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Segami

(14,923 posts)
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 11:57 AM Nov 2012

Pelosi and Reid Have OBAMA's BACK: No Social Security Cuts & Taxes MUST Be RAISED On The RICH



Both Democratic leaders in the Senate have President Obama’s back on the fiscal cliff. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are both emphatic about the wealthy paying more taxes, and no cuts being made to Social Security.






On ABC’s This Week Nancy Pelosi stood by the president’s insistence that the rich by made to pay their fair share.



Pelosi Said:

“Well, no, I mean, the president made it very clear in his campaign that there is not enough — there are not enough resources. What you just described is a formula and a blueprint for hampering our future. You cannot go forward — you have to cut some investments. If you cut too many, you’re hampering growth, you’re hampering education, our investments for the future,” Pelosi said. ” If it’s going to bring in revenue, the president has been very clear that the higher income people have to pay their fair share.”

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/11/nancy-pelosi-no-fiscal-cliff-deal-without-tax-rate-hike-for-wealthy/




Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been making it crystal clear that any deal that cuts Social Security will not pass the Senate. Reid said, “I’ve made it very clear. I’ve told anyone that will listen, including everyone in the White House, including the president, that I am not going to be part of having Social Security as part of these talks relating to this deficit.”


If congressional Democrats are unified, President Obama’s hand to play in these negotiations grows even stronger. One of the problems in the two previous negotiations with congressional Republicans was that the Democratic side of the Senate was divided. Too many senators, including Reid himself, put their own reelection first. Harry Reid weakened Obama’s hand previous by actively looking to cut a deal, even if that deal was bad for Democrats.


People who worry that Obama is going to “cave” in these negotiations don’t seem to understand that every negotiation is different. Political climates change, and leverage shifts. Obama and the Democrats have all the leverage. They can do nothing and get what they want. It is the Republican signature issue of the Bush tax cuts that is on the line this time. This isn’t 2010. It looks like Democrats are unified, and out to make Republicans pay a high price for their negotiating tactics of the past.




http://www.politicususa.com/pelosi-reid-obamas-back-social-security-cuts-taxes-raised-rich.html
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Pelosi and Reid Have OBAMA's BACK: No Social Security Cuts & Taxes MUST Be RAISED On The RICH (Original Post) Segami Nov 2012 OP
Is raising the elegibility age for Medicare off the table? cthulu2016 Nov 2012 #1
It should be. ananda Nov 2012 #2
It would seem so far Democrats are Segami Nov 2012 #4
Yeah right, let's see what they actually deliver. lalalu Nov 2012 #3
I'll bet you $10,000 NightOwwl Nov 2012 #7
That's very republican of you. lalalu Nov 2012 #8
A vague statement. former9thward Nov 2012 #11
Healthcare reform, repeal of DADT, going after BP, ..... lalalu Nov 2012 #14
I hope this all energizes Obama's liberal spirit. MoonRiver Nov 2012 #19
Well, considering the topic of this thread seems to be taxes... NightOwwl Nov 2012 #21
It was a joke referencing Romney's debate debacle. NightOwwl Nov 2012 #20
I laughed Rose Siding Nov 2012 #23
Spot on CitizenPatriot Nov 2012 #5
Yeah John2 Nov 2012 #6
I usually judge a politican's words by how much wiggle room they leave... Comrade_McKenzie Nov 2012 #9
I expected no less. Thanks for finding this article. freshwest Nov 2012 #10
We the People need to have the backs of Barack, Nancy and Harry. We need to be loud ... Scuba Nov 2012 #12
+10,000 Segami Nov 2012 #13
Email you senators and Congresspersons. xtraxritical Nov 2012 #16
Start by emailing & faxing your support. Jackpine Radical Nov 2012 #17
I could not agree with you more. sheshe2 Nov 2012 #22
yep, whatever deal Obama cuts with Boehner Enrique Nov 2012 #15
Don't be too sure of that. Jackpine Radical Nov 2012 #18
Yeah, hopefully there won't be any grand bargain Doctor_J Nov 2012 #25
How about a Christmas withdrawal from Afghanistan? Daniel537 Nov 2012 #24
 

Segami

(14,923 posts)
4. It would seem so far Democrats are
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 12:17 PM
Nov 2012

now " balking at ideas such as chained CPI or an increase in the Medicare retirement age "..

Sixteen months ago, Obama’s White House took a different view during talks with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, on a possible budget deal. A White House draft offer by top Obama aide Rob Nabors, made public by Washington Post author Bob Woodward, proposed several controversial changes to benefit programs, including the lower inflation adjustment, raising the eligibility age for Medicare and higher Medicare premiums.


Those negotiations, however, were conducted on a playing field that favored Republicans. It was less than a year after Obama’s self-described ‘‘shellacking’’ in the 2010 elections and the president was desperate to win an increase in the government’s borrowing cap and avoid a government default on its debt that should shatter financial markets. Also, Obama still faced re-election in 2012.



