Sanders and DeFazio call for Obama to remove Simpson

[suffragette]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0810/Sanders_Replace_Deficit_Commission_coChairman_for_cow_analogy.html#

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called on President Barack Obama Wednesday to replace deficit commission co-Chairman Alan Simpson in the wake of remarks Simpson made in an e-mail likening Social Security to a cow "with 310 million tits."

Simpson, who served as a Republican senator for nearly two decades, was selected by Obama to help steer the commission charged with trying to reduce the ballooning federal deficit. But after the Simpson e-mail was revealed this week, Sanders — who sent a letter to Obama with Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) — says Simpson should no longer be allowed to stay on the commission.

"Despite the many years of distinguished public service former Sen. Simpson has dedicated to this country, his recent e-mail indicates that it is no longer appropriate for him to serve on the bipartisan deficit reduction commission," Sanders and DeFazio wrote. "Therefore, in order for your commission's recommendations to have credibility with Congress, we respectfully urge you to remove Sen. Simpson from the commission."

Simpson, alongside Democratic co-Chairman Erskine Bowles, has a major role in shaping policy that could affect Social Security. Given the glib nature of the e-mails, both Sanders and DeFazio contend that the former Wyoming senator cannot still be considered qualified to make impartial and fair decisions about Social Security.

"While there are honest differences of opinion as to how best to tackle this growing problem, we should all be in agreement that everyone working in this area — especially someone in as important a position as the of your National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform — has a responsibility to be as serious, deliberate and sober as the challenges we face," they wrote in a letter to the president.

More here:
http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=4391FF9D-91B5-4D2A-A961-08C5C049D84B

[BrklynLiberal]

1. How could there be even a moment's hesitation in dumping that P.O.S.?

How about putting a REAL DEMOCRAT in charge of the commission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enough of this BS kowtowing to the repukes!

[DJ13]

3. Doers Obama even know any real Democrats?

:shrug:

[BrklynLiberal]

4. He may have met some. Not sure how much he actually works with them.

[joeybee12]

5. Self-delete...posted in wrong place...n/t

[truedelphi]

13. Jes' watch him reaching out to Progressive Dems

During both Octobers - 2010, and 2012.

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. Seems he prefers repukes.

:shrug:

[SammyWinstonJack]

18. Seems he prefers repukes.

:shrug:

[suffragette]

11. Agree with that

Or even better, I saw a post awhile back about putting economists such as Krugman,Robert Reich and Galbraith on it - makes sense since it's the "fiscal commission."
Of course, they might propose directions different than the ones apparently agreed to at G-20.

[BrklynLiberal]

22. THAT would be trio worth listening to.

[suffragette]

24. It definitely would

I'd wager the conversation we'd be having would be COMPLETELY different - substantive and addressing the real source of budget problems.

[CreekDog]

2. Simpson is a boob

:eyes:

[joeybee12]

6. He's a boob, talking about tits...

Talk about irony!

[suffragette]

14. Have you seen what NOW is proposing?

Right in the zone!

http://now.org/press/08-10/08-25b.html

[BrklynLiberal]

20. Thanks for that link!!!

[suffragette]

25. A snippet from NOW's "Tits for an Ass" campaign

http://now.org/press/08-10/08-25b.html

A "cow with 310 million tits"? For those who believe Social Security belongs to the workers who earned it, not to the government and certainly not to the Fiscal Commission, NOW announces its "Tits for an Ass" campaign. NOW will be asking our 500,000 members and supporters to use our website or Twitter account to help us buy baby bottle nipples, which we'll hand deliver to the White House with a letter urging President Obama to fire Alan Simpson. And while he's at it, the president should replace Simpson with a leader who will actually try to address the federal budget deficit, instead of using it as a subterfuge to cut Social Security benefits.

On this eve of Women's Equality Day, we celebrate 90 years of women's right to vote, but Simpson's rant is a nasty reminder of how ageist and sexist some of our leaders still are. If Simpson does not have the decency to resign, then President Obama should relieve him of his duties.

