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Subscribe to RSSBOCA RATON, Fla. -- Courting the over-65 set in retiree-rich southern Florida Friday, Vice President Joe Biden accused the GOP presidential ticket of planning to poach the Medicare and Social Security tax benefits of the middle class to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy.
"If Governor Romney’s plan goes into effect, it could mean that everyone, everyone of you, would be paying more taxes on your Social Security," Biden told hundreds of retirees at the Century Village community in Boca Raton. "The average senior would have to pay $460 a year more in taxes for their Social Security."
The Obama campaign traces that math to the claim that Romney's tax policy would necessarily require the elimination of some middle-class tax deductions. Using data from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, they determine that Romney would have to cut tax benefits for those earning under $200,000 by 58 percent. Spreading those cuts evenly across all benefits would work out to an average of $460 per year per senior.
But Team Romney counters that those numbers are based on a third party's assessment that's riddled with uncertainties and assumptions rather than Romney's actual plan, which the campaign promises on its website "will not raise [Social Security] taxes and will not affect today's seniors or those nearing retirement."
Republicans also point out that Biden himself voted for a 1993 measure that expanded the taxable portion of Social Security benefits for many low-income seniors.
In Florida Friday, Biden said Romney's tax plan was not "moral" because of what he claims would be unfair hikes on the middle class.
"How can you justify a middle class that has been clobbered by the policies that brought on this great recession, adding taxes to them and drastically cutting taxes for the very wealthy," he told a group made up mostly of seniors in Tamarac. "It's not right, I don't even think it's moral, and beyond that it will not help the economy, it will hurt the economy."
In slamming the GOP ticket, Biden also joked that he can't determine if Romney would actually roll back the Obama-backed health care plan after Romney's on-again off-again embrace of some of its core tenets.
"He said 'well, we’re going to maybe ... do that, but I’d like to keep a lot of the good stuff,' and then his campaign says, 'no no no, he didn’t mean that,' " Biden said.
The vice president, who also won laughs from the elderly crowds for jokes about his age and a Lawrence Welk shout-out that would have sailed over the heads of a younger audience, was warmly received at his campaign events. But he did face persistent questioning on the Obama administration's health care plan when he stopped at Nestor's, a Jewish deli in Boca Raton.
Steve Grossman, a 39-year-old who said he worked in the financial services industry, approached Biden as he sat down to order a tuna salad platter and began asking about health insurance costs. The vice president initially seemed reluctant to answer, cutting Grossman off to order his food and to chat with another patron's husband on the phone, but he ended up offering a description of state-based health care exchanges more fitting for a think tank roundtable than a deli specializing in "the mother of all Pastrami sandwiches."
"You can get more benefits for less money," he told Grossman in between slurps of chicken soup. "You get to choose among those insurance companies that are competing as part of the exchanges."
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All this is well known the Dems are a party of the many who agree to disagree on everything and make policy by consensus as practiced by our founding fathers. Racist I should think most people have there degrading opinions and are unfairly judge-mental about someone or group after all we are human. The problems arise when we use government to limit their choices and expand ours. The only question you need to answer by November 2 is which party best represents your interest and from your diatribes I assume the green party, not likely to win, but your concise will be clear. Can you offer us a better choice than the one in office now? That is the only question I need answered by Nov. 2nd and Flipper is not my first choice. So it is Obama or bust or as you have so advocated Obama and bust. But at this moment I am busting with enthusiasm for Obama.
Obama is decimating our health care system, there were THREE bills written by R's long before obamacare went through. Not to say there it is - sign one but thanks to the media and obama Americaa NEVER had a chance to even see it or debate it. You don't pull that @!$%# on our country on such an game-changing bill - then they rammed the bitch through,
obama has ZIP for urgency in reducing our deficit....it goes on and on but the bottom line is when you take obama and couple that with you, your fellow democrats and the media utterly unwilling to hold him accountable for anything ------ I would vote for a fricken corpse first.
You can't be serious that democrats are a party that tries to make policy by consensus. Nothing I have seen over the past 20 years of following politics would lead me to believe that. Democrats are much more likely to vote as a block and to punish people for getting out of line.
