The Obama pitch: Don’t ask us for a plan, just reject the GOP’s plan
With Mitt Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate, the entire presidential campaign will — or should — boil down to this exchange between Ryan and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner during a House hearing on President Obama’s fiscal 2013 budget back in February (text of transcript courtesy of Real Clear Politics):
Ryan: Here’s the point. Leaders are supposed to fix problems. We have a $99.4 trillion unfunded liability. Our government is making promises to Americans that it has no way of accounting for them. And so you’re saying yeah, we’re stabilizing it but we’re not fixing it in the long run. That means we’re just going to keep lying to people. We’re going to keep all these empty promises going.
And so what we’re saying is, in order to avert a debt crisis — you’re the Treasury Secretary — if we can’t make good on our bonds in the future, who is going to invest in our country? We do not want to have a debt crisis. And so it comes down to confidence and trajectory. Do we have confidence that we’re getting our fiscal situation under control, that we’re preventing the debt from getting at these catastrophic levels?
If we go back to the preceding chart, number 13, you’re showing that you have no plan to get this debt under control. You’re saying we’ll stabilize it but then it’s just going to shoot back up. So my argument is, that’s Europe. That is bringing us toward a European debt crisis because we’re showing the world, the credit market’s future seniors — people who are organizing their lives around the promises that are being made to them today — that we don’t have a plan to make good on this.
Geithner: Mr. Chairman, as I said, maybe we’re not disagreeing in a sense. I made it absolutely clear that what our budget does is get our deficit down to a sustainable path over the budget window.
Ryan: And then they take back off.
Geithner: Why do they take off again? Why do they do that?
Ryan: Because we have 10,000 people retiring everyday and health-care costs going up.
Geithner: That’s right. We have millions of Americans retiring everyday, and that will drive substantial further rise in the growth of health-care costs. We’re not coming before you to say we have a definitive solution to our long-term problem. What we do know is we don’t like yours.
Read that last part again: “We’re not coming before you to day we have a definitive solution to our long-term problem. What we do know is we don’t like yours.”
In other words, we prefer Nero-esque fiddling to your plan.
In other words, we’d rather stick to promises that can’t be kept than level with the American people and treat them like adults.
When Geithner admits the Obama administration has no “definitive solution,” what he really means is the Obama administration has no solution, no proposal, no plan, at least nothing it wants to talk about publicly, for keeping our fiscal condition from spiraling completely out of control. That’s no exaggeration: Check out the chart to which Ryan referred, which comes from the Obama administration’s own FY13 budget:
Our future under Barack Obama
See, the most Barack Obama is willing to do — in his fourth, count ‘em, fourth budget proposal — is to “stabilize” our debt at the highest level, as a share of the economy, since the end of World War II. In fact, according to his budget, that’s the most Americans can expect for the two presidential terms that would follow his hypothetical second term.
After that, he ostensibly would be willing to let us zoom into the abyss on auto-pilot than propose any sort of meaningful reform to the programs that put us on this path. That’s chiefly Medicare — although, as an Associated Press report notes, we face a shortfall of Social Security funding totaling $134 trillion during the next 75 years, i.e. the period of time that covers the retirement of “just about everyone working today.” To shore that up, AP reports, the federal government would need to “invest $8.6 trillion today, and have it pay returns of 2.9 percent above inflation for the next 75 years, to produce enough money to cover the shortfall.”
We will soon find out if the Obama team has prepared substantive proposals for these issues or was simply betting/hoping Romney wouldn’t have the guts to thrust Ryan — and thus the entitlements question — into this campaign.
– By Kyle Wingfield
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
489 comments Add your comment
The Artful Dodger (Myth Robme) Is A Ryan Shame
August 13th, 2012
12:40 pm
@Gimme Gimme Gimme
August 13th, 2012
11:19 am
“Show us the plan Barak”
_______________________________________________
“SHOW US THE TAX RETURNS Myth Robme”
heeheeheeheehee
Dusty
August 13th, 2012
12:41 pm
Artful Dodger, stay alert, please.
Americans are the most generous people in the world. They are the greatest contributors to needy people around the world and they start at home. They also have a country that people around the world try by every means to belong here. Seems you haven’t noticed.
A debt ridden country loses its ability to be helpful and generous. You haven’t noticed the debt of trilliions that keeps growing, ’specially under Obama..
The best place to start with generosity is yourself. And remember in your posts: Honesty is the best policy.
Logical Song
August 13th, 2012
12:42 pm
Kyle
Outside of the base, which Ryan does help solidify, what demographics will he assist in getting votes from?