[chill_wind]

31. That's 310 million VERY PISSED OFF "Tits", to you, Mr Simpson.

Thanks for the link..

Alternet has had a petition to scrap the CAT FOOD Commission altogether-- it's up to 2600+ signatures,
if anybody is interested-

http://www.change.org/alternet/petitions/view/tell_congress_stop_the_catfood_commission?=partner59

[suffragette]

36. That would be the best outcome

Thanks for the link.

[lib2DaBone]

55. Kick and sign petition

:kick:

[HillWilliam]

62. I hope they jam all 310 million of 'em up his backside

and ask how he likes them titties now.

[BrklynLiberal]

21. Thanks for that link!!!

[Oceansaway]

7. K&R...n/t

[scarletwoman]

8. Good. I hope the pressure keeps building. K&R (nt)

[suffragette]

29. I have so appreciated your posts on this issue

You've nailed it perfectly in each post I've seen.

It looks like there's enough pressure that he (inadequately) apologized.

I hope everyone keeps pressing.

AARP is in it now, which is a strong development.

[scarletwoman]

34. Oh my! Thank you so much for your kind words!

:D And thank YOU for keeping this issue up front!

I agree, AARP getting into it is very good.

:hi:
sw

[suffragette]

35. You're welcome

and you keep it up, too.

:hi:

:hug:

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[suffragette]

40. Succinctly stated

And a belated welcome to DU to you.
:hi:

[Scurrilous]

42. LOL

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=261242

[suffragette]

44. That was fast

Must have been from another thread.

[QC]

10. Hopefully, Fox "News" will call for Simpson's resignation.

Then he'll be out the door toot sweet.

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. If I pretend to be a Republican, can I get a chair on the committee?

:evilgrin:

[suffragette]

28. .

:spank:

:evilgrin:

[BlueIdaho]

15. Simpson

has always been... outspoken, but this is bullshit. Email the White House and remind our President of his recent statements about safeguarding Social Security against a republican tide. Now is the time to show America he means what he says. No more lip service, its time to act.

[sandnsea]

16. Let's get a Republican that pretends to support social security

Yeah, that's such a better idea.

I prefer the one that is straight-up about his position so everybody can see it.

[suffragette]

30. His position was already known

I'd much rather see respected economists on a fiscal commission.

We'd have a very different process then.

[avaistheone1]

64. Simpson was definitely known as an unreasonable Scrooge on

safety net programs during is time in the Senate. If Obama was paying attention in the Senate he should have known this as well.

[chill_wind]

19. K & R and thanks. I thank and fully support them.

There should be a letter with a list of signatures a mile long. Get your act together Dems in Congress. This is a complete no-brainer.

[suffragette]

23. There absolutely should be a letter with enough signatures to roll

it all the way down the Capitol steps.

For now, AARP is weighing in:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/25/896111/-AARP-blasts-Alan-Simpson

AARP STATEMENT ON IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL SECURITY FOR 310 MILLION AMERICANS

WASHINGTON—AARP Senior Vice President Drew Nannis offered the following statement in response to Senator Alan Simpson’s troubling comments about the importance of Social Security for 310 million Americans:

“Senator Simpson’s latest attack on Social Security is offensive for several reasons, particularly for belittling a bedrock program that is the foundation of family security for all generations. The vast majority of the 310 million Americans he insulted – particularly 156 million women and younger Americans for whom the traditional pension will be a relic of history – don’t have access to the type of traditional pension retirement security that Sen. Simpson has from his decades in Congress. Perhaps that’s why his comments demonstrate a woeful disconnect from or disinterest in the challenges facing many American families for whom Social Security is literally a lifeline.

