http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2011/0707/Briefing-room-word-games-What-s-a-slash-versus-a-cut-in-Social-Security">Briefing room word games: What's a 'slash' versus a 'cut' in Social Security?
The denials continued on Thursday. And that’s where the verbal dancing got particularly entertaining. Back in January, in his State of the Union address, the president “talked about his openness to doing things to strengthen Social Security, things that would not slash benefits,” Carney said.
Carney’s statement appeared, however, to leave open the possibility that the White House could accept some kind of benefit cut.
So, a reporter asked, what does “slash” mean?
“Haven’t you got, like, a dictionary app on your iPhone?” Carney replied.
Q: Well, it’s a word that you use instead of “cut.”
Carney: “Slash” is, I think, quite clear. It’s slash. It’s like that. (Carney makes a slashing motion with his hand.) It’s a significant whack.
Q: So it means a significant …
Carney: I’m not going to put a numerical figure on it.
Q: So it means a significant cut.
Carney: I think slashing is a pretty sharp, direct …
Q: It’s not the same thing as cutting – the point is, it’s not the same thing as “cut.”
Carney: It’s slash. (Laughter.) And I don’t mean the guitarist. (Laughter.)
Q: A pledge to not slash benefits is not the same thing as a pledge to not cut benefits.
Carney: I’m not – again, we’re talking about a policy enunciated by the president back in January, and that is …
Q: This is a diction you guys have chosen.
Carney: No, no, I get that, and we did choose it, and the president used it. But I’m not here to negotiate the semantics …
Q: Just so everybody understands – just so everybody understands, when you say “slash,” you don’t mean “cut.”
Carney: We have said that to address the long-term solvency of the problem – of the program, because this is not an issue that drives short- or medium-term deficits, that we would look – the president is interested in looking at ways to strengthen the program and enhance its long-term solvency that protects the integrity of the program and doesn’t slash benefits.
Q: Which is not the same thing as not cutting benefits.