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MIAMI – Stumping here on Monday, Mitt Romney told reporters he couldn’t think of how he differs from running mate Paul Ryan when it comes to their views on Medicare.
“We haven’t gone through piece by piece and said, ‘Oh, here’s a place where there’s a difference,’” Romney said of his running mate’s plan. “But my plan for Medicare is very similar to his plan, which is ‘Do not change the program for current retirees or near-retirees but do not do what the president has done and that is to cut $700 billion out of the current program.”
Sustaining Medicare, the government’s health care program for seniors, will likely become a central issue in this election campaign – particularly because Ryan, the House budget committee chairman, crafted a controversial plan that analysts say would increase costs for low-income and unhealthy seniors down the road.
In the days since Paul Ryan joined the Republican ticket, the spotlight has been on Ryan's proposal for government to give seniors money to buy their own insurance – part of a sweeping Medicare reform plan. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
Romney was less committal Monday than he was in January, when he said during a debate that Ryan’s Medicare reform plan was “absolutely right on.” Instead, he said that he and Ryan agreed on the main points – and that he planned to restore the $700 billion cut from Medicare under Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
Ryan's Medicare plan and his budget: What's in them for you?
There’s a hitch, however: Ryan’s budget makes the same $700 billion in Medicare cuts as the Obama plan. CNBC's Scott Cohn explains:
“The Affordable Care Act – Obamacare – does cut the growth of Medicare by $700 billion over 10 years. But benefits to seniors actually increase under Obamacare, which reduces payments to providers in exchange for more people covered by insurance. What’s more, the Ryan plan – approved by the House – cuts Medicare spending every bit as much as Obamacare does. In fact, it incorporates the very same budget projections, even as it repeals Obamacare. That’s what you call having it both ways.”
Faced with questions about Ryan's support for these cuts, the Romney campaign clarified its position Monday evening and disagreed with those cuts.
"Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have always been fully committed to repealing Obamacare, ending President Obama’s $716 billion raid on Medicare, and tackling the serious fiscal challenges our country faces," Lanhee Chen, Romney’s policy director, said in a statement. "A Romney-Ryan Administration will restore the funding to Medicare, ensure that no changes are made to the program for those 55 or older, and implement the reforms that they have proposed to strengthen it for future generations."
At his last event of the day here in Miami, Romney did not mention Medicare or Obama’s health care reform, focusing instead on economic issues. But when Paul Ryan comes to Florida, where retirees make up a sizable part of the population, it would be safe to assume that Medicare reform will once again take center stage.
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mikeSanJacinto says…
But Bo-1925019 correctly reminds us that
So whereRthejobsBoehner aptly warns
And BrianJ concludes that
So, when you put that all together you get...
LATE BREAKING NEWS UPDATE ...........
Steve Baker-338532 says…
Cogito Ergo Sum 1 confirms
and Zardoz8238 informs us that the The Romney Ryan Express is
So there you have it folks. Officially verified confirmed reports that ...
The truth brought to you by all our intrepid reporters!
It appears that we are at a political 'cross roads' regarding our politics-----but, do you know what-----this is not the first time it has happened and it won't be the last-------so when the dust finally settles we shall emerge 'stronger than ever'---it is called 'optomism'------an we Americans are known for that!!!----it is going to be an interesting year!!
I actually don't think it will make all that much difference which one of them wins, as far as the general economy goes.
I think that if Romney wins there will be a significant boost to the economy. There is a lot of money sitting on the sidelines waiting to be invested. Even if Obama wins and he says that he will not change anything for 4 years, we would have a boost to the economy. The problem is that Obama is flying by the seat of his pants without giving anyone any idea to what he will do or say next.
If Obama wins you better get there early for his welfare lines.. and take a number.
How clear can it be..
/
No matter if you are circus clowns or thieves in the night, the end is coming equally, truly are you filled yet with dread? You should be. We have as much chance as all the life that was wiped out 65 million years ago. The left wing liars and the right wing liars tell us they fix what is wrong. All we have to do is vote for them. LIARS. They now what is wrong, all of the politicians know. They know the problem is us. We the people. Soon the only soup kitchens will be from us, to one another. The only helping hand will be as it always should have been, not some fat cat with a monkey on his or her back, but our neighbors. You know, the people that live next door. That is how we fix our country. Starve our government and make it fear us.
