Fri, July 8, 2011 11:53:35 AM
URGENT: Obama proposes cuts to Social Security
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From:
"Brian Sonenstein, Firedoglake.com"
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President Obama Proposes Cuts to Social Security
Pledge not to vote for anyone who votes to cut Social Security benefits.
Take the pledge.
Dear david,
The war on our social safety net is now fully underway.
Yesterday, President Obama put cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits on the table in exchange for GOP support for tax hikes.1 Democrats in the Senate and Congress will likely follow suit, and the social safety net will go on the chopping block as part of the debt ceiling negotiations.
Support for cutting seniors access to health care among the political classes is growing quickly, and we need to escalate our efforts right now. Firedoglake activists are standing up and pledging not to vote for ANY politician who participates in cutting Social Security or Medicare benefits -- will you join us?
Add your name to our pledge not to vote for or donate to any politician who advocates cuts to social safety net programs like Medicare and Social Security.
It's time to draw a line in the sand. Click here to sign: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/safetynet-lib
President Obama doesn't have to do this.
There is no need for Democrats to agree to Republican demands for raising the debt ceiling, because the 14th amendment of the Constitution says the government can't default on its debts.2 Obama is therefore not only able but Constitutionally obligated to ignore the debt ceiling and doesn't have to offer Social Security and Medicare benefit cuts.
Our politicians need to know that we mean business when it comes to protecting fundamental programs like Social Security and Medicare. The only way we can hope to stop Obama's assault on senior citizens is if we commit to building a groundswell of deep grassroots opposition to cutting these benefits.
Our campaign to protect Social Security has been strong and is by no means over. With over 60,000 people standing together to say NO to cutting retirement benefits, we need to expand our campaign to include seniors access to healthcare and our social safety net as a whole.
Sign our letter pledging not to vote for any politician who seeks to cut social safety net programs like Social Security and Medicare.
Republicans have repeatedly stated that deficit negotiations cannot move forward without including cuts to social safety net programs, and Democrats, led by President Obama, seem to be willing to give in to their will. Hopefully, with your support, we can demonstrate that we won't stand for it.
Thank you for your commitment to standing up for these critical programs that provide important services to our most vulnerable citizens.
Deepest thanks
Brian Sonenstein
Digital Strategy Director
Firedoglake.com
[1] In debt talks, Obama offers Social Security cuts. Washington Post, 7/6/11.
[2] White House Could Ignore the Debt Limit, Order Debt Repayment, According to Constitutional Scholars. FDL News Desk, 6/24/11.
