Biden on Social Security

[brooklynite]

Link to tweet

[guillaumeb]

1. Recommended.

Clear, and unequivocal.

[George II]

3. .

[George II]

2. Sad that he has to keep reiterating that, he NEVER was going to cut Social Security or Medicare....

....benefits. NEVER!

Disappointing that some in the Sanders campaign, even as I type, are still claiming that he would.

[guillaumeb]

5. I feel that all of that came from a comment

that President Obama made when Obama said he would consider capping SS COLAs. It was never done, of course, but such talk was the reason for the continued repetition of this particular meme.

[DanTex]

7. It wasn't just a comment, it was part of his budget proposal.

He later dropped it, in part due to pressure from progressives, but it's not just a "meme" or an offhand comment, it was a thing that actually happened. And Biden has made plenty of comments over the years indicating a willingness to "adjust" social security by doing things like raising the age or reducing the COLA -- adjustments that are effectively cuts by another name.

It's not really controversial that he said those things. Nor is it surprising. Biden is a centrist -- that's not an insult, it's just what he is. He gets along with Republicans and likes making deals and looking for middle ground, and social security cuts/adjustments is one of the areas where centrist Dems have historically looked to make a "grand bargain."

Having said that, I don't think the chances are very high that he would cut/adjust social security as president. After Obama tried it and got the backlash from the liberal side of the party, I think that door is shut. But, I mean, he might, and it's pretty clear that he's more likely to do it than someone like Warren or Sanders.

[guillaumeb]

8. Agreed.

And Obama was trying to reach out to the GOP.

And they repaid him with 8 years of obstruction, culminating in the Merrick Garland situation.

[squirecam]

4. No dem

Is going to cut Medicare or social security.

If there is a problem with revenue, it’s more likely that The tax rate would rise.

[Thekaspervote]

6. Guess we'll see how long this clarification will last..

Really tired of all the negative!!

[Gothmog]

9. Why did sanders call for cuts to social security?

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[bluedye33139]

10. I would like to think that this dust-up will underscore the fact that all

Democrats running for the White House are unified behind supporting and strengthening social security, not cutting payments, not trying to balance the budget with senior citizens.

Of course, I'm not much of an optimist, so I don't know how long I can think this dust-up will underscore that fact! But I think this can be a good thing for all Democrats.

We all agree that social security must be protected.