You think he will be swaying any votes or just helping with the undecideds?
Michael
August 13th, 2012
12:43 pm
I wish the tea party would just get it over with and take over everything. That way we can see it in action and we could have a clear choice. Or will they just keep up the self-dealing, corrupt behavior that has characterized government for thousands of years?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 13th, 2012
12:43 pm
It’s a plan that even former House Speaker Newt Gingrich deemed too “radical.” Asked by NBC’s David Gregory to respond to Ryan’s proposal, Gingrich famously said (video): “I don’t think right-wing social engineering is any more desirable than left-wing social engineering. I don’t think imposing radical change from the right or the left is a very good way for a free society to operate.” (Of course that was before Gingrich walked back those remarks, apparently reminded by some savvy operative that he might not want to anger the Kochs, to whom Ryan, 42, is something of a youthful ward, having been the beneficiary of years of support from the Koch-founded Americans For Prosperity.)
alternet.org
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 13th, 2012
12:45 pm
Obozo’s fidget got precisely zero votes in the House.
Vice President Ryan’s budget got 200+.
Ryan: Smarter than and superior to Obozo.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 13th, 2012
12:45 pm
Obozo’s budget got precisely zero votes in the House.
Vice President Ryan’s budget got 200+.
Ryan: Smarter than and superior to Obozo.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 13th, 2012
12:46 pm
Sorry for the (nearly) duplicate post!
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 13th, 2012
12:47 pm
years that could be used for making the transition as easy as possible
This won’t hurt a bit….I promise…..this will hurt me more than it will hurt you….trust me…
Kyle Wingfield
August 13th, 2012
12:48 pm
JDW @ 12:34: Well, Romney is the one at the top of the ticket. At the end of the day, his proposals will carry the most weight. Ryan is the running mate who can help him make the case.
I dare say most Americans, even the ones who bother to vote, don’t know what Ryan’s plans are anyway. For instance, I bet they don’t know his most recent Medicare reform proposal is co-sponsored by a Democrat (Sen. Wyden of Oregon). You can bet your bottom dollar the Dems won’t be talking about Ron Wyden. The challenge for Romney and Ryan will be to define their plan as it is, not as it will be distorted by the plan-less, feckless Obama.
Logical Song
August 13th, 2012
12:50 pm
Kyle
You mean this Senator Wyden
“Gov. Romney is talking nonsense. Bipartisanship requires that you not make up the facts. I did not ‘co-lead a piece of legislation.’” Wyden said. “I wrote a policy paper on options for Medicare. Several months after the paper came out, I spoke and voted against the Medicare provisions in the Ryan budget.”
…
“Gov. Romney needs to learn you don’t protect seniors by makings things up, and his comments today sure won’t help promote real bipartisanship,” Wyden said.
http://www.rollcall.com/news/Ron-Wyden-Takes-Issue-With-Mitt-Romney-Linking-Him-to-Paul-Ryan-216838-1.html
Kyle Wingfield
August 13th, 2012
12:52 pm
Logical Song @ 12:42: It’s all about the undecideds at this point, aside from the task of turning out one’s own base. I think Ryan helps with both: the undecideds because they’d already have chosen Obama if they’d bought into what he was selling (this is the general rule with incumbents); the base because the base likes Ryan more than they like Romney.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 13th, 2012
12:52 pm
Ryan’s already kicked Obozo’s butt in the health care summit. Can we have him debate Obozo at least once?
stranger in a strange land
August 13th, 2012
12:52 pm
Just in case it hasn’t already been stated: it’s Bush’s fault. This, the Alpha and Omea, the beginning and the end of all Democrat / Liberal arguments to anything / anyone with an ‘R’ in front of it. Next topic please.
Dusty
August 13th, 2012
12:52 pm
Logical song,
You are off key as usual.. You over value your commentary as you drown in the deep end of negativity.
Stop reading my posts if they rile your tender consideration. I’m not real interested in whether you care or not.
Kyle Wingfield
August 13th, 2012
12:53 pm
Finn @ 12:43: Newt wasn’t talking about the current Ryan Medicare plan, which actually keeps traditional Medicare as one of the options seniors can choose. No “social engineering” involved — just a chance to demonstrate that private plans could be cheaper and better.
Logical Song
August 13th, 2012
12:54 pm
Dusty
This is an open blog. So be good.
You follow the rules and I will as well
Have an awesome day in the in the shallow end
Kyle Wingfield
August 13th, 2012
12:55 pm
Logical Song @ 12:50: The Ryan budget included a lot more than the Medicare proposal.
