Obama promises to protect Medicare from GOP

(CBS News) On a proclaimed mission to dispel "accusations and misinformation flying around" in a fight that's rapidly accelerated since Rep. Paul Ryan's appointment to the GOP presidential ticket, President Obama in his weekly address vowed to protect the Medicare benefits his Affordable Care Act promises seniors.

Trumpeting news this week from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that under his health care law, 5.4 million seniors on Medicare have saved more than $4.1 billion on prescription drugs, the president laid out other successes of his program, including 18 million seniors who have taken advantage of preventive care benefits like cancer screenings.

"That's progress - it means that seniors everywhere are getting the care they need for less," he said.

"This news is also a reminder of what's really at stake when we talk about the future of Medicare," Mr. Obama continued. "It's not about overheated rhetoric at election time; it's about a promise this country made to our seniors that says if you put in a lifetime of hard work, you shouldn't lose your home or your life savings just because you get sick."

The debate on Medicare shot to the forefront of the political arena this month, when presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney announced House Budget Committee chair Paul Ryan, R-Wis., as his running mate. Led by Ryan, the House GOP passed a budget proposal that included transitioning Medicare into a voucher system - something the president said Saturday "would effectively end Medicare as we know it."

"I'm willing to work with anyone to keep improving the current system," Mr. Obama said, "but I refuse to do anything that undermines the basic idea of Medicare as a guarantee for seniors who get sick."

Delivering the Republicans' weekly address, though, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky made the case that working across the aisle on Medicare is impossible because the president, he said, is "missing in action."

"Together, we could fix entitlements," Paul said. "Even in an election year, I've offered to work with the president. I've called and written. I've ridden with the president on Air Force One and offered to help him build bridges, to repair our nation's infrastructure. But I've received no answer."

But channeling the Constitution-rooted ideology of his father, libertarian standard-bearer Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, the senator suggested the enemy "is not gridlock," nor is it "Barack Obama or the Democrats." The enemy, he said, "is the looting of the Treasury and 20 years of deficit spending... an out-of-control, unaccountable Federal Reserve and its devaluation of our currency... our lack of being bound by the Constitution."

"While America flounders, the President campaigns," Paul concluded. "We deserve better. A country with such a rich heritage deserves a leader who values the work ethic and understands that you did build that. That you did earn that."

[peter_out]

The Social Security Trust is calculated to have $2.7 Trillion, not cash because all has been sold in the form of Special Securities earning interest which had amounted to $110 Billion a year. This, together with SS witholdings from paychecks on paper assures solvency of SS until 2020 or so. However when Obama nabbed 0.716 Trillion in "seed money" for ObamaCare The Trust was reduced by more than 25% and correspondingly interest earned is reduced and the general failure date is moved up.

As of July 2012, year to date payouts to SS retirement accounts in 2012 are about $6 Billion less than receipts, however the month of July was in the red. $6 Billion is a slim margin.

The law says that when there is a shortfall in SS receipts the necessary monies to make the payments will be borrowed from other Trusts.

The Special Securities are guaranteed by 'the good credit of the United States'. Many now believe those words are worth less than the paper they are written on.

[peter_out]

The GOP needs to protect Medicare from Obama.

[peter_out]

Unemployment and under-employment has increased the strain on the Social Security Trust system. Twelve million new American workers are added to the list of people not paying taxes since 2006 when Democrats took over control of both Houses of Congress, more than doubling the number of people in this group.

The result is $120 Billion less SS contributions to the Trust each year. Some long-term unemployed who are no longer on the list of U3 unemployed for varying reasons including giving up looking for a job, are applying for Disability checks through the Social Security Department. These applications have trippled recently, and many are honored. Disability is now under supported and checks are being paid out of excess monthly SS witholdings.

[MidRoadAlone]

I don't really care for either plan, but if the two parties could compromise, they could take the best each has to offer and make a working plan. Anything we do to Medicare to save it is going to be painful for someone, the best you can hope for is to spread that pain around.
Obama is claiming savings that don't exist today. He is reducing payments to providers, which in the long run is going to reduce the number of providers willing to accept Medicare - how does that help? Many Doctors lose money on Medicare now - and push the cost to insured patients. And privatizing Medicare will just hand it over to companies that are screwing us now.
Somehow, some Democrats and some Republicans are going to have to come together to work this mess and put politics asied - but good luck with that. As soon as this election is over, they all start campaigning for the next one.

[wfw3536]

The biggest lie about Obamacare is Obama claims the 700 billion he took out of Medicare is going to be made up through government savings. The real truth is the savings will come from paying doctors and hospitals less and less. In our country there are many doctors who will not take Medicare payments already, because of the low prices Medicare pays. The other lie is government saving money, now if you believe this then you must have been born yesterday.

