Any Congressional Democrat Who Backs Cutting Social Security Might As Well Look For Another Job

If Obama was just trying to demonstrate that the Republicans will never compromise no matter what-- even if he gives them exactly what they want-- fine. It worked. Otherwise, his call for cutting Social Security and further shredding the social safety net to "placate" the austerity hawks he surrounds himself with, is catastrophic. It's obviously catastrophic for the elderly and for handicapped vets first and foremost. But it's also catastrophic for the Democratic brand to whatever extent Obama is allowed to represent that brand after this Grand Betrayal. And it's catastrophic to any congressional Democrats who go along with him. Look at how the White House tried to cover up the brutal cuts:

In the interest of achieving a bipartisan deficit reduction agreement, beginning in 2015 the Budget would change the measure of inflation used by the Federal Government for most programs and for the Internal Revenue Code from the standard Consumer Price Index (CPI) to the alternative, more accurate chained CPI, which grows slightly more slowly... The switch to chained CPI will reduce deficits by at least $230 billion over the next 10 years.

Elizabeth Warren phrased it a little differently: "I was shocked to hear that the President's newest budget proposal would cut $100 billion in Social Security benefits. Our Social Security system is critical to protecting middle class families, and we cannot allow it to be dismantled inch by inch. The President's policy proposal, known as 'chained CPI,' would re-calculate the cost of living for Social Security beneficiaries. That new number won't keep up with inflation on things like food and health care -- the basics that we need to live. In short, 'chained CPI' is just a fancy way to say 'cut benefits for seniors, the permanently disabled, and orphans.'"

Republicans are drooling to have Obama dangling from a string like an idiot. Yesterday Greg Walden (R-OR), head of the RNCC-- charged with electing more Republicans to Congress-- attacked Obama for throwing seniors under the bus. He told Wolf Blitzer in CNN that "the budget really lays out kind of a shocking attack on seniors, if you will. And we haven't seen all the detail yet, and we'll look at it, but I'll tell you, when you're going after seniors the way he's already done on Obamacare, taking $700 billion out of Medicare to put into Obamacare, and now coming back at seniors again, I think you're crossing that line very quickly here in terms of denying access to seniors for health care in districts like mine, certainly, and around the country. I think he's going to have a lot of pushback from some of the major senior organizations on this and Republicans, as well... you're trying to balance this budget on the backs of seniors and I just think it's not the right way to go."

Take a look at how Chris Collins, a Republican incumbent from western New York-- a DCCC top target-- is using Obama's foolhardy proposal. Expect a lot more of this, especially if Democrats start backing Obama.

On the eve of President Obama’s budget presentation, a Western New York Republican joined the AARP in criticizing an expected decrease in the amount paid out in Social Security benefits by restructuring cost of living adjustments. Chris Collins says the move would hurt seniors and veterans.

“If you change the calculation of the consumer price index and how you calculate inflation, that’s going to continue to pinch our seniors who, come the end of the month, the stories I hear, are having trouble putting food on the table,” Collins said.

According to the AARP, changing the way the consumer price index is calculated would cost seniors and veteran pension recipients in Erie County $476 Million in future benefits. An AARP representative told YNN’s Ryan Whalen Tuesday, the “Chained CPI” expected in the President’s budget would hit Erie County harder than originally expected.

“It does not take into account the fixed costs that the seniors or all of us have, such as utilities, your healthcare costs, prescription drugs, gasoline. You can’t make a substitution for those. So that will make it even more difficult, particularly for those who are struggling to begin with,” AARP advocate Dave Hollen said.

Collins says this proposal impacts Western New York more than other parts of the country because there are more seniors.

“We’re not a wealthy community. So many of our seniors, I think the number is 75 percent of the average senior’s lifestyle, is supported by Social Security. They don’t have pensions and other savings,” Collins said... I’m frankly very disappointed that he (Obama) is focusing on seniors."

Obviously, no Democrat worth his salt would ever go along with this. Alan Grayson (D-FL) was very succinct and to the point: “I take no pleasure in saying this, but, in this case, the President is wrong. The chained CPI will substantially undermine the protection against inflation that Social Security recipients enjoy right now... They can change the programs, and not break the promises to Americans. They can eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the programs. They can change the way we fund the programs. They can change the payments to doctors, pharmaceutical companies and hospitals. But we absolutely cannot break our promise to people by cutting benefits or raising the retirement age."




Adam Schiff is from the other end of the spectrum inside of the Democratic caucus. He is a conservative New Dem, who was a member of the Blue Dog Caucus until a few weeks ago. He may be conservative, but he's not stupid. Right after Obama's budget was released I asked him if she's supporting Chained CPI, expecting either evasion or a straight "yes." I got neither. Adam Schiff: “I oppose moving to a chained CPI. I believe that there are better ways to ensure the longevity of Social Security, and urge the President to consider raising the threshold of contributions into Social Security, rather than adopting a chained CPI-- a measurement that could hurt our most vulnerable seniors.” If he keeps on like this, maybe he'll dump the New Dems too and even join the Progressive Caucus.

Mary Kay Henry, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) had the kind of response to the Chained CPI proposal I would like to see echoed by every Democrat.

“We object to the President’s proposals to cut Social Security and Medicare. Social Security has never been contributing factor to the deficit and we cannot leave seniors out in the cold. Our nation must honor our elders with retirement and health security that they have earned through a lifetime of hard work. The President and Congress need to work toward a commonsense solution that addresses the aging of our nation and strengthens and expands Social Security to all working Americans.

“On Medicare, healthcare workers and healthcare employers want to partner to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the system and expand on the healthcare redesigns that have improved quality and reduced cost. Medicare costs have not risen in two years because of reforms and restructuring at the federal, state and local levels. Healthcare providers can continue to build on these reforms and efficiencies, but not under the weight of massive cuts.

“To truly address the deficit and continue our economic recovery, we must focus on creating more good jobs. That should be priority number one.”

Although the DCCC has refused to recognize his race, steel worker and Army vet Andy Hounshell is running for the western Ohio congressional seat currently held by John Boehner. Andy has been active in supporting the No Cuts campaign and is a die-hard Democrat for economic growth-- a jobs-not-Austerity kind of guy. He's on the Blue America Saving Social Security page. Andy is no fan of Boehner's and no fan of the Boehner-Ryan Austerity Agenda. "We need a dedicated and concerted effort to put people to work," he told me this morning, "not cuts to seniors and veterans who can least afford them. To me a bad idea is a bad idea, whether it's coming from Speaker Boehner, Congressman Ryan or any Democrats in office. Chained CPI isn't something that serves the interests of people in Ohio. And I'm running for Congress to represent them, not a political party or any other politicians. People where I live don't want to take away from seniors and vets; I'm standing with them."

There isn't any doubt who Bernie Sanders is standing with either: