Cutting Social Security and Medicare could save Democratic seats in 2014!!!

[jsr]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/2013/0411/How-liberal-anger-at-Obama-budget-helps-the-president-Democrats/

How liberal anger at Obama budget helps the president, Democrats
The president's budget, with its cost-saving measures in Social Security and Medicare, has infuriated the left. That positions Obama more to the center and could help him achieve other goals – and save some Democratic seats in 2014.
By Linda Feldmann, Staff writer / April 11, 2013

...Obama’s maneuver on Social Security could also help centrist Democrats facing reelection next year. In particular, there are five Senate Democrats from red states who could be in trouble, depending, in part, upon whom the Republicans nominate. A moderated image for Obama could help them. They are Sens. Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Mark Begich of Alaska, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Max Baucus of Montana, and Kay Hagan of North Carolina.

In addition, the Democrats are defending the seats of three retirees in states that could easily go Republican: South Dakota, West Virginia, and Iowa.

Currently, the Democrats control the Senate 55 to 45; to win a majority, Republicans need a net gain of six seats. That’s certainly doable, and so it’s in Obama’s interests to help his party’s moderates wherever possible. Given that the Democrats’ chances of retaking the House next year are a long shot, holding onto the Senate is probably the best Obama can do...

“The White House is not particularly concerned about the latest round of threats – even as groups like Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Democracy for America, and MoveOn.org insist they are not bluffing,” write Glenn Thrush and Byron Tau in Politico...

[AndyA]

1. That's assuming that the Democrats who disagree vote

Being told one thing during the 2012 campaign, then doing the opposite isn't going to GOTV in 2014. A lot of Dems will be disgusted, and stay home.

[Auntie Bush]

2. Not if they have a brain and remember the Rethugs will have a chance to appoint a SCJ.

[AndyA]

5. 2010

We lost the House. It's happened before, and it can happen again. If the SCOTUS is such a concern, Dems should be encouraging voters to remain engaged instead of angering them. We didn't donate money, knock on doors, make phone calls, and get President Obama re-elected for him to head in a different direction months after the election that gave him anther four years.

[duffyduff]

11. That dog doesn't hunt. Obama is the problem. n/t

[reformist2]

3. This makes no sense. You don't win moderate voters by cutting Social Security.

If anything, it takes Social Security - a winning issue for Dems - off the table.

[jsr]

6. Precisely.

[Marr]

17. This seems like something written by a Beltway idiot running on autopilot.

The only useful information to be gathered from it is that a certain stripe of writer out there has come to instinctively understand that you should always urge the Democrats to embrace a far-right political agenda and call it "moderate". And it always-- always means the "left" should be ignored in the future.

[myrna minx]

4. Since when do moderate voters want SS cut? Since when do Republican voters want SS cut?

This is an outright assault on SS. Wow. We're totally being triangulated. If this is now the "common wisdom" we're being sold a shit sandwich. This is even worse than I thought.

[Brigid]

7. OK, it's been said before but I'll say it again:

Preserving earned benefits is not a "centrist" move! It's the default position for *any* Dem!!

[Cleita]

8. Sure it is.

[myrna minx]

10. I guess we "libruls" missed the overwhelming mandate the American voters gave to slash our

benefits we've paid into all of our lives.

[duffyduff]

9. Nobody wants a cut to the programs

Obama has been shown to all the world he is nothing but a puppet for billionaires and Wall Street interests.

If the Democrats go along with his bullshit, they DESERVE to lose.

[forestpath]

12. What a load. When people have a choice between voting for Republicans or Democrats who act like

Republicans, they usually go with Republicans.

[Zorra]

13. Uh-huh.

[Old Codger]

14. So

Obama is not running for anything so he doesn't give a rats ass about much, have apparently doesn't care what his legacy will, so piss on all of the small folk out here and please the big money people...I will work and donate to any Dem who votes against any and all cuts that hurt SS or Medicare...I will work against any and all who vote in favor of any SS or Medicare cuts...BUT I will not vote for a repug no matter what ..

I do not hate Obama, but I am pretty deeply disappointed in his policies and his inability to be the leader he could have been. He is a "people pleaser" and does not seem to understand that they are eating his lunch and laughing at him behind his back. pretty sad for sure.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. Wow...

That is perhaps one of the most politically stupid theories I have ever heard.

[Marr]

16. "That positions Obama more to the center".

Right-wing voters don't want Social Security cuts, either-- so this statement is absurd on its face.

Unless "center" has come to mean "the 1%".