[retmw1]

Doctors getting paid less and less, well I guess it's time for them to join the club. What do you think business's have been doing to they're workers for over the past decade. You do realize that the health insurance companies are doing the same thing, paying doctors and hospitals less and less and pocketing the savings.

[ToolMangler1]

The biggest lie I see here is two political parties claiming to be 'for' America's health and well-being that refuse to do "ANYTHING" that 'Might' make the other side look good. The GOP/TEA PARTY is the worst of the two but the Dems have their own share of blame.
I 'am' a DEMOCRAT and will vote for Obama, but only because he is the lesser of two evils...

[fiberglass3]

Republican'ts want a uniform government itching - hungering - to dismantle the entire fabric of federal social programs like Medicare, Social Security, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, minimum wage, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the graduated income tax and consumer protections like the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Food and Drug Administration.

This money can then be passed on to the rich in the form of additional tax cuts.

[CaptainSmollett]

fiberglass3 - apparently you've been sniffing too much acetone, and your delusional comment, above, is proof. Nothing but factless innuendo.

[arthanyel]

CaptainSmollett: What is factless? All of these statements are either in the Republican platform or actively pursued by conservatives.

Ryan and House Republicans have PUBLICLY STATED that they intend to reduce all discretionary spending to 3.5% of GDP (note this INCLUDES THE DEFENSE BUDGET which is CURRENTLY at 4%). To accomplish this you would have to do ALL of these things, plus the conservative approach to Social Security (raise age, cut benefits and privatize) and Medicare (raise age, cut benefits, and privatize to limit spending to LESS THAN HALF needed expenses) is about what is described here.

So surprise, Smollett, this is EXACTLY what you are advocating - and the majority of Americans don't agree with it and don't want it.

You just don't want people to know what conservatives really want to do - which is what fiberglass3 describes.

[wfw3536]

Maybe Obama and his campaign should tell the truth about Medicare. His ads say seniors will lose Medicare coverage, when the truth is under Romney's plan anyone 55 or old will have Medicare as we know it now. Obama also doesn't tell folks that with his do nothing approach, Medicare will not be funding at it present 80% level in less than 10 years. And for younger folks you better start saving under Obama's do nothing plan, as you will not have Medicare as we know it now.

[arthanyel]

Conservative propaganda, mostly fact free. The "truth" about ROmney's plan isn't true at all, because Romney has stated he wants to completely repeal Obamacare which removes sinificant benefits fomr seniors and re-creates the donut hole for prescriuption drugs.

Obama's approach isn't "do nothing" at all. Conservatives just refuse to do what he DOES think would make sense, and until that blockage is removed there is no solution.

[CaptainSmollett]

Obama gutted Medicare by over $700 BILLION to help pay for Obamacare, yet he claims to be protecting us from Romney? What a joke! By saying such a thing, Obama is again illustrating his moral bankruptcy and political desperation.

When are we going to say "enough of your lies and deceit, Mr. Obama?"

[fiberglass3]

Not gutted SAVED over $700 BILLION.

Try to get your facts straight.

[arthanyel]

Conservative propaganda, 10% fact free. Obama didn't "gut Medicare" - not a SINGLE PENNY of the long term cost savings impact benefits. OBAMA's savings come from insurance companies beoing forced to return overcharges and improving the efficiency in the system while eliminating waste - and Ryan's plan ius EXACTLY THE SAME for the SAME DOLLARS.

Stop spewing Faux News propaganda and get the facts.

[CoJo7]

now R/R have amended their health care plan. What, the original wasn't correct? Question on the voucher: does this mean you no longer have to look for a doctor that will except medicare? They can charge what they want? Cost increase here we come. The voucher is to help pay for private health insurance. As we all know the premiums for reasonable insurance is high. Also insurances WILL NOT cover pre-existing conditions... therefore the vouchers are useless... especially for the elderly that usually have pre-existing conditions.

[matt6052]

They had to have Romney dead and buried before today.

[atlanta30305]

Only an ABSOLUTE IDIOT believes that our President, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid have "saved" Medicare by forcing this program to reduce its costs by $700B...a "savings" that is then used to create/expand a "new" entitlement program....ObamaCare!!!!

Quite frankly....this defies all human logic!!!!

[arthanyel]

It does not "defy logic" in any way. The job isn't finished yet, but the efficiency improvements and overhead cost reductions that comprise the $700B over time are part of slowing the growth of Medicare and Medicaid overall expenses. We could have saved MORE, and FASTER, if the all the savings were not touched, but it's still a better program - estimated to reduce annual costs by over 20B dollars per year ove time.

[Ulgnud]

If I recall correctly Obamacare raids funds from Medicare. Now he promised to protect it? Talk about the fox guarding the hen house.

[arthanyel]

You do not recall correctly at all, you are litening to Faux News. Obama didn't "raid funds" from Medicare at all. All of the savinbgs are from overhead reductions, waste elimination, and efficiency improvements - not a penny of services or benefits was cut.