

Republicans really know how to pick losers.

[Scuba]

48. Hey Tom. The Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force will all be bankrupt June 30.

If we can't afford to educate our children, care for our sick or tend to our elderly, just what is it the defense budget is defending?

[RandiFan1290]

49. Our "moderates" will be pushing for this in a few years

better get use to hearing it

[Panasonic]

67. Those fake "moderates" - will be replaced by true progressives

And the SS is finally corrected - as in REAL COLA (not some CPI # - but real life # YEARLY - mandatory 10% COLA increase PLUS city COLA adjustments)

[hobbit709]

50. coburn and his ilk are something we absolutely don't need.

[Skidmore]

53. Sez the doctor who likely made part of his fortune from patients who

receive their benefits from these programs. I really loathe doctors who literally blame their patients for not being wealthy like them but are all to happy to take money from the very funds they scorn.

[Paladin]

59. The Wealthy Doctor, With An Upcoming Congressional Benefits Package.

Short Version: Repub Fuckhead.

[liberal N proud]

54. Just because this fucker doesn't need them doesn't mean that others don't

[Heywood J]

57. "Other states will take the Okies as we continue our efforts to turn this country to dust..." (NT)

[Rustycup]

58. He doesn't need a federal pension either n/t

[99Forever]

61. How about we invest in a bunch of these, instead?

<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[niyad]

64. they are counting on the sheeples never actually waking up to what is really going on, never

getting mad enough to do anything about it.

[99Forever]

65. And unfortunately...

... they are correct.

[Rustycup]

62. When will MSM tell the truth?

‘

Medicare is going bankrupt, Social Security disability will be bankrupt in two years, Social Security trust fund will be bankrupt in five years, Social Security total will be bankrupt in 16,17 years.’”

Medicare is broke due to funding of the private Medicare Advantage plans and not being able to negotiate with drug companies. Social Security is not bankrupt....we need to raise the debt ceiling to accommodate for the baby boomer's retiring. They want a pig fest on the money in SS. Is this Senator going to demand corporate America not lay off anyone under 67? I am tired of these pigs. They are going around saying this stuff as they approved 300Billion military funding.

[spanone]

63. he's one arrogant fuckstick

[Panasonic]

66. Fine, we don't need to pay your salary and your benefits are permanently revoked.

How do you like that, Coburn?

You'll need to beg from your usual sources to fund your ass.

[McCamy Taylor]

68. Meaning we don't need grandma or grandpa?

[Bluenorthwest]

69. Obama often praises Coburn and says he is his friend, an honest man and all that.

Coburn is a liar and enormous homophobic bigot. Coburn is the psuedo pimp who negotiated the pay off deal for the adulterous partners of his fellow Christian Congressmen at C Street.
Obama's praise of Coburn has always been difficult to deal with, now it sounds like an endorsement of not just yet another bigoted idiot, but a greedy old liar.

[scratcho]

70. The question,as always--------

is who is the WE of which he speaks?

[yellowcanine]

72. Things we don't actually need? How about Senators named Coburn?

[LynneSin]

73. Good let's take away his benefits too - he doesn't need it. Let him pay for his own healthcare

Asshole - basically what he's talking about pretty much is a death panel. If you can't afford to be alive then just die.