Why Obama just can't win on Social Security
Conservatives have been clamoring for entitlement cuts. Now that Obama has offered them, a GOP congressman blasts him for a "shocking attack on seniors"
President Obama's new budget proposal would take the knife to a sacred cow of Democratic politics: Social Security. More specifically, the president wants to tie Social Security benefits to chained CPI, which would reduce spending (and consequently, benefit checks) over the next 10 years by $216 billion, according to CNN Money. (Not sure what chained CPI is? Read our helpful primer.)
Many liberals are furious with Obama. Consider this from Jon Walker at FireDogLake:
Theoretically, this is something that should please Republican deficit hawks, who have long called for entitlement reforms to help rein in America's out-of-control spending. And so many liberals reacted with disbelief Wednesday when Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), head of the National Republican Congressional Committee, went on CNN to call Obama's budget a "shocking attack on seniors."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The NRCC followed up by saying that "President Obama should apologize for offering the American people a budget that doesn't balance and hurts seniors."
A sampling of liberal umbrage, from Greg Sargent at The Washington Post:
Of course, not all Republicans echoed Walden. Paul Ryan, for one, told the National Review that Obama "should be commended for leaning into an issue that is not popular." Chris Chocola, president of the anti-tax Club for Growth, issued a statement saying: "Greg Walden ought to think about clarifying his remarks on chained CPI, and think about clarifying soon. I'm sure his constituents would like to know his opinion."
Former GOP congressman Joe Scarborough said on his MSNBC talk show Morning Joe that Walden is "absolutely hypocritical."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
"We've been busting his chops, the president, for months — put it out there, be responsible," Scarborough said. And "the president … just dips his toe in the water and Greg Walden comes out swinging."
Still, despite the conservative blowback to the NRCC's stance, it seems like Obama can do no right on Social Security, drawing the ire of both conservatives and liberals. But maybe that's the point.
"For now, [the budget] has served its purpose — no one will be able to accuse Mr. Obama of refusing to touch entitlements, and no one can credit Republicans for being at all serious about a deficit-reduction compromise," says The New York Times in an editorial. While Republicans are caught playing politics on cable news, Obama gets to play the long game, sitting above the fray in the Oval Office.
Sometimes, apparently, it pays to lose.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Keith Wagstaff is a staff writer at TheWeek.com covering politics and current events. He has previously written for such publications as TIME, Details, VICE, and the Village Voice.
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published