Obama's Weakest Point That Hillary Has Missed Taking a Shot At. Why? I Don't Know.

[David Zephyr]

Now that things are just about wrapped up for Obama, who is my candidate as most here know, I must say that I've mischievously maintained my silence as Hillary's campaign has ignored Obama's most vulnerable point with Democratic Party voters. Where could she score points against Obama? His declared willingness to raise the retirement age to receive Social Security.

Raising the retirement age for receiving Social Security is a poison pill to workers now in their late 40's, 50's and those close to retirement age. Hillary has touched on this in one recent TV Ad, but this is clearly a place where she could have gained a lot of ground in the debates and is an opportunity she clearly missed.

As I said, this thing is wrapped up now...but I can not understand how they had such an easy target with this issue that resonates with millions of voters and missed it.

[tabatha]

1. I doubt the Hillary camp have not looked for everything that they

can throw at Obama.

[Missy M]

2. Your biggest mistake is you think Obama...

has this thing wrapped up.

[rodeodance]

15. agreed---arrogance at its height.

[Nederland]

25. No

The height of arrogance was how all last fall Hillary supporters trotted out polls nearly every week showing a commanding lead for their candidate. That was the height of arrogance--pushing the inevitability argument before a single vote was cast.

Payback's a bitch.

[Yael]

3. She did go after that -- in Wisconsin.

That was her first ad in the state.

[antigop]

4. because she needs to put forth her own plan for Soc Sec -- she wants a bipartisan commission

http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Hillary_Clinton_Social_Security.htm

Q: Did you say you would consider lifting the cap perhaps above $200,000?

A: I have said consistently that my plan for Social Security is fiscal responsibility first, then to deal with any long-term challenges. We would have a bipartisan commission. All of these would be considered. I do not want to balance Social Security on the backs of our seniors & middle-class families. We have to move back toward a more fair and progressive tax system, and begin to move toward a balanced budget with a surplus.

Source: 2007 Democratic debate at Drexel University Oct 30, 2007

My comment:
And we all KNOW what the Repubs on a bipartisan commission will want, don't we?

[LSparkle]

7. Does he actually say that's his preferred solution?

I thought he had proposed several possible remedies, but hadn't taken a stand on which one(s) to implement. My impression was that he was pushing to raise the income cap above $90K, not so much the retirement age.

[antigop]

23. My point is...it doesn't matter what Obama's position is because HRC doesn't have a solution. n/t

[tyne]

5. Because that's not part of his plan

The specifics are on page 21.

http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/ObamaBlueprintForChange.pdf

[Orangepeel]

6. He's not in favor of raising the age. He's in favor of rasing the cap on taxable earnings

She didn't miss it. it isn't there.

[LSparkle]

8. Thanks -- that's what I thought too (see post above)

[closeupready]

9. I didn't think so, thanks for clarifying.

He's in favor of raising the cap, which is going to be essential to making the SS system healthier. Hillary opposes lifting the caps.

[HeraldSquare212]

10. But there were those reports by an AP reporter that he heard HRC

say she supported lifting the cap and doing a donut the way Obama has proposed. I suppose that's why she dropped that issue.

[closeupready]

16. Not surprised. I recall she said that it would amount to a $1 trillion tax increase.

Something like that. I don't believe that's true, but if she does believe that it is, then I guess she doesn't care and can get behind a massive tax increase like that as long as it will get her elected. I mean, see how empty her rhetoric looks as a result of her flipping around?

[David Zephyr]

17. Raising Retirement Age: Unfortunately, Obama did say it on "This Week" on ABC

And later on Tim Russert's Meet the Press he was grilled about it:

Q: You said earlier this year that everything should be on the table for Social Security, including looking at raising retirement age, indexing benefits, and then suddenly you said, "I'm taking them off the table."
A: That's not what I said. I said I will convene a meeting as president where we discuss all of the options that are available. I believe that cutting benefits is not the right answer; and that raising the retirement age is not the best option, particularly when we've got people who are still in manufacturing.
Q: But in May you said they would be on the table.
A: Well, I am going to be listening to any ideas that are presented, but I think that the best way to approach this is to adjust the cap on the payroll tax so that people like myself are paying a little bit more and the people who are in need are protected. That is the option that I will be pushing forward.

[David Zephyr]

19. Raising the retirement age for Social Security? "Everything is on the table." -B. Obama, May 2007

From his interview on "This Week" on ABC.

[surfermaw]

20. I remember Mitt Romney is for raising the age

Can't remember whether any one of the democrats are for raising the age.

[Thrill]

11. Thats not true and you know it.

raising the cap and raising the age are two completely different things

[David Zephyr]

18. I made no mention of raising caps. See post #17.

My O.P. had nothing to do with raising caps. It only dealt with raising the retirement age to receive Social Security.

[jackson_dem]

12. They made a big mistake in not nipping Obamania in the bud

They seemed to buy the "inevitable" talk. They could have stopped Obama in his tracks last summer. By the time they realized what they were up against he had $100 million in his pocket.

Interestingly, especially in light of Obamite demands that Edwards endorse Obama because he criticized Hillary, it was Edwards who really went after Obama in the beginning of 2007. From the day he announced he was, correctly, trying to knock down Obama because he needed it to be Edwards vs. Hillary. Obamites seem to forget that these days. Who do you think the following statement was directed at? (paraphrasing) "We don't need fancy talk about hope. Hope means tomorrow. People need help now."

[AtomicKitten]

13. No, he's willing to raise the cap, which I agree with completely.

[David Zephyr]

21. But he also said he'd put raising retirement age "on the table".

I also agree with raising the caps as you do and Obama does.

That has nothing to do with my OP.

It's really a mute point now because the nomination is his.

But he did say he'd put raising the retirement age "on the table". AtomicKitten, on ABC and then later acknowledged it on NBC.

I've kept mum about this, but Hillary could have used this in the debates against him.

[AtomicKitten]

24. "on the table" is Obamaspeak for a consideration

He has been pretty upfront about choosing rather to raise the cap.

I hope he clarifies this to your satisfaction.

[David Zephyr]

26. He'll need to clarify it later. I'm amused that the Clintons missed a shot.

This nomination is over. Obama has it.

[AtomicKitten]

29. She's run her campaign so badly it's breathtaking.

She has had so many opportunities to campaign effectively, having come into this election cycle with every advantage and starting at 50%, and always, like clockwork, steps in it. I must say I am stunned at the incompetence.

It's almost over, and I will breathe a sigh of relief. :hi:

[antigop]

31. The Clintons didn't "miss a shot". If the Clintons wanted to attack Obama, they need a solution

And they never presented one.

HRC wants a bipartisan commission. She would have been skewered for going after Obama.

[anamandujano]

27. When is he going to put out a freaking ObamaSpeak dictionary so

we can all know what in hell he means?

No doubt bidding on rights has hit fever pitch already in the publishing houses.

It'll be another best seller, but worldwide this time. We could use the revenue to launch his new wars.

[AtomicKitten]

28. you had me at "launch his new wars"

[BringBigDogBack]

22. My views as well

[anamandujano]

14. Well, your fellow supporters have shown you had it wrong. It is hard

to find and clarify and keep up with his change on positions, so don't take this as criticism, more as sympathy.

[DuaneBidoux]

30. I'm 49 and he is absolutely right. The mathematics simply aren't there.

When FDR created social security it was only supposed to last about ten years (at their latest most people lived until 75).

I simply do not see any reason why people can't work another two years to save the system, because the math is very strained to do otherwise. Most people are living to the end of their seventies or many even into their 80s.

If we are going to ask the rich to have it stuck to them (and I'm all for that!!) to help the country then everyone can pull an extra two years. Plus, studies show that stopping work is about the worst thing you can do for your health.