“Sen. Simpson’s most recent departure from reality would be easy to dismiss if not for his position co-leading a Presidential commission that will likely recommend changes to Social Security. Sen. Simpson's remarks not only cross the line of good judgment, but they undermine the serious work of the commission and give us little confidence the commission can fairly look at important programs such as Social Security.”



And have you seen NOW's creative proposal? Look for the links there.
http://now.org/press/08-10/08-25b.html

[glitch]

33. The beauty of the NOW response is that it so subtly states the real threat Dems

should be fighting, so the 'triangulating from privatization' kabuki isn't going to fly.
As Krugman pointed out today, privatization is dead. We killed it when Bush tried it and buried it when the stock market required government bailouts to keep from crashing the economy. The fact that some of the more radical right haven't accepted its death should be more reasonably viewed as fringe, not a starting point for negotiation.

"his dogged determination to dismantle Social Security by cutting benefits or increasing the retirement age"

:hi:

[suffragette]

37. That part cuts right to the core of this debacle

and puts up a notice that we are all paying attention and won't just roll over on this.

:hi:

[glitch]

39. You said that better than I did. :) nt

[suffragette]

46. Now that's a point I would argue with you

I say you said it better.
:evilgrin:

[glitch]

47. :)- Yours was more succinct so you win automatically. nt

[suffragette]

48. That's what happens when I'm running for the bus

I usually go on for a bit.

Hmm, maybe I should post from that perspective more often.

Seriously though, I saw in other threads that Simpson's apology was already accepted.

I think that even broke the time record of Sherrod having to text her resignation from the side of the road, though obviously to opposite effect.

I hope that the congress folk and organizations respond tomorrow rather than letting this die down.

[glitch]

50. Me too. I think congress and we the people are our only hope at this point.

edit: and I'm not so sure about congress.

[suffragette]

51. Yep, on both counts

[Kingofalldems]

26. Yeah, I like it. Never should have been there in the first place.

Another GOP vandal.

[Jack Rabbit]

27. By all means . . .

Let's take the cat food out of the cat food commission.

[suffragette]

32. I think his email screed was more like something cats cough up

I think the message needs to be sent to the commission, Congress and the Administration that we're watching and we won't stand for it.

[suffragette]

38. "Grijalva Calls on Simpson to Recuse Himself"

http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13§iontree=5,13&itemid=713

Grijalva Calls on Simpson to Recuse Himself From Fiscal Commission After Publicized Remarks Show His Disdain for Social Security
Wednesday August 25, 2010

Tucson, Ariz.– Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said today that recent remarks by National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform Co-Chair Alan Simpson suggest that he should consider recusing himself from his responsibilities. “It has become increasingly apparent that his disdain for Social Security is out of line with the majority of Americans,” Grijalva said. “His disregard for the integrity of the program, and for women in general, is unsettling. Americans have invested and earned their right to have a secure retirement, whether or not Sen. Simpson agrees.”

Grijalva’s statement comes after the National Older Women’s League (OWL) released an Aug. 23 email Simpson sent to Ashley Carson, the group’s executive director. In it, Simpson writes: “If you have some better suggestions about how to stabilize Social Security instead of just babbling into the vapors, let me know. And yes, I’ve made some plenty smart cracks about people on Social Security who milk it to the last degree. You know ‘em too. It’s the same with any system in America. We’ve reached a point now where it’s like a milk cow with 310 million tits! Call when you get honest work!”

Responding to Sen. Simpson’s characterization, Grijalva pointed out that Social Security is vital for millions of women who continue to earn less over their lifetimes than men and are less often covered by private retirement plans. “Social Security belongs to every American who has worked hard, paid taxes, and earned a good retirement. Social Security does not contribute a penny to the federal deficit, and its benefits should not be cut in a misguided attempt to reduce that deficit. If Sen. Simpson truly feels the disgust at Social Security he indicates in this letter, he should consider recusing himself from the commission.”

[Bluenorthwest]

41. Peter DeFazio is my Rep

And he's so very correct.

[suffragette]

43. Yes he is correct

Tell him a big
:yourock:

[butterfly77]

45. KICK BABY KICK ..

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[suffragette]

52. Thanks for the kickety

[pleah]

49. K&R

[Hannah Bell]

53. kik for putting that cow out to pasture

[suffragette]

54. Agree with that

We've sure had enough of his bull$hit, haven't we?

[nilram]

56. Contribute to Bernie Sanders & Peter DeFazio's reelection campaigns here!

Line up, people! Give 'em ten bucks and say you appreciate their stand. If enough of us stand behind them, then *we're* the fat cats.

http://www.defazioforcongress.org/

http://www.bernie.org/
 
 

[BlueIris]

59. Thanks for this. I love me some Peter DeFazio. nt

[w4rma]

57. NO! Disband the whole commission. It's a farce with or without him. (nt)

[suffragette]

58. Agree about it being a farce

which is especially clear since the main way they plan to wield axes is in cutting Social Security.

Is any other program being looked at based on 27 year projections?

[Doctor_J]

60. Excellent! I can't wait to hear Bernie discuss this tomorrow with Thom

Noon EDT

http://www.620kpoj.com/mediaplayer/?station=KPOJ-AM&action=listenlive&channel_title=

[Poboy]

61. Recommend.

[peacetalksforall]

63. I support Sanders and DeFazio. Thank you.

[laughingliberal]

65. K & R nt

[Ignis]

66. K&R. And while we're at it, disband the commission.

[suffragette]

72. + 1,000

[handmade34]

67. call the WH

email, sign petitions, talk to everyone. Simpson must go!

[russspeakeasy]

68. And do it today....

[Better Believe It]

69. Why does Senator Sanders want the deficit commission to achieve credibility?

"in order for your commission's recommendations to have credibility with Congress, we respectfully urge you to remove Sen. Simpson from the commission."

Senator Sanders should call upon President Obama to disband the commission and not say or do anything that will lend credibility to a commission that will propose major cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

That was a pretty weak statement. He can and should do much better.

I hope that Senator Sanders makes a clear public statement in opposition to ANY and ALL methods that might be proposed to cut Social Security benefits including "means testing" and using a new formula for calculating "cost-of-living" increases. Senator Sanders has indicated his opposition to privatìzing Social Security and increasing the full retirement age.

[suffragette]

70. I'd prefer that as well

[suffragette]

71. Add Jerrold Nadler and Elaine Marshall to the list

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/08/alan-simpson-resignation-roundup/62132/

North Carolina Democratic Senate candidate Elaine Marshall, on Thursday:

"Alan Simpson's remarks were disrespectful to women and to social security recipients. He should resign or the President should fire him," Marshall said, speaking at the Levine Museum of the New South in Charlotte.

"The fact that he thinks this way shows that he can't do his job with an open mind. We should be doing everything in our power to strengthen and protect Social Security, not attacking the recipients who depend on it."

New York Democratic Congressman Jerrold Nadler, on Thursday:

We cannot trust the integrity of any product or recommendations of the Commission as long as former Senator Simpson is the Chairman. His insulting and outrageous comments reveal his own mistaken belief that Social Security is a) in crisis, b) about to collapse, and c) contributes to the deficit. None of this is true. In fact, the Social Security Trust Fund has a $2.5 trillion dollar surplus, and it will be able to pay 100 percent of benefits through 2037, according to the Social Security Board of Trustees. What's more, Social Security has not contributed at all to the federal deficit. It is well known that Simpson has tried time and again over the years to raise the retirement age and cut Social Security benefits, and he makes no attempt to disguise his goals and attitude toward Social Security in his most recent comments.

Furthermore, Simpson demonstrated a total disrespect for women and an unjustifiably contemptuous attitude toward Ashley Carson, Executive Director of the Older Women's League. His comments were offensive, ignorant, and misleading, and he should be fired immediately.