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Obama Puts Means-Testing Medicare on the Table

By Joseph Lawler on 7.15.11 @ 12:23PM

Two things from President Obama's press conference this morning indicate that a worthwhile "big deal" might still be attainable in the debt ceiling negotations. First, Obama expressed support for means-testing Medicare, which represents an update in his public stance on Medicare and probably will have Nancy Pelosi and co. outraged.

Second, Obama admitted that there's still plenty of time for the two sides to find a large-scale deal before resorting to back-up options like the McConnell plan. Despite the sometimes-hysterical coverage of the past few days, he and Majority Leader John Boehner agree on that much, with Boehner saying that "We are far from the time for a last-ditch effort."

Update: headline fixed.

View all comments (14) | Leave a comment

REigen| 7.15.11 @ 12:39PM

Translation: Obama knows that the McConnell plan is what the Republicans will fall back on if negotiations fail. So he can talk about things like putting Medicare on the table but make the deal unacceptable to Republicans at the same time. Then he gets to go on the campaign trail talking about how hard he tried to reach a deal, all the concessions he made, blah blah blah.

All because McConnell folded his hand before the hand was fully dealt. Thanks again, McConnell.

REigen| 7.15.11 @ 12:42PM

OR even worse, now that the Republicans have given away the fact that they have no backbone, Obama puts a plan on the table that is absolutely wretched and the Republicans end up accepting it because the alternative is the McConnell plan. And the McConnell plan makes the Republicans look even worse.

Thanks again, McConnell.

CalMark| 7.15.11 @ 1:07PM

Thanks, McConnell. Cowardly old goat.

You can't win a battle if you don't fight. And if you don't want to fight, don't put yourself in charge.

That goes for "Majority Leader" Boehner (proofreader, please!) too. Oh, wait. The last time Boehner was Majority Leader, the GOP lost the House in 2006. But that wasn't his fault. Neither was the 2008 bloodbath.

Bottom line: GOP "leaders" like McConnell and Boehner get "respect" and made "leaders" for being losers.

CalMark| 7.15.11 @ 1:08PM

P.S. Newt Gingrich on Laura Ingraham's show yesterday: the GOP always starts with the assumption they're going to lose, so they don't even fight. Sometimes, Newt is indisputably right.

PattyMor| 7.15.11 @ 1:14PM

Well, if the Rats don't want to fight, then let's primary all the leaders. For it shows that they aren't leaders after all, only followers. It time to lead or get the hell out of the way.

Oldefarte| 7.15.11 @ 1:58PM

'Means testing' is akin to 'wealth re-distribution', and both may in fact be the very same thing. Factually, it is POLITICAL DISCRIMINATION, but that is what the Democratic party is all about anyway [they steal, or redistribute, the wealth/income of anyone who EARNS same to give to indigents living off of governmental welfare]. Democrats do this under cover of being compassionate, but what they are in fact are corrupt and sleezy political prostitutes who provide their FAVORS to indigents for the price of these welfare recipients' votes!!!!!!!!

martin j smith| 7.15.11 @ 1:58PM

Lets not jump to conclusions Lawler. Obama's prime motivator is one thing TO WIN THE ELECTION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Obama is looking for ways to manipulate and I do not agree at all that anything is possible with this character. Lawler, please take a deep breath and lets waite to see Obama's "real" move. Its all about Political Strategy and please tell Beohner and McConnell to take a pill--not their peas.

MarkJ| 7.15.11 @ 2:11PM

Memo for all of you above: in politics, a week is an eon. Two weeks is an eternity. Obama may well have just screwed his own pooch by admitting that the sky isn't going to fall even if there isn't an immediate agreement.

If His Majesty keeps up up his "Raging Queen" act, Boehner can step in front of the cameras and say, "What's all the fuss? The President himself said we had plenty of time to work out a deal."

Wayne | 7.15.11 @ 6:12PM

Saying means testing is meaningless without saying what the means test is? Is it based on being responsible and doing the right thing and having savings and a 401K along with social security as retirement plan. That sounds to me more like theft.

Wayne | 7.15.11 @ 6:12PM

Oldefarte| 7.16.11 @ 9:58AM

Democrats' idea of 'means testing' would be simply that ANYONE WITH A JOB/INCOME AND NOT RECEIVING WELFARE would no t deserve Medicare EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE FORCED TO PAY FOR SAME THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE WORKING CAREER!!!!!!!!

c. j. acworth| 7.15.11 @ 6:27PM

I'd like to see the Gingrich plan tried out before the McConnell. Give Obama a 100 bil. debt ceiling hike in exchange for 100 bil. in budget cuts. Repeat every month as needed, until the Dem. controlled senate finally does thier job and coughs up a budget or we get to next November. The 100 bil. debt limit hike will reassure Granny that there is plenty of money for her Social Security each month. If Obama says no, then he is the one who gets to explain why granny and the troops don't get paid, since the Repubs have agreed to the hike to pay them.

Eddie Willers| 7.16.11 @ 1:29AM

Means-testing Medicare is ridiculous. We're going to pay for the losers to get Medicare and not get it ourselves? Forget that. This country is already way too much of a loserocracy. Better just end Medicare altogether. Non-taxpayers must be disenfranchised. As Russell Kirk observed in 'The Conservative Mind', they only use their votes to transfer wealth to themselves.