Undecided Voter
August 13th, 2012
12:55 pm
Kyle does not mention that in the Republican proposed Budget that they would not define what tax deductions they would eliminate. Does the GOP propose eliminating homeowner’s mortgage deduction, increasing the cost of employee health insurance, eliminating charity contributions? Nobody knows. The Congressional Budget Office could not even evaluate/score the GOP Proposal. Clearly Obama wants to move in the direction of Simpson/Bowles if the GOP stopped bowing to Norquist.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 13th, 2012
12:56 pm
the plan-less, feckless Obama.
Luckily Romney chose Ryan – since Romney has NOTHING laid out…..but he’s not feckless. I mean my goodness, Romney’s only had 4 years of campaigning to come up with a single lucid thought.
Jefferson
August 13th, 2012
12:56 pm
Lack of wisdom ? ….
http://www.businessinsider.com/paul-ryan-is-the-most-extreme-vp-candidate-in-more-than-a-century-2012-8
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 13th, 2012
12:56 pm
Btw, the most recent version of the plan is co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Wyden of Oregon.
Governor Romney is talking nonsense. Bipartisanship requires that you not make up the facts. I did not “co-lead a piece of legislation.” I wrote a policy paper on options for Medicare. Several months after the paper came out I spoke and voted against the Medicare provisions in the Ryan budget. Governor Romney needs to learn you don’t protect seniors by makings things up, and his comments sure won’t help promote real bipartisanship.
- Sen. Wyden
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 13th, 2012
12:57 pm
just a chance to demonstrate that private plans could be cheaper and better.
LOL
Logical Song
August 13th, 2012
12:58 pm
Kyle
Thanks again. Seems to be to many “if this happens” for Romney to win in my opinion. However I can see where Romney wins the popular vote. He will crush Obama in the red states and except for a few blue states, I don’t think he will lose by the margin that he wins by in the red states. Of course the “swing states” will be close and that is where I predict Obama will hold on.
Of course I could be wrong, but it is funny to read the comments that basically say Romney & Ryan are well on there way. It is their uphill battle. It can be done, but it will be difficult.
Jefferson
August 13th, 2012
12:58 pm
You folks are indeed funny as all get out. You didn’t like him, still don’t but your excuses are land shaking.
Logical Song
August 13th, 2012
12:59 pm
Kyle
It sure did. You might want to let Romney know that how he is touting Wyden’s support isn’t what Wyden’s support is in regards to the entire bill.
Kyle Wingfield
August 13th, 2012
1:00 pm
The key line in that article, Logical Song, is the last one: “The mere fact that Wyden was at one point involved in Ryan’s Medicare proposals could undermine that Democratic message – and Wyden seems to know it.”
Wyden is being a good Democrat here, and I don’t blame him for it. But this is how the sausage gets made: Two people from different sides agree on concepts; one fleshes it out in actual legislation; the other, knowing it has no chance of passing, votes against the specific bill with the specific language, while maintaining the flexibility to circle back to the original concepts once they have a chance of passing.
southpaw
August 13th, 2012
1:00 pm
Artful Dodger @12:28
Did you miss the mention of my own responsibility for helping the poor? I already said that failure to do so invites God’s judgment. None of the verses you cite imply that the GOVERNMENT should be responsible for aiding the poor; how do any of them contradict what I’ve said?
I demand to see Cheesy Grits Birth Certificate- Long Form Please
August 13th, 2012
1:00 pm
The thing I’m curious about.
How big of a bump in the polls will Obama receive from Ryans selection as VP ?
Romney might as well forget Florida.
This is a Hail Mary if Ive ever seen one.
Logical Song
August 13th, 2012
1:01 pm
Kyle
We will see. I doubt Wyden is going to be making or breaking the minds of the electorate as a whole.
Logical Song
August 13th, 2012
1:03 pm
Kyle
Side topic: Did you read the TSPOLST article that you guys ran today?
interesting
Darwin
August 13th, 2012
1:06 pm
At least Ryan is as consistent as the rest of you on the right. He voted for all of W’s programs and wars. Biggest increase in the history of Medicare.
Dusty
August 13th, 2012
1:06 pm
Frinn @ 12:47
You are so cute! I think you’ll soon be as smart as Newt!
————————————————-
Stranger in a Strange Land. @ 12:52
Hey……there’s a new one to be peddled by liberals: “Ryan did it!” .
