Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumThe coming clash between Bernie and Biden
The former vice presidents record on Social Security is about to be torn open by Sanders.
By MARC CAPUTO and HOLLY OTTERBEIN
01/13/2020 07:02 PM EST
Bernie Sanders first major tangle with Joe Biden over a 2010 deal that Biden struck with Republicans that liberals believed threatened Social Security helped fuel his national rise.
Now Sanders is set to reprise that clash Tuesday night on the debate stage, where the Vermont senator is preparing to lay into Biden over his record on Social Security.
For the past week, Sanders and his campaign have telegraphed his attack over the former vice presidents long-standing record entertaining cuts to the program that are anathema to progressives and many mainstream Democrats.
Sanders speechwriter and senior adviser David Sirota said Tuesday will be time for Biden to answer hard questions about his past onstage.
Joe Biden has repeatedly worked to cut Social Security, and has never offered up a good explanation for that crusade. His Social Security record is not only atrocious on a policy level, it is an enormous political vulnerability in both a primary and a general election, Sirota said. Bernie Sanders has exactly the opposite record hes fought those cuts and fought to expand Social Security, and that is a contrast Democratic voters deserve to know.
snip
more to get upset, or not, about at link
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
highplainsdem
(49,060 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
True Blue American
(17,995 posts)Kamala Harris?
John Kerry is out there backing why Biden voted. Just like everyone else. They did not think Bush was a liar after he promised war would be a last resort.
Fool me once,uh,er, you cant fool me twice, or something like that!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cuthbert Allgood
(4,995 posts)Many people knew Bush was a liar.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
trueblue2007
(17,243 posts)In my opinion, Joe as FAR MORE GOING FOR HIM. BS has less foreign policy experience. Joe has the Respect of the world leaders. Joe has stood on THE WORLD STAGE .... Bernie hasn't.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Happy Hoosier
(7,446 posts)... but I told ya so.
A certain candidate is willing to do anything, apparently, to rip down Democratic candidates.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Valley Below
(1,701 posts)Burning bridges. Scorching earth.
Appalling.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)(Henry V: Act 3 Scene 6)
Not upset (or not) as much as simply bemused by the melodramatic pretense of an upcoming clash.
I get it... it's been a really bad month for Sanders so far, and you guys gotta do what you guys gotta do.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TidalWave46
(2,061 posts)From Trump to the media to progressives.
Should make for a great debate as the record is set straight and Sanders is put in his place.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
getagrip_already
(14,911 posts)Joe seems to only be running against trump. He isn't taking of bernies bait, and I do believe it is driving bernie a bit nuts.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)...and it's totally misrepresenting what Biden said.
Biden has NEVER worked to cut Social Security, they're twisting his words.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to JoeOtterbein (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
George II
(67,782 posts)....the fact is he never said it.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Codeine
(25,586 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(146,339 posts)So, no doubt you have a link to corroborate that. See, we don't know you yet, so you'll have to help us trust you by posting links and like that for your statements about Biden.
I'll just wait here, OK?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
marble falls
(57,403 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(297,877 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Uncle Joe
(58,470 posts)(snip)
Bidens earliest forays into Social Security cuts happened in 1984, when congressional concerns over Reagan-era deficits grew and he co-sponsored a failed proposal with Republicans to freeze spending, including cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security, which would have had the effect of a financial cut for recipients and a savings for government. Reagan and the Senate Republican leadership opposed it, saying it contained serious cuts to Social Security.
(snip)
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/13/bernie-sanders-joe-biden-clash-2020-098433
Thanks for the thread JoeOtterbein.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
George II
(67,782 posts)...that paragraph and the article gloss over and misrepresent the political dynamics of the 1984 (36 YEARS ago, btw) budget debates in Congress.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Uncle Joe
(58,470 posts)Freezing benefits without freezing inflation is a cut..period.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
George II
(67,782 posts)...was going to be temporary.
So, what was Sanders doing in 1984 when Biden was debating on the floor of the Senate?
As I also said, one needs to really look into what was going on in DC in 1984 and the political/budget dynamics at the the time.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Uncle Joe
(58,470 posts)anyone having their benefits frozen was taking a pay cut.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
George II
(67,782 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Uncle Joe
(58,470 posts)in the real world.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
George II
(67,782 posts)....prescriptions drugs have co-pays of $2.00 or even less!
We take four for our blood pressure and cholesterol. We pay $6, $6, $6, and $5.40 for 3-month supplies.
Last week we had to go to an Urgent Care facility for my wife. Her examination cost $10 and 10-day supply of antibiotic cost $10.
AND OUR TAXES HAVEN'T GONE UP in years!!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)https://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/03/us/senators-reject-spending-freeze.html
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
peggysue2
(10,844 posts)Unfiltered facts. The audacity of some posters to try to unravel the truth, rather than playing the ole disinformation tune.
If the Senator from Vermont wants to dump on Biden? Bring it on. Better candidates than Bernie have used the same strategy and reaped the whirlwind. So, go for it!
But from where I sit? This whole twitter campaign against opponents has the whiff of desperation.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)...I say OVERALL record, not cherry-picked by David Sirota.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
peggysue2
(10,844 posts)John Kerry made some interesting comments about these Biden attacks coming out of the Sanders' campaign. He said it's because Sanders simply cannot compete with Joe Biden's experience and skillset of working across the aisle, of getting things actually accomplished and particularly Biden's knowledge and familiarity in the foreign policy realm. Since the Iran dustup, foreign policy has now become a thing, an area around which Sanders is weak. So, the strategy is to attempt to bruise the record--be it Biden's or Warren's--take their strengths and try to turn them into weaknesses while hoping voters don't notice Bernie's own shortcomings.
Personally? I'm weary as weary can be of Bernie Sanders' schtick. The grumpy old man approach is not attractive and these ramped up attacks are even less so.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
True Blue American
(17,995 posts)The debates as I am at the Y pool at 6 AM. Intend to watch this one live.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
True Blue American
(17,995 posts)As VP prove his record.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)Joe Biden was serving in the Senate and was commuting to Wilmington almost every night to care for his two critically injured son as a single parent.
The other guy?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)Thank you for sharing her articles with us.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JoeOtterbein
(7,702 posts)Thanks for posting!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Hassler
(3,394 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
OilemFirchen
(7,143 posts)David Sirota, Marc Caputo or Holly Otterbein?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Buzz cook
(2,474 posts)Some of it is questionable. I haven't heard it questioned in the media.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
NYMinute
(3,256 posts)I thought reporters were supposed to be objective and unbiased. Here they are openly propagandizing a non-issue.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden