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More proof that the Republican plan put forward by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) to privatize Medicare is a massive political liability. Another poll, this time from Bloomberg, finds that the American people think it would make seniors worse off:
By a margin of 57 percent to 34 percent, poll respondents say they would be worse off if Ryan’s plan to convert Medicare to a system of subsidized private health coverage were adopted. Fifty-eight percent of independents, a critical voting bloc in recent elections, say they would be worse off.
The GOP’s very unpopular Medicare privatization plan is not surprisingly helping Democrats get the upper hand on the issue of Medicare:
Respondents say they trust Obama’s party, the Democrats, more than Republicans to do a better job of dealing with Medicare, by 43 percent to 34 percent, with 23 percent not sure. Independents give Democrats a 14-percentage-point advantage over Republicans when it comes to handling Medicare.
This could be a real political win for Democrats in 2012. The only question mark is whether or not President Obama will sacrifice the Democratic Party’s advantage on this issue by allowing Medicare cuts to be included in a debt ceiling deal with the Republicans.
That move could muddy the waters on the issue and allow the GOP to claim some vindication for “thinking big.” It would politically hard the entire Democratic party, but could help Obama promote personal image of being able to bring both sides together.
21 Comments
Yes. Deal with it by paying doctors 30% less next year.
“It would politically hard” should be “It would politically hurt”?
Anyone who’s dealt with an insurance company knows that throwing social security into that deep pit is complete betrayal of everything they’ve paid into it.
And the simple solution is still SINGLE PAYER, NOT-FOR-PROFIT medicare for all.
Instead of Dems trying to score points by defending the flawed status quo, i would much rather them move forward.
AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…
Citizen Jon Walker:
If Obama caves he will lose the election, there will be an insurrection in the Democratic Party like there was in 1968 (it’s already started in Wisconsin), and Democrats runnin’ for the House and Senate will run away from the bastard and could very well end up holdin the Senate and takin back the House. Obama has nuthin to triangulate with now, the wars AND the economy are in the tank but large majorities do not trust the Republicans on either anymore. We are lookin at a real disaster in the short run but possibly a real good thing for the long run. The key here is that Obama has lost his brand and has no political base and he can’t count on Republicans to bail ‘im out…the poor bastard has been snookered by Rahm Emmanuel and Larry Summers frontin’ for the banksters and has no where to go but left and quickly.
I have long since believed that Obama is not politically stupid but he could very well prove me wrong and if he does we’ll be rid of ‘im quite ricky-tic.
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, AND ORGANIZE DAMMIT DON’T CRY ABOUT IT!!
Yeah, I can see the Democrats’ 2012 campaign slogan now: Private Health Insurance – good enough for you but not for grandpa.
Sounds like a real winner.
“This could be a real win for the Democrats in 2012″
Really? Would the Democrats actually use it to their advantage? They should – they have always failed to capitalize on past opprotunities. It is unlikely that they will capitalize this time. It will be another missed opprotunity. They constantly fail to take advantage of anything.
“. . .but could help Obama promote personal image of being able to bring both sides together”.
Should be corrected to read “personal ILLUSION of being able to bring both sides together.” Remember that everytime you hear ‘bi-partisan’. The GOP has become a party of zealots commited to a corporate cause. They have no interest in social justice, tax fairness, or democratic principles. Tax cuts for the weathly and uber wealthy, tax cuts for corporations, tax relief for all. . .but the middle class.
They will create jobs. . but the jobs will be overseas. They firmly believe that if they can keep jobs from being created they can win the Whitehouse with any nominee. The goal is continued high unemployment. They will block any job creation legislation. They are doing that as you read this. . .
I have this argument with people all the time, who think that the inertia on the part of the public is so great there will be no political price paid for cutting Social Security. They think people are in complete outrage fatigue.
I’m with you — I can’t for the life of me see how people just wave their hands and say “no big” after Social Security gets cut. It just seems so fundamental to everything that the Democratic Party has stood for in my lifetime, reinforced as recently as 2006 when the party used it to whip the GOP over Bush’s privatization scheme.
