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President Obama appears to be all in to sacrifice Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid according to documents leaked by Bob Woodward. But Mr. Obama had telegraphed his intentions to craft a social programs and earned benefits “give away” in his Des Moines, “leaked” interview just prior to his re-election. Additionally, during the first Presidential debate, Mr. Obama had revealed his intention to cut Social Security, when he said that his position on Social Security was very similar to that of his contender, Mr. Romney. The Republican plan contained deep cuts including raising the eligibility age for Social Security.
In anticipation of an attack on Social Security during the lame duck session, Senator Sanders crafted a letter of opposition to cuts and a demand for the tax cuts for the richest Americans to expire. 29 Senators signed that letter, but Senator John Kerry did not. Other notable Democratic Party Senators also did not commit. (Listed below).
John Kerry is one of those considered for promotion to a high position within the Obama Administration, Secretary of State. Should a Senator who has shown so little consideration for 99% of his own country’s citizens and their social welfare programs, be allowed to represent our American values to other countries? Senator John Kerry should sign Senator Sanders letter and press President Obama to leave Social Security alone.
Senator John Kerry’s contact information:
(202) 224-2742 This is his web contact address: www.kerry.senate.gov/contact/
His term ends in 2014, but there is no reason why he should live with more dignity than the rest of us—–whose Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other vital programs are his responsibility to protect. Let him know that you would like him to sign Sanders letter.
The Whip Count Can Be Found Here.
Email Addresses and Contact Information for Senators Can Be Found Here.
(The original post about the whip count by Americablog & Gaius_Publius can be found HERE. A youtube by Gaius_Publius, explaining the whip count and the background behind it, can be found HERE.)
Here is the list of non signers from americablog:
Roll-Over Dems
Max Baucus (CostumeDem–MT) — term ends in 2014 — (202) 224-2651
Michael Bennet (CostumeDem–CO) — term ends in 2016 — (202) 224-5852
Jeff Bingaman (CostumeDem–NM) — retiring this year — (202) 224-5521
Tom Carper (CostumeDem–DE) — running this year — (202) 224-2441
Bob Casey (CostumeDem–PA) — running this year — (202) 224-6324
Kent Conrad (CostumeDem–ND) — retiring this year — (202) 224-2043
Chris Coons (CostumeDem–DE) — term ends after 2014 — (202) 224-5042
■ Dick Durbin (CostumeDem–IL) — term ends after 2014 — (202) 224-2152
Dianne Feinstein (CostumeDem–CA) — running this year — (202) 224-3841
Kay Hagan (CostumeDem–NC) — term ends after 2014 — (202) 224-6342
■ John Kerry (CostumeDem–MA) — term ends after 2014 — (202) 224-2742
■ Amy Klobuchar (CostumeDem–MN) — running this year — (202) 224-3244
Herb Kohl (CostumeDem–WI) — retiring this year — (202) 224-5653
Mary Landrieu (CostumeDem–LA) — running in 2014 — (202) 224-5824
Joe Lieberman (“Independent”–Pits of Hell) — retiring to Pits of Hell — (202) 224-4041
■ Claire McCaskill (CostumeDem–MO) — running this year — (202) 224-6154
Ben Nelson (CostumeDem–NE) — retiring this year — (202) 224-6551
■ Bill Nelson (CostumeDem–FL) — running this year — (202) 224-5274
Mark Pryor (CostumeDem–AR) — running in 2014 — (202) 224-2353
Jeanne Shaheen (CostumeDem–NH) — running in 2014 — (202) 224-2841
Jon Tester (CostumeDem–MT) — running this year — (202) 224-2644
Mark Udall (CostumeDem–CO) — running in 2014 — (202) 224-5941
Mark Warner (CostumeDem–VA) — running in 2014 — (202) 224-2023
Jim Webb (CostumeDem–VA) — retiring this year — (202) 224-4024
This is a dated list. Some of the above-mentioned Senators may have changed their positions. In which case, that would be noted in the whip count link at the end of the written introductory paragraphs. Thanks for considering making a call or emailing Senator Kerry or others who have not signed. If any of the non signing Senators change their minds, you can let the whip count administrators know at this link: lameduck@socialsecurityworks.org.
