Social Security News 10-12-12

 SSSC/SSW mention **

Joe Biden On Social Security: Debate Answer Gets Mixed Reviews, Some Call Question 'Outrageous'

Matt Sledge

10-12-12

For Eric Kingson, co-director of the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, Biden's statements were an improvement -- although overall his reaction to the debate was still "mixed." "I think the vice president properly made a spirited statement about how he supports the program," Kingson said. "Obviously, in terms of Social Security, [Obama-Biden], not the Romney-Ryan ticket, is far better. Essentially Romney would act to destroy the basic Social Security system with privatization." However, Kingson said, "The rhetoric is good, but a White House that is opposed to privatizing Social Security is not enough."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/12/joe-biden-social-security-debate_n_1960981.html

 

SSSC/SSW mention **

 

Syracuse (NY)

Downtown Syracuse march opposes cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid

Paul Riede

10-11-12

At the Federal Building, Eric Kingson, a professor of social work at Syracuse University, told the crowd that U.S. Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, R-Onondaga, should apologize for supporting the Republican House budget authored by congressman and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, R-Wis. Kingson said the bill would turn Medicare into a voucher program and deeply cut funding for Medicaid.

He also demanded that Buerkle disavow Ryan’s “Roadmap for America’s Future,” a 2008 document that called for creating private investment accounts within Social Security. “We are here today to send a message that our Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are public trusts,” he said. “They are not to be tampered with by those who want to privatize, means-test, deeply cut or cut them at all.”

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/10/downtown_syracuse_march_oppose.html

 

Daily Kos (NAT)

The President Must Strongly Support Social Security

10-12-12

Much has been made of the President's statement, in the first presidential debate, that he and Governor Romney shared a similar position on Social Security. Another progressive site, not generally prone to rhetorical excesses, has also noted a certain cognitive dissonance in the President's (and vice-President's) failures to  unambiguously support support Social Security. Other sites where less restraint is practiced, have suggested that this failure reflects the President's close ties to the financial industry, which would benefit from the ultimate weakening or dismantling of Social Security.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/12/1143722/-The-President-Must-Strongly-Support-Social-Security

 

Washington Post (NAT)

Ryan supported Social Security privatization in 2005. What was that again?

Brad Plumer

10-12-12

At the vice-presidential debate Thursday, Rep. Paul Ryan was asked about the time when, back in 2005, he pushed to partially privatize Social Security. Here’s how Ryan replied: “What we said then, and what I’ve always agreed, is let younger Americans have a voluntary choice of making their money work faster for them within the Social Security system.” Ryan was quick to add that Mitt Romney isn’t proposing anything like this now.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/12/ryan-supported-social-security-privatization-in-2005-what-was-that-again/

 

The Atlantic (NAT)

The Real Difference Between Romney and Obama on Social Security

Jordan Weissmann

10-12-12

So far, the president has laid a few basic ground rules for any Social Security plan he would approve. Most importantly, he says it shouldn't "slash" benefits in the long run, or cut them at all benefits for current retirees.  Vowing not to "slash" a program isn't quite the same as vowing not to tinker with it. But presumably, it does mean Obama would look for more revenue to keep Social Security running at full steam. That's in keeping with what he's suggested in the past. In 2008 -- feels like eons ago, huh? -- Obama supported a plan that would fix Social Security's finances in part by raising taxes on households making more than $250,000 a year. Currently, Americans pay payroll taxes on wages up to $110,1000 a year. Obama didn't want to remove that cap completely, but instead wanted earners in the top income brackets to pay between 2 and 4 percent more.  In September, Obama told an AARP rally that he'd consider reviving the idea, or at least something like it. Per the Huffington Post's Sam Stein:

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/10/the-real-differences-between-romney-and-obama-on-social-security/263559/

 

MSNBC (NAT)

Biden holds Ryan accountable for support for privatizing Social Security

10-12-12

Sen. Richard Durbin talks about Vice President Biden’s debate tactic of emphasizing Paul Ryan’s support for George W. Bush’s unpopular plan to privatize Social Security, and the important difference in positions on exiting Afghanistan.

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/msnbc/49383667/#49383667

 

 

 

Politics

 

Politico (DC)

Medicare Cage Match: Biden vs. Ryan

JONATHAN ALLEN

10-12-12

Joe Biden and Paul Ryan say they want the same thing for seniors: to make sure Medicare and Social Security are still around for future generations.

But they come at it from different directions — and at full speed.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/82322.html?hp=r9

 

Politico (DC)

Woman power could decide 2012

CHRISTINE M. RIORDAN

10-12-12

There’s something to be said for woman power. Women are the majority gender in the U.S. , represent over 50 percent of the electorate and show up to vote at a higher rate than do men . Thus, women wield a lot of power in this presidential election. For the past two decades, since 1992, polls indicate that women vote for Democratic presidential candidates at a much higher percentage than Republican candidates.

And according to a fact sheet issued by the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), in the 2008 election, the female vote made a significant difference in Barack Obama winning the election over John McCain. In 2008, there was only a small percentage difference between the candidates for male voters, but there was a 13 percent difference in women voters favoring Obama over McCain.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/82318.html?hp=r19

 

The Hill (DC)

Sen. Ron Wyden rejects Ryan's debate claim he supports GOP Medicare plan

Sam Baker

10-12-12

"The Romney/Ryan plan on Medicare pulls the safety net out from under the poorest and most vulnerable seniors, taking away the opportunity for nursing home care from seniors who need it and have no other options," Wyden wrote after the debate. "The Wyden-Ryan white paper strengthened the safety net for these dual eligibles. The Romney/Ryan version shreds it. The republican ticket knows that neither I, nor any other Democrat, would support these policies." Ryan's initial Medicare plan, released in 2011, would have completely ended the existing Medicare program and moved seniors into a new system of private insurance. The subsequent Wyden-Ryan plan, much like Romney-Ryan, would leave the existing program in place, so seniors could choose between traditional Medicare or private coverage.

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/politics-elections/261761-wyden-rejects-ryans-claim-he-supports-gop-medicare-plan

 

USA Today (NAT)

Analysis: Biden more aggressive than his boss

Susan Page

10-12-12

12:52AM EDT October 12. 2012 - DANVILLE, KY. — Joe Biden arrived on stage Thursday night determined to have the debate that his boss didn't. From the opening question, the vice president aggressively pressed Paul Ryan on the specifics of the GOP proposals. He worked in a reference to the killing of Osama bin Laden in response to a question about this month's attack on Americans in Libya. He all but called Ryan a liar when the Republican vice presidential nominee attacked President Obama's administration for issuing a series of misleading early statements on the terrorist assault that killed a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans. "Not true," Biden mouthed silently as Ryan was talking. "With all due respect, that's a bunch of malarkey," he declared. As the debate unfolded, Biden grinned; he mugged; he gestured; he interrupted. At times, he seemed to be laughing away Ryan's criticism, dismissing it as "bluster and loose talk."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2012/10/11/biden-ryan-debate-analysis/1628505/

 

Wall Street Journal (NAT)

Politics Count: Will Voter Registration Matter

Dante Chinni

10-12-12

Every few years America’s major political parties get very interested in getting people registered to vote – or maybe more accurately, in getting the “right” people registered to vote. t’s a lot easier to come up with a winning hand on Election Day when the deck is stacked in your favor. So, for months now, supporters of President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney have been knocking on doors and standing corners trying to register like-minded people. In a close election every vote may count, particularly in the swing states.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/10/12/politics-counts-will-voter-registration-matter/