Now conditions favor Obama.

He decisively won re-election and Republicans seem fearful of being tagged with the blame if an impasse results in the government going over the fiscal cliff. Obama and Democrats already are portraying Republicans as hostage-takers willing let tax rates rise on everyone if the lower Bush-era tax rates are not also extended for the top 2 percent to 3 percent of earners — those with incomes above $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for joint filers.


The new balance of power means that Democrats who once would have acquiesced reluctantly to GOP demands for stiff benefit cuts are now balking at ideas such as chained CPI or an increase in the Medicare retirement age, as well as demanding GOP concessions to higher taxes.



‘‘The price for that kind of thing has gone up,’’ said a senior House Democrat who required anonymity to speak frankly on party strategy. ‘‘Negotiations depend on the situation. No one should expect to get the same kind of deal.’’



Republicans have gotten the message, but insist that higher tax revenues be paired with cuts to rapidly growing programs such as Medicare and the Medicaid health care program for the poor and disabled. These programs are called ‘‘entitlements’’ because eligibility is based on meeting criteria such as age or income.


http://www.boston.com/business/personal-finance/living-longer/2012/11/18/democrats-toughen-stance-trimming-benefits/WO1IwBB1hhmmD8aT1mLCUO/story.html
 

lalalu

(1,663 posts)
8. That's very republican of you.
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 01:06 PM
Nov 2012

The article is about Pelosi and Reid. President Obama has delivered more than the two of them combined. They have only acted because he has forced exposure on them.

 

lalalu

(1,663 posts)
14. Healthcare reform, repeal of DADT, going after BP, .....
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 01:38 PM
Nov 2012

It may not be perfect but nothing was being done prior to his taking office. I hope his reelection and strong support from the public will energize congressional democrats. We shall see.

 

NightOwwl

(5,453 posts)
21. Well, considering the topic of this thread seems to be taxes...
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 06:01 PM
Nov 2012

He will deliver on his promise to let the Bush tax cuts expire for the wealthy while reinstating cuts for the middle class.

CitizenPatriot

(3,783 posts)
5. Spot on
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 12:43 PM
Nov 2012

I don't understand why people can't see that the political climate is much different - we don't have to fight for unemployment benefits this time either. Democrats abandoned the President in 2010, he lost political capital, then his own party Dems ran away from him and Republicans were their usual jihadists.

Things are a little different now

 

John2

(2,730 posts)
6. Yeah
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 12:57 PM
Nov 2012

it is different. If the Republicans go off the Cliff protecting the wealthy, it will hurt the wealthy and Republicans the most. Most of the cuts are in Defense. Most of those Defense cuts are in Red States with red districts. They will lose jobs and plus unemployment benefits. They want get any food stamps either. They will be on their own. I call this checkmate. It is the Repukes move.

 

Comrade_McKenzie

(2,526 posts)
9. I usually judge a politican's words by how much wiggle room they leave...
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 01:08 PM
Nov 2012

Reid sounds like he will be making the Senate an iron curtain against bullshit.

 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
12. We the People need to have the backs of Barack, Nancy and Harry. We need to be loud ...
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 01:21 PM
Nov 2012

... to be heard over the money arguing for the other side.

 

Segami

(14,923 posts)
13. +10,000
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 01:31 PM
Nov 2012

Its positional thinking like that which worries republicans the most. They depend on a strong-arm strategy of
intimidation, thuggery, distortions and propaganda. Part of their tactics is to come out fast, hard and in-your-face by quickly establishing a running game of defining the issues before Democrats even know what hit them.

Times are changing.......believe me they are!

sheshe2

(89,409 posts)
22. I could not agree with you more.
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 08:51 PM
Nov 2012

We do need to take their backs.The American people need to speak up in one voice for what we believe in, what we voted for.

Days after the election I read several threads bemoaning the fact that obama was going to cave! They were chicken little saying the sky was falling. Gotta tell you it sent shivers down my spine reading them.

I have no doubt in my mind that Obama, Pelosi and Reid are going to make this happen. The naysayers be damned!

Enrique

(27,461 posts)
15. yep, whatever deal Obama cuts with Boehner
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 03:00 PM
Nov 2012

Reid and Pelosi can be counted on to sell to the caucus, and loyal DUers can be counted on to sell here.

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)
18. Don't be too sure of that.
Sun Nov 18, 2012, 03:34 PM
Nov 2012

For one thing,we don't have to protect Obama any more.

It has always struck me that Nancy is pretty liberal, and I don't wanna hear any "off the table" bullshit. Impeachment would not have flown then, and she was right, even though I didn't think so at the time.

The WI recall taught me some things.

 

Doctor_J

(36,392 posts)
25. Yeah, hopefully there won't be any grand bargain
Mon Nov 19, 2012, 09:39 AM
Nov 2012

that the leaders have to swallow. Some of them were mortified at his giveaways last time. I hope he has their backs.

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