Kyle Wingfield
August 13th, 2012
1:07 pm
Logical @ 1:03: Yes, and while I generally agree, I think he understates the effect the campaign had. They might not have been able to win the referendum with the list they were given to work with, but they also exacerbated the trust problem by doubling down on the pass-this-or-we’re-all-screwed-forever rhetoric.
Moon Mullins
August 13th, 2012
1:09 pm
That banner, “Don’t Ask Us For A Plan, Just Reject the GOP Plan” is absolutely hysterical!
Since the Tea Party invasion of the House, the Republicans have become the Republican’ts and have rejected and obstucted and determined to roadblock and stymy every effort of the President.
It would sure be a kick in the pants if that turned on the Republican’ts.
But, in reality, the country is looking for a government that works and compromises, not one that glories in gridlock to the detriment of the county. When will statesmen step up to the plate and tell the obstructionists to get with the program?
JDW
August 13th, 2012
1:09 pm
@Kyle…”I bet they don’t know his most recent Medicare reform proposal is co-sponsored by a Democrat (Sen. Wyden of Oregon)”
Wyden went “off the ranch” on this deal and got zero support. They are going to get hammered on the concept of “ending Medicare” which Americans do not support.
Logical Song
August 13th, 2012
1:10 pm
Kyle
Seems the planning was just bad. Somewhat ill conceived and marketed horribly. Guess we will see if certain counties team up themselves on certain projects. Believe you mentioned this before.
weetamoe
August 13th, 2012
1:11 pm
Kyle presented a transcript which exemplifies the democrat lack of a solution and the response is a barrage of talking points with fragments of just about anything meant to damage Romney/Ryan but nothing contradicting the topic of his very clear and documented article. Ryan’s constituents in WI are just the sort of middle class working people that he has been accused of harming, yet he has won every single election with over 60% of the votes. (Cue Homer Simpson:*stupid middle class WI voters)
yuzeyurbrane
August 13th, 2012
1:12 pm
Kyle, I appreciate your acknowledgement that relatively minor modifications made on a timely basis could solve the Social Security financing problems for a considerable period of time and for reassuring seniors that they should not be scared about that particular program’s prospects. However, I do think you are inaccurate about the possible impact of Ryan’s tax proposals on boomers, who I might add, according to one recent study, will be the first group to receive less in Social Security benefits than they paid in FICA taxes. Two things: (1) it is hard for me to imagine how the draconian tax cuts for the wealthy along with protection of military spending could be implemented without reneging on SS payments to those over 55 today; and, (2) if you look at the Ryan tax bill which passed the House you will find buried in the small print a provision that would slash many programs, including present Social Security benefits, per a formula based on deficits not exceeding X percent of GDP. I looked it up once and sure enough it is there. If you don’t want to acknowledge the point I am making I will be happy to research it again and cite it.
As to the political structure being unwilling to discuss SS, you have a point but there is plenty of blame to go around. It still is the 3rd rail of politics, but there is activity from interested groups which is now taking a backseat to the general election. If you have followed the AARP’s You’ve Earned A Say campaign and the thoughtful presentation of groups like the Heritage Foundation and some liberal think tanks, I firmly believe Congress will be forced to face the issue after the election.
Some people are stupid
August 13th, 2012
1:13 pm
Wait, isn’t this post a little hypocritical.
We all knew healthcare cost were rising, but yet when there was a Republicna President and a Republican Congress, thre was nothing done. Then when a Democratic President and Democratic Congress put together a plan. The Right basically complained the whole time. Isn’t that the same thing in reverse.
And I thought during the whole Debt Ceiling debate, OBama presented his plan to Speaker Boehner, who rejected it. It was something along the 4 to 1 deal.
And the democratic congressman from Oregon voted against the Ryan Budget this time apparently.
And just to make a point. Since the Medicare plan is so great, why cut it off at 55 or younger get vouchers. Did the people 54 and younger not pay into the same system, or is it just a way to get votes.
getalife
August 13th, 2012
1:14 pm
ryan is another hail mary pass like palin.
This election will end up like just like 08.
President Obama by 10 again.
That Black guy
August 13th, 2012
1:14 pm
gadem
August 13th, 2012
11:36 am
They have stated that their main objective is not to pay down debt, — Do you have a link of republicans saying this?
not to fix the economy, — Do you have a link of republicans saying this?
not to increase jobs, — Do you have a link of republicans saying this?
Kyle Wingfield
August 13th, 2012
1:14 pm
JDW: It is not going to survive in its current form anyway. You either make changes now to maintain a viable program in the future, or you let it run into the ground and really “end” it, which seems to be the Obama plan.
