Reminder: 44 Percent of Tea Partiers Are on Medicare

[sasha031]

Medicare cuts are "on the radar" in the second phase of Congress' new debt deal. The agreement reached this week already includes the possibility of a two percent cut to Medicare reimbursements, but the "super-committee" that will convene to come up with $1.5 trillion in more cuts will probably be looking at least partially toward medical spending. This is in addition to the cuts that are set to befall Medicare reimbursement starting in a couple months. Many op-ed columnists are calling these attacks on entitlement spending a victory for Tea Partiers, whose beef with big government has shaped politics for several years now. What those columns fail to consider, however, is how many Tea Partiers rely on the very programs they've forced to the chopping block.

In preparing for the coming months of massive budget cuts, one should note that, in April 2010, a CBS/New York Times poll found 44 percent of Tea Party supporters were either receiving Medicare themselves or had a family member receiving Medicare. When it came to Social Security, that percentage was even higher (48 percent). Exactly one year later, in April of this year, it came as no surprise that 70 percent of tea party supporters said they were against Medicare cuts. They're also against Social Security cuts by a two-to-one margin. It makes sense: Would you want to slash programs from which you were benefiting so greatly?
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/6n9Yu1/www.good.is/post/reminder-44-percent-of-tea-partiers-are-on-medicare/

[Blecht]

1. They'll be OK with it in the long run

As long as it pisses off liberals and brown people, they're happy.

If chopping off one of their own arms with an ax pissed off liberals, they'd be lining up to buy axes.

[flamingdem]

14. I agree, as long as they can put a boot on Obama's neck they'll "sacrifice" nt

[atreides1]

18. I'd buy them the axes

Providing we could convince them that cutting off their own heads, would piss off liberals even more.

[marmar]

2. And I bet 95 percent of those 44 percent say they don't use any government programs.

nt

[sasha031]

4. the repubs will run ads against the Dem's accusing them of cutting both programs, watch

[Skip_In_Boulder]

11. I don't doubt you on that one

And these dumbass Baggers will buy it hook, line and sinker.

[zanana1]

22. Just a side note...

I couldn't help but notice your Bob Dylan picture, and I noticed that his hair looks just like mine when I get up in the morning!

[Skip_In_Boulder]

23. LOL

Yeah I'm a big Bobby Zimmerman fan.

[krispos42]

17. Almost certainly

[Faygo Kid]

3. If Medicare is cut, start with theirs.

To me, it just goes to show that the book Generations made sense. I knew the majority of Tea Partiers are Silent Generation - bitter. Only the oldest Boomers are now reaching Medicare, although more are on Social Security (who retired early). Nasty folks who will soon be outnumbered by the Boomers in their demographic. The Silent is the only generation in U.S. history to never produce a president. They did produce rock n roll, however.

[TwilightGardener]

5. They still believe in mythical welfare queens.

They see themselves as productive citizens, and think there's a nation full of people who aren't working by choice and stealing their tax contributions. Any hard times that befall them are someone else's fault, or the government's fault, and everything THEY receive, they EARNED.

[OHdem10]

6. The Republicans are skilled manipulators. They are going to

be pushing the cuts down the road. ( Ryan Plan promised
nothing would happen to current recipients.) The GOP
just wants to get through the next election and they
are home free to do what they please.

Remember the Tea Partiers in Congress listen to only
their upscale constituents who do not want to pay taxes.
People of lesser incomes will not find out what is
going on until it too late to do anything about it.

Now that both parties have put Medicare on the Table
the people are confused and this put Republicans
in drivers seat.

[mmonk]

7. I go back to a post I did. More people soon will find out the fight is between

corporations vs the people, not the labels. It will be inescapable once the reality hits home.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

13. That is what I am hoping for as well

But the question is, how long will it take and how much damage will have been done by that time.

[mmonk]

21. The damage is going to be rough. Much of our system structurally

has been and is currently being reconfigured both economically and legally. That means the fight will be prolonged and solutions further off.

[raccoon]

8. K&R. nt

[snooper2]

9. It's teabaggers, not "tea partiers", they are stupid fucking teabaggers

just so it's clear :)

[hifiguy]

16. Teatalitarians, actually. nt

[Yavin4]

10. Whatever Govt. Assistance They Get, They Think That Blacks and Latinos Get More

So, they're happy to go without Medicare as long as Blacks and Latinos are hurt even more.

[Lifelong Protester]

12. I've been wondering all along where the angry 'town hall' screamers

from last year were, all the ones who didn't want "Obamacare" but sure as hell didn't want their Medicare cut (am I remembering a sign correctly, 'keep the government out of my Medicare' or some such?)

When will those folks wake up and realize they have been had? Or at least, used? There anger is only useful as a means to prop up the rich who don't want to be taxed.

[DainBramaged]

15. This picture was accurate 2 years ago, it still is today

[zanana1]

19. That's very true, my friend.

When their beloved Tea Party begins to affect them personally, they'll change their tune quickly. Alot of people, believe it or not, live on Social Security alone. Remember, it's not only "old" people. It also affects the Disabled who are living on Social Security.

[Ganja Ninja]

20. This why I'm inclined to stop fighting these people.

They are their own worst enemy and I'm ready to let them shoot themselves in the foot.