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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRe: Ryan, What We Must Promise as Democrats
Last edited Sat Aug 11, 2012, 03:04 PM - Edit history (5)
We need to make a stand to avoid being pulled to the right as this Ryan pick will certainly do to the election debates.
We need to resolve now not to accept any broad austerity measures - and especially cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid - from bipartisan deficit commissions, even if they look really small and puny next to what Ryan and Romney would do.
We need to pressure our party to vow specifically to protect these safety nets unconditionally. That means vowing to oppose chained CPI's, increases in the eligibility age for Medicare, or any decrease or slowing of the increase of benefits for Americans who have already been devastated by corporate thieves.
We need to be vigilant and proactive from this point onward. We need to forcefully anticipate and resist the coming pressure to judge austerity proposals and the cutting of our safety nets based on comparisons to what Republicans might do, rather than on what we as Democrats know is morally right.
We are heading into a blizzard of right-wing propaganda that threatens to pull Democrats to the right and change all of our framing of these issues. Vow to resist, and vow to stand for the values and principles that Democrats have always defended. It is not too much, and it is our responsibility as Democrats, to demand this simple, clear, specific promise from our President.
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)"Who agrees that we, as Democrats, need to make a stand here to avoid being pulled to the right as this Ryan pick will certainly do to the election debates?"
No one really cares about the VP Debates. And Obama will use the Ryan Budget to shit all over Romney. Showing the country how messed up conservative ideas are. In debate format, this will show a glaring difference between conservative and progressive positions, bringing the common sense argument to the left. Therefore, I feel your starting thought is false.
"Who agrees that we need to be vigilant from this point onward and forcefully resist the coming pressure to judge the cutting of our safety nets based on comparisons to what Republicans might do, rather than on what we as Democrats know is morally right?"
Obama agrees. Watch the debates you are so concerned about and learn.
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)which would cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are unacceptable to Democrats.
After this election season, that deal will seem mild in comparison to what will be proposed by Ryan and Romney.
As Democrats, we need a clear stand from our President that he will not go there again....that the Deal he offered last spring will not be considered acceptable, just because the cuts are milder than what Republicans want to do.
We have a right and a responsibility as Democrats to expect this very specific promise from a President who is campaigning as a defender of the 99 percent.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)"After this election season, that deal will seem mild in comparison to what will be proposed by Ryan and Romney."
After this election season, Ryan and Romney will be seen as failures.
MineralMan
(146,288 posts)How about we bust our asses making sure Democrats get control of state and federal legislatures?
How about that?
You can frame your pessimistic opinion however you want, and post it on DU as many times as you like. The bottom line is that we can have an effect on this election and help with that goal. Those who do will win my praise. Those who stand off and naysay, win win something else.
How about we pull together and get this done? Now, there's a positive suggestion.
great white snark
(2,646 posts)Well said.
MineralMan
(146,288 posts)Yeah Its Spin
(236 posts)Seems like some, want what they are being offered... have yet to see Obama take away SS or Medicare.