You've been reading too many fairy tales---get back to reality!!
Do you say that so others will not understand it or do you sat that because you fear what is true?
In from the wilderness. -
Go back to that hole out there in your "wilderness" that you crawled out of.
Is that you only rebuttal. Do not pay attention to the Zardoz behind the curtain.
"Some people say" that Paul Ryan promised to wear magic Mormon underwear in order to get on the ticket.
Here are the
that Mitt Romney asked Paul Ryan to vet him for selection as his Vice Presidential running-mate:
Is that supposed to be funny????
Get over yourself. One day, if you are lucky, someone will chip your bones out of the stone.
Thanks Bruce , that made me lol.
Glad you enjoyed it sighrus99!
Sorry, MSNBC Scott Cohn did not review both plans or if he did he is just lying. His statement is false. The plans do not do the same thing. Just 1 example, the 700 Billion taken from medicaid is to help fund Obamacare not offer more pay for the same services. You can't move money from 1 pocket to another pocket to pay for more expenses and say you have more money.
Try again, and report the TRUE facts first.
Obama has bumped and run the Liberals for 4 years. Nothing will change till Nov. 2012 when he is sent packing.
Maybe!!!------and "maybe not!!!!------vote, and we shall see!!
Politicians or not-------it is still the peoples vote that determines the results!!----so vote. I like the Australian way---if you do not vote you are fined!!---they have a 98% turnout!!
Heavetosaurs voted and they chip him out of the limestone with a DC handout in his claw.
I don't think there are going to be ANY winners in the next Presidential election. No matter who gets elected the American people will LOSE BIG TIME!!!
Romney is now going to try and run away and distance himself from the Ryan "plan". He knows it is "the kiss of death" to his election. There is no possible way any intelligent American would agree that we need to cut the social safety net (that keeps the very least of us from living in total abject poverty) to pay for more tax cuts for the wealthy. I hope the House and Senate will put the word out to their constituents that a Romney/Ryan win would devastate the middle class and poor. Then perhaps we can win back the Congress and finally give Obama a chance to lead this country back to it's rightful place.
What Bush did to this country was terrible, but what Ryan proposes in his budget would destroy this country .
It's the romney/ryan upper cut that's following the bush/cheney right cross.
It's the American Middle class that will drop for the count.
Let's at least get back to where we were in 2000 before we let another republican screw it up. I've been through several recessions but this one really hurt. I guess it's my own fault for not having a few million in off shore bank accounts and a dancing horse to deduct. I have a dog but they won't let me take a dime off for her. I don't get it. My dog sleeps on my bed. Does Romney's horse sleep on his bed??
I am sure now that Zardoz does not want to see what is hiding behind his curtain.
In from the wilderness. - I am sure now that Zardoz does not want to see what is hiding behind his curtain.
OH SNAP!! That one one hurt. You are SO clever! I wither at your cutting retorts!
Geesh.
What a crap title for an article, created by the profoundly ignorant Left.
We’re going broke boys and girls. Tax 100% of all the income of all the millionaires, billionaires. Take every freaking cent that they earn and send it to the Federal Government.
Even if you TAKE all of that money, guess what kiddies—WE’RE STILL BROKE. THE MATH DOESN’T ADD UP! THERE IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE PROMISES THAT YOUR POLITICIANS HAVE MADE TO YOU. GET IT? NOT ENOUGH MONEY.
And, no, children, you cannot have a pony for your birthday, either.
I know, not enough money for two unfunded wars, so let's just leave it out of the budget....
Not enough money for the drug plan, so let's just leave it out of the budget....
Not enough money to cover the tax cuts for the wealthy, so let's just leave it out of the budget....
Not enough money to bail out our bankster friends, so let's just leave it out of the budget.....
What's this? A credit card? OOOOKAAAY! Let's use it, then the next Administration can figure out a way to pay for it, and we can deride them when it turns out that
There"s not enough money
Except in the Cayman Islands....
