The Worst Kind of Hypocrite

Obama Cut Over $700 Billion From Medicare But Has No Interest In Saving The Program If It Means He Can’t Demagogue The Issue

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OBAMA IS PROUD OF CUTTING MEDICARE TO FUND OBAMACARE AND VOWED TO VETO ANY ATTEMPTS TO REPEAL THE CUTS

Click To Watch Obama In 2009 Tout His Medicare Cuts

President Obama Told ABC’s Jake Tapper That One-Third Of ObamaCare’s Funding Comes From Medicare Cuts And He Would Veto Any Attempt To Repeal Them. ABC’s JAKE TAPPER: “One of the concerns about health care and how you pay for it — one third of the funding comes from cuts to Medicare.” BARACK OBAMA: “Right.” TAPPER: “A lot of times, as you know, what happens in Congress is somebody will do something bold and then Congress, close to election season, will undo it.” OBAMA: “Right.” TAPPER: “You saw that with the ‘doc fix’.” OBAMA: “Right.” TAPPER: “Are you willing to pledge that whatever cuts in Medicare are being made to fund health insurance, one third of it, that you will veto anything that tries to undo that?” OBAMA: “Yes. I actually have said that it is important for us to make sure this thing is deficit neutral, without tricks. I said I wouldn’t sign a bill that didn’t meet that criteria.” (ABC News, 11/9/09)

Congressional Budget Office: ObamaCare Includes $741 Billion In Cuts To Medicare.(Douglas Elmendorf, Letter To Speaker John Boehner, Congressional Budget Office, 7/24/12)

• Obama Deputy Campaign Manager Stephanie Cutter Bragged About ObamaCare’s Cuts To Medicare. CUTTER: “Well, you know ask the wealthy to pay a little bit more. Cut waste from the government. Reform Medicare. More than $300 billion in savings from Medicare. On top of the savings we’ve already achieved. You know I heard Mitt Romney deride the $700 billion cuts in Medicare that the president achieved through health care reform.” (CBS’ “Face The Nation,” 8/12/12)

• ObamaCare Cut Medicare By 6 Percent. “If the debt committee hits a dead end, the agreement between President Barack Obama and congressional leaders decrees an automatic 2 percent cut to Medicare providers. That’s on top of a 6 percent cut already enacted to finance the president’s health care law, according to the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. And the earlier cut is still being phased in.” (“Advocates, Industry Fear Debt Deal Could Open The Way For Big Cuts To Medicare And Medicaid,” The Associated Press, 8/2/11)

Obama’s Reckless Medicare Cuts Are “Unrealistic” And Make Needed Reforms Harder

Medicare Chief Actuary Says ObamaCare’s Cuts To Medicare Are “Unrealistic” And Unsustainable. “Richard Foster, the chief actuary of Medicare, testified before the House Budget Committee said that the cuts to medical providers set by President Obama’s national health care law were unrealistic. ‘It’s pretty hard to imagine they could be sustainable,’ Foster said, under questioning from Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis.” (Philip Klein, “Medicare’s Chief Actuary Says ObamaCare’s Cuts To The Program Likely Unsustainable,” The Washington Examiner’s ” Beltway Confidential,” 7/13/11)

Obama Cut Medicare To Fund His New Health Care Entitlement Program, Which Will Leave “Fewer Options Available” When Medicare Crisis Hits. “‘We did it for a good cause, which was the expansion of coverage,’ said [economist and former Medicare trustee John] Palmer. ‘But down the road, when further steps have to be taken to close the Medicare deficit, then we will have fewer options available because we’ve already done some of the easier things.'” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “FACT CHECK: Can Overhaul Save Medicare?”The Associated Press, 5/1/10)

• “ [M]ake No Mistake — Closing Medicare’s Future Funding Gap Will Be Harder Now That Some Of The Easier Sources Of Savings Have Been Tapped To Finance The Health Care Bill.” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “FACT CHECK: Can Overhaul Save Medicare?”The Associated Press, 5/1/10)

Obama’s Medicare Cuts Are Forcing Private Physicians To “Run For Cover”

ObamaCare Is Forcing Private Practice Physicians To “Run For Cover.” “The health-care reform law is accelerating a shift away from private practices as doctors, fearful of new costs and regulations, ‘run for cover’ under the protection of large hospitals.” (J.D. Harrison, “Health Care Law Driving Doctors Away From Small Practices, Toward Hospital Employment,” The Washington Post, 7/19/12)

ObamaCare’s Medicare Cuts Are Forcing Private Physicians To Turn Away New Patients. “Doctors on the panel also warned that PPACA’s $500 billion cut to Medicare could translate into even less reimbursement for those who care for patients insured by the government. Already, many physicians are turning away new patients because they’re taking a loss or barely breaking even when working with Medicare.” (J.D. Harrison, “Health Care Law Driving Doctors Away From Small Practices, Toward Hospital Employment,” The Washington Post, 7/19/12)

