Republican push to privatize Medicare unraveling

[Playinghardball]

Source: Raw Story

WASHINGTON – Americans concerned about the future of Medicare can breathe a sigh of relief: recent developments on Capitol Hill suggest Republicans are easing up in their push to turn the program into a voucher system.

The proposal is a non-starter in the Senate, and unlikely to survive President Barack Obama's veto pen. Yet it could serve to pressure Democrats into some Medicare cuts.

But signs of deep ambivalence have emerged among key Republicans, as leaders slowly pivot from tea partiers demanding cuts to so-called entitlements and toward placating worried seniors who depend on Medicare.

It began with an interview House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) gave to the Washington Post on Wednesday night, which led the paper to blast out a news alert saying "Medicare dropped from GOP budget proposal." Cantor's office went into damage control mode, and the Post later softened its narrative by saying Republicans are open to a compromise.

More at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/05/05/republican-push-to-privatize-medicare-unraveling/

[aquart]

1. NO CUTS. NO GIVE. NO COOPERATION.

Tax the rich or take a hike.

[Scuba]

2. It's all part of their plan. Stake out a position on the extreme, extreme....

...right, then move an inch and say you're now in the middle.

[City Lights]

3. If you senators are going to cut something, start with yourselves!

Give up your health care first! C'mon! Be leaders! I triple-dog-dare you!

[DontTreadOnMe]

4. "Obama Saved Medicare"

...watch their heads explode