[Highlighted text link to documents] & if you are tired of reading, here’s is Sam Seder’s Majority Report video, a reaction piece to “How the Establishment Wants to Destroy Social Security.” Good news! Senator Schumer is sticking with his commitment to Bernie Sanders letter opposing Social Security cuts and also letting tax cuts expire for the 1%! And as of Monday, November 12th, Senator Sanders said that he would rather let the Bush tax cuts expire and wait until January, 2013, to respond, if it means that Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will be protected.
17 Comments
57 varieties of FAIL.
In answer to your question.
Great post, thank you. Tweeted. Recommended.
Is there something similar for House Dems in the heavy D+ districts? Do they have an even better chance at blocking Obama’s drive for the oligarchs, aka, the “Grand Bargain?”
Good to know! Thank you for the information.
Why am I not surprised the son of a rich man is throwing his nation under the bus?
After reading the wonderful Book Salon with Seth Rosenfeld (Subversives)……..
I’m having thoughts about Kerry. He’s a Player.
From what I see progressive reformers wishing to change the party from within have lots of work. They’ll need primary challenges for at least 3 members this cycle. Pryor, Warner and Landreiu are all open to selling people out.
Yes. The list of Representatives and their ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ votes are on the same whip count page as for Senators.
Thinking this a.m. of all those huddled against the cold in the NY area. Damn. Overcast too.
Like saccharine statues of patriotic gore,
pointing the threatening edge at us,
demanding we must surrender more,
a sacrifice for them of time spent at their gilded bars,
contempt for the rest of us…for
carrying the whole burden, the whole cost,
the whole distance,
this far.
My strategy is “immediate”. Any Senator hoping to ride Obama’s coat tails into a promotion, a higher position, should have to commit to serving the people who pay for all of these programs and who deserve to get decent programs and benefits in return. These are earned benefits, paid for through income payroll taxes, property taxes and general taxes. Sign the damn letter, or be jacketed with a ‘corporate brand’.
Warren is not on this pre-election list. She should be asked to commit to promise to oppose cuts to Social Security. She can establish her pro-people position by signing Bernie Sanders letter.
I will be making calls today! I’ll share this list with my friends.
TT what about holding the progressive cauous feet to the fire by sending them a petition demanding they stand up and or calling them?
Hi bearman! There’s a list of the Progressive Caucus at Wikipedia.
An organization which describes itself as responsible for coordinating this caucus with the public, lists this address:
600 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Suite 340, Washington DC 20003 | P 202-449-9495 | F 202-449-8541 | info@progressivecongress.com
The petition related to Sanders letter which the public is asked to sign, appears on the whip count page, linked below.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy-altman/lame-duck-whip-count_b_2017186.html
There’s so much going on! My focus today is on John Kerry, because he is up for selection to the position of Secretary of State, and does not deserve it, if he is unable to deliver on his commitments to the welfare of the people, by signing Sanders letter.
This is one of the reasons I have concerns about discussion of eliminating the filibuster right this minute. It looks like the yeahs to changing social security are at 51. I suspect the plutocracy know they’ll have a hard time rounding up 60 people committed to political suicide.
It was nice to see that at least one of the 2014 Democrats has signed the letter.
I wish you luck on trying to convince Kerry but I suspect that he’ll go with the admins position that things must must must be done to avoid the horrible terrible no good fiscal cliff.
more crap from the Wash PO
Jared Bernstein, a former White House economic adviser with close ties to liberals, said revisions to entitlements that strengthen the programs would be acceptable if the poorest people were not harmed.
“It’s reasonable to put the entitlements on the table but in such a way that protects economically vulnerable people who depend on them — which is a much larger group than you might think,” he said. Bernstein noted that the median income of a Medicare beneficiary is $22,000 per year.
Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, said liberals understand the need to slow Medicare spending but want to do it carefully.
“But we have to be really mindful of where those savings come from and whether they’re coming out of the pockets of seniors and whether they’re the result of savings in the health-care system,” Tanden said. “Those are two different things, and one progressives can agree with, and one is extremely difficult.”