Romney to Seniors: Don't worry, Seniors, we're not coming after you; we're only going to screw your kids and grandkids.
Pretty much the case.
Who is paying the bills...Ooops1 Just the interest on the bills?
Since the polls said 75% of seniors were against Ryan's Medicare reform ideas, Romney better think fast or call this election over before it ever begins. The Seniors, me included cannot relate to anything these two 1%ers say period. Maybe they should both go watch dressage, horse dancing with the Queen of England, that's what her grand daughter medaled in at the Olympics and keep their hands out of the 99%ers pockets. They don't want to raise taxes on themselves, but they want to cut benefits for everyone, except the tax breaks they enjoy. Do you want to bet Romney is writing off his wife's dressage as a business expense? Prove me wrong Romney show us your taxes for the last 6 years like all other candidates for President have been doing for the last 40 years!!! Or, get the heck out of our government!
'Obama Biden 2012'
So 25% of seniors approve of Ryan getting rid of Medicare? Who are those people? Must be the ones who are having trouble finding their way back to their rooms.
If the Democrats change, adjust, or otherwise repair Medicare or Social Security so that it will continue to be of value to the future retirees would that still be Social Security as we know it or would it be different?
What does the Dems statement that Romney and Ryan will give us an SS or Medicare that is different then what we now know mean exactly?
What serious suggestions would you, or anyone else like to make about making both of these programs sustainable for at least another generation or two? I realize that Medicare maybe more difficult but it is by far the most troublesome and economically dangerous and certainly needs attention, and soon..
Derrrrp, Romney you are a fool. Study your running mate's agenda, "I don't know where we differ, but we are very similar" sounds like a Yogi Berra quote.
Social Security has been a critically important safety net for tens of millions of Americans since 1935!!
There is no need for some self serving, self righteous neo-con TeaBaggers, like ryan and romey, to screw with it now! If privatizing it was the way to go it would have been set up that way from the beginning.
It was set up during the Great Depression! When banks failed and the private sector failed.
It has a purpose.
It's the one financial resource that EVERY American has that the money grubbers and profit mongers can't get their greasy fingers on.
KEEP IT THAT WAY!
Several Democratic Congress' made sure the money already got. Who is kidding who? Who is pay for it now. We are only paying the interest on the majority of the national debt. WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?
Medicare is a national social insurance program, administered by the U.S. federal government since 1965, that guarantees access to health insurance for Americans ages 65 and older and younger people with disabilities as well as people with end stage renal disease.
As a social insurance program, Medicare spreads the financial risk associated with illness across society to protect everyone, and thus has a somewhat different social role from private insurers, which must manage their risk portfolio to guarantee their own solvency.
If private vouchers were the way to go with it then it would have been set up that way! It wasn't. The neo-cons have been fuming over this for 47 years too !!
Keep it that way.
Just tell romney hood and little paul that ....
AMERICANS DON'T NEED NO STINKING VOUCHERS!
Zardoz...that's not what the debate is about. The debate is about just what the government can do within it's power and ability to make the program financial sound enough to last and not grow, as it presently is, into a deficit creating monster that swallows every tax dollar in it's path? It will get help in that from Medicare as well.
Even Roosevelt knew, and stated, that his construct wasn't sustainable and would need to have changes made if it was to be viable over the long haul.
Romney will not run from the Ryan budget. Under the Ryan budget, Romney would have paid less than 1% federal income tax for 2010. The funny thing is that the only income he would have to pay on would be his speaking fees. Only $375,000 which he considers nothing. Can you believe that people pay Romney money to speak?? I don't get it.
According to the CNN and CNBC electoral map, Obama is only 27 votes from clinching reelection.
If he gets Florida (he is currently leading Romney) with its 29 electoral votes, it’s over.
If he gets only 2 or 3 swing states without Florida, it’s over. He is ahead in Ohio (19 electoral votes) and PA (20 electoral votes).
It’s Obvious that Obama will be reelected.