Maybe we’re wrong Norske. But I think it’s a recipe for disaster on many fronts. Sadly, it looks like we may find out.
I’m not so sure. I think US citizens are so lazy & so indifferent to their fates anymore that they’ll *take* just about anything.
It’s not just conservatives who are brainwashed by the propoganda machine. I know far too many trad-Dem voters who just about as influenced (more or less by osmosis) by the propoganda & spin as any rightwing conservative. I witness it all the time. The Overton Window HAS been pushed far far far to the right, and too many citizens complacently accept it as “reality.”
Time will tell, but I’m constantly witnessing citizens being very *agreeable* about “Soc Sec is ONLY for my grandparents, not for me… ho hum”
If citizens put up with this crap, then that’s it. We’re hosed.
Yep – Republicans are blocking any and all jobs creation legislation or even just efforts to work with businesses – at both the State & Fed level.
Republicans have less than ZERO interest in creating ANY jobs whatsoever for ANY US domiciled citizens. And that includes making it difficult for true “small” US businesses to borrow money.
Democrats are not much better. It’s all Kabuki Show, imo, but I guess at least Dems make passing stabs at jobs creation.
I’d like to see a commercial and a big push for those who think Medicare should be cut to cancell their medicare (and Social Security) benefits. Wouldn’t that be enough of a reduction to save money and pacify them?
Umm… does it actually matter what is or is not popular with the public? No one in Washington actually works for us, do they?
‘…but could help Obama promote personal image of being able to bring both sides together. “
Just what I needed, a gang bang.
Well he sacrificed the party in order to get a win on “health care,” it stands to reason he’ll pull it again for another personal goal. What would that disaster pave the way for? Long wrong good or long run worse?
That 43% of respondents trust the Democratic party to do a better job than Republicans on Medicare shows how far the Democratic party has fallen. The “New Deal” economic stimulus under FDR, the “Social Security Act of 1965″ signed into law by former President Johnson, both Democratic presidents. Yet the Democratic party has so lost sight of what it represents that only 43% of respondents trust the party to do a better job on programs it started…just sad.
The problem is that we have over 2 years of broken campaign promises on major issues from the 2008 election. He has lost credibility. I filter everything he SAYS now knowing he is in re-election mode. Actions will always speak louder than words.
“If Obama caves he will lose the election, there will be an insurrection in the Democratic Party like there was in 1968 (it’s already started in Wisconsin)…”
I can think of one person rooting for the (inevitable) Obama cave,
TRUMP: I think the Republicans have a death wish. When I watched what happened in December, with the lame duck. When I watched Paul Ryan come out with his plan, which the timing was the worst I’ve ever seen in the history of politics. There was no reason for him to do it… when I watched the Republicans self-destruct or death wish, as I say, I said, I’ll do the show. I’ll see who they pick. If they pick a loser, I may very well run as an independent.
HANNITY: All right.
TRUMP: Because it is totally vital to get Obama out of office. He’s a terrible president. He’s doing a terrible job. And I don’t think he has any concept to what he’s doing.
http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/hannity/transcript/trump-may-run-independent-if-gop-picks-loser
Paul Ryan is a leader..something Obummer is not. He is proposing great changes for the entitlement train..which is going to wreck, if it is not stopped..Of course it is going to be unpopular..people get used to feeding at the public trough. Well, like Greece, the time of reconing is here. Get over it..
The Ryan plan may be unpopular, but here are some facts you left out:
ObamaCare™ is now more unpopular (38% approval) than it was when it first passed (41% approval).
Paul Ryan is NOT running for President – Obama is.
The people will either credit Obama on the economy or blame him. Paul Ryan will not figure into the calculation as to whether or not people are better of than they were when The Clown™ took office in January 2009.
That would be me..I will never apply for SS because one is automatically forced into Medicare..which I want no part of.
Say hello to everyone in freeperville. I would love to see the people that don’t want SS and medicare and federal money put into your own states to fend for yourselves.