Dean: Big deficit suits GOP's plans

[unfrigginreal]

By Susan Page and Jill Lawrence, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean accused Republicans on Thursday of running up the federal budget deficit so they can undermine the fiscal underpinnings of Medicare and Social Security.

I think their principal motivation is to undo the pillars of the New Deal, particularly Medicare and Social Security, by making the budget deficit so big that those programs can't be sustained," he said at a lunch with USA TODAY and the Gannett News Service. (Related story: Excerpts from Dean interview)

Republican spokeswoman Christine Iverson said fighting terrorism has fueled the deficit and called Dean's remark "disturbing."

In an economic plan he released Thursday, Dean made balancing the federal budget a top priority. He argued that fiscal discipline would help create jobs and restore cuts in government aid. But he didn't list specifics on how he'd balance the budget.

more...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2003-10-16-dean-deficit-usat_x.htm

[Flying_Pig]

1. It's not just SS and Medicare they are trying to undermine, it's the

whole damned nation, and every single social program we've got. At least Howard is taking pains to point out some of their reasoning. This is a good thing....

[goforit]

2. Hello Ms. Iverson?.Haliburton screws the tax payer 600 times over/gal.

We,the people, never agreed to Iraq which had "zero" to do with TERRORISM!!!

But it is A OK for the GOP to say and do what ever they
like because they are above the law.

[boilerbabe]

3. Right On!!

I am so sick of this administration and the shit they are pulling so blatantly!! I have been working on Howard Dean's campaign here in S.E. Conn. and I think the reason why I like him so much is that he does have his act together and also is not afraid to let you know where he stands. I also like Dennis Kucinich a lot and think that a Dean/Kucinich matchup in the White House would be just the thing to fix this raped, looted, pillaged country up!!

[maggrwaggr]

4. His remark is "disturbing" because it's true

and she's worried that they've been busted.

That's why she's disturbed.

I thought this was old news. I thought there were plenty of neocons in the past who have just come out and said this blatantly.

Thanks, Dean, for bringing it up so maybe people will actually notice.

[rhino47]

5. Cheap labor Neo Cons Objective to Create Deficits

This comes as no surprise.It does a few things.One screws every social program that has neo cons foaming at the mouth.It also leads to a shortage of funding so the democrats can`t fullfil their objectives leaving the appearance of them being uneffective.Repukes would rather hurt the country (poor ,eldery children) by doing this so they stand so called better chance at getting elected under the guise of "smaller goverment" that plays well to neo con voters.That to me is rather sad and scary.:mad:

[newyawker99]

7. Hi rhino47!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[w4rma]

8. *And* the moneylenders/bankers make off like bandits. (n/t)

[JackSwift]

6. Well I'm happy that a major candidate is talking about it

Of course this is what they have been doing, and the rank and file will gleefully admit this: they think that social security and medicare are welfare and want to be rid of them. The media will let this story die as quickly as they can.

The Republicans in their various publications discuss "starving" government in order to "contain" it. They believe that government is necessarily ineffecient, necessarily evil and unworkable, and they believe those things as as basic postulate. Accordingly they get in power and administrate with those assumptions, and it truly sucks.

[goforit]

9. Goooooooo.............DEAN!!!!!

I just love your left hook between the eyes!!!

[artr2]

10. Still waiting for the bash Dean message?

You mean that we can actually get about 6 down without a a bash comment. Absolutly fucking amazing