Of course he will be reelected. Romney is running a campaign based on made up reasons why Obama should not be re-elected. Only a fool won't see that Romney's arguments are false and that he's not trying to demonstrate any real leadership qualities whatsoever. All Romney wants to do is do as well as his dad. He realized that and a little more and that's good enough. He lived up to his dad's measure.
45% think that Ryan was a bad pick. 39% think that Ryan was a good pick. 16% asked - who is Paul Ryan?
To my amazment the issue I have a hardtime seeing is that the rightwing Christians would consider voting for a man (Ryan) whose mentor is Ayn Rand, who thinks Christianity is evil and that giving to the less fortunate is akin a crime.
How can they agree with a man that follows these anti Christian tenets?
Is that why his 2010 tax return shows him giving $3 MILLION to charity while Joe Biden gave a whopping $300.00? Yes, $300.00.
Is that why Romney served 4 years as Massachusetts governor at zero pay ?
Is that why Romney gave his entire inheritance from his father to Brigham Young University?
Is that why Romney served as the head of the 2002 Utah Olympics and is credited with saving it from bankruptcy at zero pay?
We knew almost nothing about Obama when he ran for President and as it turns out what little we did know came from his self-written autobiography's and they turned out to be full of falsehoods, composites, and lies of omission. At least with Romney and Ryan their entire life's history is damn near an open book, warts and all and their individual experiences make them individually and collectively far better equipped to get this nation moving again the Obama ever was or ever will be.
How on earth is Romney not prepared for the inevitable questions about Medicare that come by choosing Ryan as his running mate? If Romney couldn't have anticipated that, what does that say about his ability to lead the nation? Give the man a job as a game show host. His looks will work there too, but the brain won't have to work so hard.
Romney thinks he can deflect and flip/flop his way to the Presidency. Running as the anti-Obama ain't gonna work any more. He finally has to actually own something, besides a dancing horse.
How was he not prepared to answer questions about the Olympics in England, or questions in Israel? Or questions about his tax history?
He's arrogant and doesn't think he will have to answer.
Romney's slogan is "for a stronger middle class". This is based on the saying that "what does not kill you will make you stronger".
TEA PARTY PEOPLE.
90% of you are average citizens struggling to provide healthcare for yourselves and your children. Some of you don't have healthcare.
The 10% making all this noise are rich Republican -a s s-holes. They don't understand your plight. They don't give a d a m n.
You all know this. This is why 50% of you will defect and vote Democrat to protect your healthcare and livelihood.
i am absolutely convinced that if George W was still in charge we would all be in a soup line. Remember it was George W., Republican President of the United States who said, "It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it," May 5, 2000.
Finally, I do agree with his February 16, 2000 quote, because it is still relevant in 2012, "If you're sick and tired of the politics of cynicism and polls and principles come and join the Republican campaign". As true today as it was 100 years ago, bravo Mr. President, bravo.
You are 70 years old and have your voucher in hand. You call an insurance company to buy your private insurance. When the person at the insurance company stops laughing, they tell you that they will get back to you.
Real Clear Politics
Fox News 49 40 Obama +9
Thanks Tea Party
Romney has a big lead in the deep south. Enough said.
Romney hood leaving a hardware store with a PAIL (?) for a 'regular guy' photo op and is asked by a viewing reporter "Gov. Romney, what did you buy?"
Romney hood's response, "hardware stuff"!!
HARDWARE STUFF!!!
HE IS SO TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH AND CLUELESS ABOUT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN!!!
What Romney/Ryan are counting on with their "phased in change of Medicare" is that people 55 years and older will vote for them because they are looking out for only themselves and hate their children and grand children and don't mind pushing them into poverty. That's what Romney/Ryan would do!
yup, Throw the babies out with the bathwater.
lakerman2...do you not understand that if we don't make some changes/adjustments to SS and Medicare there won't be any money there for you kids or grand-kids anyway. Or for much of anything else after we stripped the cupboard bare trying to pay for 1 or 2 retirees with only 1 working person per to do it with?
It's going to be modified and the question is just whose plan is it going to be? A cobbled together compromise at the last minute that's only good for 20-30 years or a solution that protects the most people in the socially most affordable way. Just how many of your kids do you want to have working to support your retirement?