Was it bold or disingenuous of the President to say that there may not be enough money to print Social Security checks?

Both. He’s a politician. I don’t think politicians are black & white in their thinking or their doings…no matter what side of the aisle they sit on.

@josie, surely you realize that the handful of politicians in the federal government refusing to take paychecks would not cover the money required to fund SS payments?

What would you defund in order to fund SS payments? And by what authority would you move this money around?

He pissed me off to a fare-thee-well with this bullshit! I can’t EVER remember being so mad at a politician! Anywhere else in the society, this would be called extortion!

@CaptainHarley, he wants to raise the debt ceiling so we can afford to pay SS.

The people committing extortion are the idiots who claim to not want to raise the debt ceiling… despite having voted for a budget (Paul Ryan’s) that requires raising the debt ceiling.

@CaptainHarley And why is that vitriol not aimed at the Republicans who are holding the debt ceiling hostage despite raising it under George Bush?

@zenvelo, doy, raising the debt ceiling is perfectly okay if you need to go into debt to pay for tax cuts, for wars, or for senior-vote-buying Medicare Part D.

It’s only bad to raise the debt ceiling if you’re trying to spend to raise demand during a recession, because that helps poor people who should be helping themselves.

I love the dichotomy of your question, @josie. Really.

Nothing about this president is “bold”, but he does make for some interesting and highly calculated (and sometimes, it must be admitted: astute) political theater. (On the other hand, Bush was bold from time to time, but stupid, so it’s a six-of-one, half-a-dozen of another… less taxes in either case.)

Clearly we disagree on politics Josie, but I think it was bold.

I voted for the guy, and just when I started to get pissed that the loyal opposition was walking all over him, he did that. Restored my faith in him.

Is it disingenuous, no, I actually think it is true in point of fact. If the ceiling isn’t raised, he decides who to pay. So I think he has no problems directing the payments in a manner that will hurt those who (he believes) put him in that situation to the greatest amount possible.

Obama is a truly evil man. His ploy to withold money from the disabled, the aged, and veterans makes political prey of those least deserving to be prey, those most deserving of help.

Look at your paycheck. Social security funds are deducted every time you see you check. That money goes to the government to pay out in Social Security payments. If they CHOOSE to not pay Social Security payments, it’s because they decided to spend the money on something else. Not because they don’t have it. With or without a debt ceiling increase.

This is what my Congressman had to say on the subject:

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) released the following statement regarding President Obama’s interview on CBS Evening News, in which he said he cannot guarantee Social Security checks will go out in August if a debt-ceiling compromise is not reached by the deadline:

“Any claim that Social Security checks may not be paid in August has to be from someone who is either very ignorant, or very dishonest and trying to scare senior citizens for political gain. The Treasury Secretary has more than enough money to make the payments. This administration has not only confused the American public by flip-flopping on many debt and tax issues, but it has at the same time destroyed American jobs and weakened the U.S. economy through the implementation of anti-business policies. Now, by threatening to withhold Social Security checks from Americans, unless he gets permission by Aug. 2nd to continue increasing the debt ceiling, President Obama is once again deploying a scare tactic strategy based on a falsehood.”

“Unless the President and his Treasury Secretary willfully withhold Social Security checks to make a political statement, seniors have nothing to worry about. The truth is that Social Security’s ability to make payments as usual will be completely unaffected even if the debt ceiling is not raised next month. In fact, Social Security payments come from the Social Security Trust Fund which is capable of making payments for many months without Congress doing anything. Instead of being a statesman leader and saying something like, ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,’ this President tries to create fear and panic in the American public at every turn.”

Congressman Louie Gohmert is the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Prior to being elected to serve in Congress, Louie was elected to three terms as District Judge in Smith County, Texas. He also served as Chief Justice of Texas’12th Court of Appeals.

His statement does not bother me in the least. This is just a political ploy to get the Congress rolling.

I would hate to know that 70 million Social Security recepients are not going to continue to receive their well-earned checks. This would be political suicide.

HAVE NO FEAR…....THE CHECKS WILL BE HERE.

@CaptainHarley, so please explain what money you’d move around.

If he’s such an evil man, why don’t you tell us all how you’d do better. What programs would you defund if the debt limit isn’t raised?

Would you, for example, shut down our aircraft carriers and stop paying the military? Would you stop paying Medicare and Medicaid? Tell us, you brave do-gooder you.

Across the board cuts for EVERYONE is the only fair and viable option. “Too big to fail” is bullshit.