What crap! these clowns just want to tweek SS and Medicare…you know guys you won’t even try and put Wall St Executives in jail for massive fraud since they are the ones who got us in this mess but you have the god damn nerve to call for cuts in SS and Medicare?
btw the Wash Po article claims SS and Medicare are the main drivers of the Debt…what a bunch of crooks!
Hi bearman! Can you send us a link so we can see what yr. seeing?? Thanks.
Dean Baker pivots to attack the false data which are used to ‘justify’ cuts in medicare.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/liberal-groups-mobilize-for-fiscal-cliff-fight-over-social-security-medicare/2012/11/12/b2c98f64-2cf7-11e2-89d4-040c9330702a_story.html
“John Kerry is one of those considered for promotion to a high position within the Obama Administration, Secretary of State.”
This is our first evidence of the validity of the theory that Obama is the more efficient evil.
We also have the first opportunity for those who voted for Obama last Tuesday to force him to the left.
“Should a Senator who has shown so little consideration for 99% of his own country’s citizens and their social welfare programs, be allowed to represent our American values to other countries?”
To what values are you referring? The values that allow the few, like Kerry, to prosper at the expense of the many? That Kerry is considered a representative of the citizenry tells us exactly what “American values” are.
Your reasoning on the filibuster sounds like it could plausibly deter cuts. I don’t know that Kerry can be directly confronted further here, about his willingness to make cuts.
There is one other high profile Democratic Senator, who has been public about his willingness to raise the retirement age and to reduce the CPI used for SS COLA. He operates as a ‘liberal willing to compromise’. And functions as a bipartisan tool used to finish the ‘Reagan Revolution’.
Pivoting now to target every speech and video this second Senator has made, indicating his intransigence, his unwillingness to sign Bernie Sanders letter, and his alignment with the Bowles-Simpson recommendations.
Thanks bearman. I am going to keep the below quote, because it is a gem!
***
Note to WaPo: If you look at the White House cuts to Social Security in the July 2011 worksheet, you will see that total proposed SS cuts were .7% of payroll. The actuarial gap I am working with is 1.92 per cent of payroll, so a rough estimate of their proposed cut was 36.5 per cent of the gap. That could have been done by raising the retirement age by one year or by raising the FICA cap to capture 90% of income. At any rate, my point is that this proposal was way more than changing the CPI to a reduced chained COLA.
…***As to the CBO data used to justify Medicare cuts, Dean Baker thinks the CBO projections are greater than the real data on medical care use, and hence do not justify cuts to Medicare. That is in the Dean Baker link which I sent you in #12.
The same folks who fund Walker and his Fix The Debt campaign, are also prime movers at the Washington Post. So you will never find the kind of careful examination of the tax evasion tricks of rich persons and corporations, like you will at IPS.
http://www.ips-dc.org/reports/ceo-campaign-to-fix-the-debt
h/t marym from il
The brief report (readable as well) shows how the current Fix the Debt campaign, funded by 80 CEOs and Petersons crew, is a massive ‘fix’ to prevent taxing corporate income. Income from corporate profits is currently kept out of the country in either tax havens or countries where profits can be kept from returning to the U.S..
The IPS report also gives a vy short history of previous attempts by corporations to find ways to repatriate their wealth and to evade taxes. Because this is like a corporation demanding tax breaks before building a plant in a city, I don’t trust that this wealth will ever create jobs here. Using the Greek model for wealth extraction and wealth protection, I would think that this wealth would be used to acquire U.S. assets, on the cheap.
But to relate this to our current manufactured crisis, I would like to suggest that the deficit is a product of corporations starving Americans of decent wages, and secondly fair share of corporate taxes and income taxes from the best compensated CEOs and from capital gains income from those with passive income. So instead of simply protesting that there be no cuts to social programs, we should be demanding that these criminals give back to our government, the taxes which they have refused to pay. We need to set the marginal tax rates to very high levels, to bring back what has been stolen from workers over the past forty years; to guarantee decent salaries to current workers, and to fully fund our social programs with monies which should have been placed in the Treasury in the first place.