Kyle Wingfield
August 13th, 2012
1:20 pm
yuze @ 1:12:
1. Off the top of my head, I don’t think Romney’s proposals affect the payroll tax. So I don’t see how they affect SS payments.
2. Not familiar with it, but again, SS payments would be hardest-hit by keeping the status quo. And, again, the key issue here is really Medicare, which isn’t as easily fixed as SS.
Kyle Wingfield
August 13th, 2012
1:24 pm
Some people @ 1:13: Well, this time we’re in the middle of an election. So isn’t it incumbent on the president to say what he would do if he opposes the Ryan plan? And if he doesn’t, shouldn’t that matter to the voters?
Who rejected what during the debt-ceiling debate depends on who you listen to. Boehner claims Obama changed the deal after they’d agreed to the basic framework, and that it certainly wasn’t 4-to-1 after that.
No one pays into the system, in the sense that they are storing up funds for themselves. Current workers pay for current retirees. The reason for the age cut-off is that it’s not fair to change the deal on people after they’ve reached retirement or near-retirement age; they don’t have time to make additional preparations for themselves.
Kyle Wingfield
August 13th, 2012
1:25 pm
getalife @ 1:14: Again? When was the first time?
Ayn Rand was right
August 13th, 2012
1:28 pm
I see Obama has gotten out the freezers to buy votes from farmers and ranchers. What energy source do the government’s freezers run on exactly.
He’s planning to buy the meat and fish now, while the prices are low and freeze the meat. Can Mrs. Obama, the fabulous first lady of food, please explain to her husband that meat and especially fish can be frozen for only about 3 months. Then again, this is just about how long he needs to keep the food prices low, isn’t it.
cc
August 13th, 2012
1:30 pm
Kyle:
This is a really good piece of writing and definitely on point!
It saddens me to see from remarks posted by liberals that obama’s class warfare ploy works so well on them. Of course, controlling a liberal brain is relatively easy since there’s so very little of it.
Keep up the great writing!
WillisJames
August 13th, 2012
1:31 pm
Anyone posting a comment I would like to asked you a question. Have any of you every been to your Congressmen or Representatives Office? There are two building where you will find them. They will treat you real nice; you can get a pass to go into the chamber and watch them argue over several bills; and you can also see where your tax dollars are used. Marble floors, great men and women suite bathrooms, executive parking garages, I need not to say more. When you enter their office, the very first thing you will see is the stack of paperwork on their desk…I mean stacks! I also know they all spend a great deal of time working on their reelection for the next full term. You asked why, and how do they get things done or if they ever respond to your values and your questions. You have to think longterm and how many district offices they set up all over their state. There are countless of clerks and one main Secretary that reads all of the important mail for your Congressman and Reprsentative. There is a formal format for answering your particular mail or the question you asked. When you letter is done, your Congressman or Representative don’t even read it; it is merely signed and it is on it’s way back to you. We like to think when we elect people into office they are there for us……infact, it is the other way around, they are there for themselves and thier family. You, on the ohter hand have to wait in line to see if you actually can afford good health care or have retirement; to and for them, it is automatic and they live happy ever after since you have continue to elect them back into office again, again and again! What have your Congressman or Representative have really did for you? Nothing! It is just what is going on the 2012-2013 Presidential Election now going full speed. Not one of these people running and if elected will do anything for your or your family. It is going to be a setback from where we are to going back where we were only to prove a point for self. I am always looking to see what really goals that a person have when they are running for any office. We are better off now than we were 8 years ago. We are not going to be perfect in any way regardless who is President. I like the facts that Romney selected Ryan, they both look unprofessional and they don’t carry themselves well in public. I see they have a different agenda between the two of thejm instead of being balance together. You see, if you live in cities where less of attention is placed on the needed, slums, homelessness, etc., you wonder why are we putting people into office that only seek out ways to continue the grave help for their own who are rich in the first place. No matter who we are or race we have, we need to have a decent way of living here on earth. Earth has not done anything to us to harm us; it is we who have harm it. So Romney and Ryan want to repeal, take, raise taxes, and do everything they can to make President Obama look bad for sake of them being out of touch with the real needs for America people. You need to really research both Romney and Ryan……..if you don’t, you will be mislead down the road like Hilter mislead the Jews into constration camps and the final end was the crematory. I think you now get the picutre.
Just saying..
August 13th, 2012
1:35 pm
His own plan polling badly, it seems Romney did what he’s most comfortable doing: Outsourced Ryan’s Plan…