• Small Practice Physicians Are Closing Their Offices And Moving To Large Hospitals Due To More Regulations And Higher Costs. “During a hearing before the House Small Business Committee on Thursday, health-care professionals explained that the shift has already been picking up momentum in recent years, driven largely by growing regulatory and administrative burdens, rising malpractice costs and declining reimbursements from insurers – all of which they say have hit small practices especially hard. Consequently, doctors are shying away from the traditional solo practitioner model in favor of employment at large hospitals, which amid constant industry changes, can provide more financial security and take responsibility for keeping up with new regulations.” (J.D. Harrison, “Health Care Law Driving Doctors Away From Small Practices, Toward Hospital Employment,” The Washington Post, 7/19/12)

AFTER LIBERAL BACKLASH OVER TALK OF ENTITLEMENT REFORM, OBAMA BACKED AWAY FROM MEDICARE REFORMS HE OFFERED IN THE GRAND BARGAIN

In August 2011, Obama Said “Adjustments” Must Be Made To Medicare. OBAMA: “Yes, that means making some adjustments to protect health care programs like Medicare so they’re there for future generations.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks On Budget Control Act, Washington, D.C., 8/2/11)

• Obama Said He Was Open To Increasing The Age Of Eligibility For Medicare.OBAMA: “I’ve said that means testing on Medicare, meaning people like myself, if — I’m going to be turning 50 in a week. So I’m starting to think a little bit more about Medicare eligibility. (Laughter.) Yes, I’m going to get my AARP card soon — and the discounts.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At Press Conference, Washington, D.C, 7/15/11)
• Obama Said He Was Open To Means Testing Medicare. ABC NEWS’ JAKE TAPPER: “In the interest of transparency, leadership and offering – also showing the American people that you have been negotiating in good faith, can you tell us one structural reform that you are willing to make to one of these entitlement programs that would have a major impact on the deficit? Would you be willing to raise the retirement age? Would you be willing to means test Social Security or Medicare?” OBAMA: “We’ve said that we are willing to look at all those approaches. I’ve laid out some criteria in terms of what would be acceptable. So for example, I’ve said very clearly that we should make sure that current beneficiaries, as much as possible, are not affected, but we should look at what can we do in the out years so that, over time, some of these programs are more sustainable. I’ve said that means testing on Medicare, meaning people like myself, if — you know, I’m going to be turning 50 in a week, so…” (President Barack Obama, Remarks At Press Conference, Washington, D.C., 7/15/11)
• Obama Had Agreed To “Smaller Cost-Of-Living Increases For Social Security Recipients” And “Nearly $250 Billion In Medicare Savings Achieved In Part By Raising The Eligibility Age.” “A lot of red ink, the Republicans thought. But the major elements of a bargain seemed to be falling into place: $1.2 trillion in agency cuts, smaller cost-of-living increases for Social Security recipients, nearly $250 billion in Medicare savings achieved in part by raising the eligibility age.” (Peter Wallsten, Lori Montgomery, and Scott Wilson, “Obama’s Evolution: Behind The Failed ‘Grand Bargain’ On The Debt,” The Washington Post, 3/17/12)
• Obama Offered To Increase Medicare Eligibility Of Age, Adjust Premiums For Services Covered By Part B And D, Reform Deductibles, And Limit Certain Supplemental Insurance Coverage. “As for Medicare I am told the two sides were actually ‘very close.’ Obama had offered, according to a knowledgeable source, to increase the Medicare eligibility age, adjust premiums collected for services and benefits currently covered by Part B and Part D, reform and streamline deductibles and co-insurance for covered services and limit certain types of supplemental insurance coverage. All of this sounds very similar to a plan introduced by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.). If this is correct, the Democrats will have a mighty hard time reviving the Mediscare gambit.” (Jennifer Rubin, “How The White House Killed The Deal,” The Washington Post ‘s Right Turn, 7/22/11)

The White House Was Prepared To Accept Republican Reforms In A Grand Bargain

In March, The White House Said That The Grand Bargain Deal Was “Still On The Table.” “White House officials said this week that the offer is still on the table.”(Peter Wallsten, Lori Montgomery, and Scott Wilson, “Obama’s Evolution: Behind The Failed ‘Grand Bargain’ On The Debt,” The Washington Post , 3/17/12)

White House Official Claimed That Obama And The Republicans Were “Identical” On Medicare, Agreeing On “Eligibility, Cost-Sharing, Premiums, And Other Facets Of The Program.” “‘On Medicare, we were identical,’ the official claimed, saying the president had agreed with Republicans on eligibility, cost-sharing, premiums and other facets of the program.” (Bob Cusack and Sam Youngman, “White House: Before Boehner Walked, Debt Deal Was Close At Hand,” The Hill, 7/22/11)

