Obama Sides With Panetta On Need To Cut Medicare Over Defense

[Cali_Democrat]

Obama Sides With Panetta On Need To Cut Medicare Over Defense
Brian Beutler | August 8, 2011, 3:32PM

Last week, Congressional Democrats were blindsided by newly-confirmed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who basically nixed any further cuts to military spending, and demanded that lawmakers trim from programs like Medicare and raise taxes to reduce future deficits.

Soon a new deficit Super Committee will begin debating tax and entitlement reform, and the penalty if they gridlock includes steep defense cuts. Republicans are expected to seize on Panetta's remarks to push for another deficit deal that comes exclusively from entitlement cuts. So Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) called on President Obama to repudiate Panetta.

Obama did precisely the opposite in his White House speech Monday. "Our challenge is the need to tackle our deficits over the long term last week we reached an historic agreement -- reached an agreement that weill make historic cuts to defense and domestic spending," Obama said. "But there's not much further that we can cut in either of those categories. What we need to do now is combine those spending cuts with two additional steps: tax reform that will ask those who can afford it to pay their fair share and modest adjustments to health care programs like Medicare."

Obama also vowed to send the Super Committee his own deficit reduction recommendations. But Republicans are already locking themselves into against any plan that increases tax revenues. If they remain locked in, the question is whether Obama and Democrats would be willing to pull the trigger on the penalty or whether they'll cave to GOP demands again.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/obama-sides-with-panetta-on-need-to-cut-medicare-over-defense.php

Remember my post about this on Friday? I hate to say I told you so, but.....I told you so.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x736883

[polichick]

1. Missed his speech - did he announce that he's running as a Republican in 2012?

[MissDeeds]

13. Given his actions

it's safe to assume they're the ones who will be voting for him.

[DJ13]

2. Last week, Congressional Democrats were blindsided by newly-confirmed Defense Secretary Leon Panetta

....... who basically nixed any further cuts to military spending, and demanded that lawmakers trim from programs like Medicare and raise taxes to reduce future deficits.



Well guess what Leon, the budget isnt up to you.

Hey Congress, grow a pair.

[elocs]

3. Who'd have thunk it? n/t

[ProSense]

4. No, he didn't

President Obama

<...>

Last week, we reached an agreement that will make historic cuts to defense and domestic spending. But there’s not much further we can cut in either of those categories. What we need to do now is combine those spending cuts with two additional steps: tax reform that will ask those who can afford it to pay their fair share and modest adjustments to health care programs like Medicare.

<...>

TPM:

"...last week we reached an historic agreement -- reached an agreement that weill make historic cuts to defense and domestic spending," Obama said. "But there's not much further that we can cut in either of those categories.

"What we need to do now is combine those spending cuts with two additional steps: tax reform that will ask those who can afford it to pay their fair share and modest adjustments to health care programs like Medicare."

Despite TPM's catchy headline, it's a misrepresentation of what the President said. The point of the statement was tax increase.

[CakeGrrl]

5. Beat me to it. He NEVER agreed with Panetta.

And agreed, the point of the statement was to frame the tax reform.

The GOP goes under the tax microscope and they are still parroting the Tea Party line.

[COLGATE4]

7. And with the tremendous success he's had up to now with his

'framing the issues', I imagine we'll be seeing cuts to Medicare shortly.

[high density]

18. Don't worry, the GOP will frame it and then Obama will wrap it up and put a bow around it

Here you go, it's bipartisan goodness!

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rury]

8. Unrecced for totally misrepresenting what President Obama said!

[polmaven]

15. Here too...

I don't know if it is a misunderstanding, or a deliberate misrepresentation, but it is completesly worng. Unrec.

[great white snark]

9. Another dishonest misrepresentation from you.

What will your trust rating be now?

[Vicar In A Tutu]

10. A risible post.

Either your reading comprehension is diabolical or you're wilfully misrepresenting him.

[jenmito]

11. Unrec for false headline. n/t

[indepat]

12. Who woulda' ever thunk it? Who in their wildest imagination? Certainly those adjustments

to Medicare will not matter to or hurt anyone: the availability of care and the price thereof will surely not be affected by any such "adjustments." No siree. :patriot:

[BklnDem75]

14. Huge Unrec

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

17. There's real defense and silly defense

cut the billions from Afghanistan and Iraq.

[Supersedeas]

19. we shall see how far the President pushes this distinction

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.