• A White House Official Confirmed “Every Other Major Issue Was Basically Agreed To, Including Raising Medicare Eligibility Age.” “Every other major issue was basically agreed to, including raising the eligibility age of Medicare from 65 to 67 years old ‘over a long period of time,’ the administration official added.” (Bob Cusack and Sam Youngman, “White House: Before Boehner Walked, Debt Deal Was Close At Hand,” The Hill, 7/22/11)
• Obama And Republicans “Were Not Apart At All On Medicare.” “And the two sides were not apart at all on Medicare, the other health entitlement that has been a part of the discussions.” (Bob Cusack and Sam Youngman, “White House: Before Boehner Walked, Debt Deal Was Close At Hand,” The Hill, 7/22/11)
• Obama And Republicans’ Differences On Medicaid Were “Miniscule.” “On Medicaid, the differences were minuscule, an administration source said.” (Bob Cusack and Sam Youngman, “White House: Before Boehner Walked, Debt Deal Was Close At Hand,” The Hill, 7/22/11)

Obama Agreed To Medicare Cuts In Debt Ceiling Deal’s Sequester. “The deal announced on Sunday by Congressional leaders and the White House would make across-the-board cuts in military spending, education, transportation and Medicare payments to health care providers if Congress does not enact further deficit-cutting legislation by the end of the year.” (Robert Pear, “Congress Must Trim Deficit To Avoid Broader Cuts,” The New York Times, 7/31/11)

Obama “Lost His Nerve” And Walked Away From The Deal To Preserve The Issue

Obama Feared Backlash From The Left If He Agreed To The Grand Bargain. “The negotiations with House Republicans were Obama’s clearest opportunity to realize his 2008 campaign pledge to usher in a more productive, bipartisan era in Washington. The president has since pivoted to make a more concerted appeal to the Democratic base, blasting those he calls intransigent Republicans at every opportunity. But in the Post’s version of events, Obama is portrayed as worrying he would face a backlash from the left if he pulled the trigger.” (Jake Sherman, “Debt Story Tally: John Boehner 1, President Obama 0,” Politico, 3/18/12)

Obama’s Then-Chief Of Staff Bill Daley Confirmed That The President Lost His Nerve And Walked Away From The Deal. “And former Obama chief of staff Bill Daley provided surprising, on-the-record support of the GOP’s insistence that the president deserves blame for losing his nerve.” (Jake Sherman, “Debt Story Tally: John Boehner 1, President Obama 0,” Politico, 3/18/12)

• “Daley Said The White House Privately Fretted That Democrats Would Go Ballistic …” “Daley said the White House privately fretted that Democrats would go ballistic if the president agreed to $800 billion in new tax revenues when some Republican senators had signaled willingness to go along with as much as $2 trillion.” (Jake Sherman, “Debt Story Tally: John Boehner 1, President Obama 0,” Politico, 3/18/12)
• Obama Was Nervous About How To Sell The Deal, So He “Upped The Ante” In A Way That Killed The Deal. “But interviews with most of the central players in those talks – some of whom were granted anonymity to speak about the secret negotiations – as well as a review of meeting notes, e-mails and the negotiating proposals that changed hands, offer a more complicated picture of the collapse. Obama, nervous about how to defend the emerging agreement to his own Democratic base, upped the ante in a way that made it more difficult for Boehner – already facing long odds – to sell it to his party. Eventually, the president tried to put the original framework back in play, but by then it was too late. The moment of making history had passed.” (Peter Wallsten, Lori Montgomery, and Scott Wilson, “Obama’s Evolution: Behind The Failed ‘Grand Bargain’ On The Debt,” The Washington Post, 3/17/12)

Democrats Were Nervous About Losing Their Political Advantage On Medicare As A Result Of Obama’s Proposed Cuts During The Debt Ceiling Debate. “That’s why Democrats are so nervous about what might happen to Medicare as a result of the debt ceiling crisis. In their eyes, the Ryan plan had completely turned the tables for 2012. It was going to be about Ryancare, not Obamacare.” (David Nather, “Does Deal Muddy Medicare Waters?” Politico, 7/31/11)

• Top Senate Democrats Opposed Making Any Cuts To Medicare Because It Robs Democrats Opportunity To Demagogue Republicans On The Issue. “Top Democrats in charge of keeping the Senate in Dem hands and maintaining the political health of the party – DSCC chair Patty Murray and messaging chief Chuck Schumer – have privately expressed frustration that deep Medicare cuts risk squandering the major political advantage Democrats have built up on the issue, people familiar with internal discussions say.” (Greg Sargent, “Top Senate Dems Privately Warn: Deep Medicare Cuts Will Squander Our Big Advantage On Issue,” The Washington Post ‘s The Plum Line, 7/11/11)