Spoken like a true Mitt supporter. I am proud you have made a decision. As a corpse I am sure Mitt could quit flipping and be a better influence on the country. I like your insight.
So as my daddy past down to me in my frivolous youth you best quit bitching and start pitching in if want to get this job done or even change the world. I understand and sympathize that bitching is more fun so I might suggest a tour in the Army/Navy. Where bitching is a way of life, 200 proud yrs. of tradition unaffected by progress.
Damn Straight, Don't Complain, Don't Explain.
My dad was a tough, Korea-tested Marine Drill Sargent who could make R. Lee Ermey soil himself.
My daddy loaded 50 cal. machine guns for B-24's in Italy and wisely dug his fox hole a full two deeper than his neighbor or he may not have been my daddy. He was tested after the war with nine children and a crazy wife. I could see many a day when he envied his life in that fox hole. Still kicking and bitching; always the soldier; in that fox hole with his grin.
Why does Biden think he can get away blatantly lying to seniors like that. Does he think that they are so senile they can't see through the obvious lies?
They must have only THOUGHT they saw through Paul Ryan, silly old bats.
Seniors, especially Florida seniors : Check your Humana or United Medicare booklets that are now arriving in the mail this week. You will find Obamacare is already costing you more money. The co-pays have skyrocketed. Just the co-pay to see your primary doctor will go up 50% from 2012 to 2013. And if you think those monthly premiums aren't going to follow suit !?!? Go ahead and vote for The Amateur King. It will cost you Big Time when Obamacare really kicks in. And that's if you don't get triaged out when you really need care. Vote smart. Everything remains the same with Social Securty & Medicare if you vote for ROMNEY/RYAN.
backfire-U===I read through one already and the cost are going up. I sure hope that the Senors actually read these things because they are the ones that are going to get raped by Obama-Care.
Joe Biden can stand up in front of crowd of Seniors and tell them we are going to take away over a Trillion Dollars from Medicare and Social Security but your services are going to be the same. That's ridiculous!! Obama and the Democrats have raped this country. The majority of the American People said No to Obama-Care but they forced it on us anyway. Vote them all out of office.
Onermailliw you need to get all your facts straight . I turned 18 in early January of 1982. I received a letter in December 1981 that I had to register for the draft MANDITORY. Your date of 1984 for the draft to be manditory is debunk which tells me that the rest of your facts is questionable. Plus even if not manditory you could still register.
Your registration was with Selective services. The draft Is downstream of that.
If there was a "Draft" for you, you'd be a Veteran or Career by now (or wormfood, sorry)
will you tea nuts make your minds up...I thought liberals we fat lazy people...now we are rich ?
what happen to ..Big..club fan...germangirl..hahahahah..i know yall are reading this stuff
its no fun when yall tea nuts leave us ..whats up say something
I'm out for good based on post 116.1. Goodbye cruel world! lol :)
please dont go
Checks and balances...STAY, continue to contribute.
what happen to all the betters..on this vine I bank at fivepointcu.com...Port AurthurTX.send and pay up
I would like to see Romney Wednesday...say its over and just shake Obama's hand
cut cut cut cut cut..you just thought you were going to just sit in office and do those things huh tea nuts
Holy crowpocniks already, Bush democrat, kill her husband and marry the gal.
what would Reagan do..to raise the polls...to get elected..oh go over to Iran..in secrete..and ask Iran to help him in office..for arms if elected
It breaks my heart to see Vicky Hartzler on this list; she unseated Ike Skelton; one of the greatest representative Missouri ever had. He did so much for our state but was unseated by the Tea Party wave that ravaged our country in 2010. I see good old Todd Akin is also on this list; Missourians need to vote Claire back to the Senate this election. Luetkenmeyer needs to go also. Missouri doesn't need these Tea Party obstructionists to represent us!! Missouri is bettter than these extremists.
thats correct
Seniors, especially Florida seniors : Check your Humana or United Medicare booklets that are now arriving in the mail this week. You will find Obamacare is already costing you more money. The co-pays have skyrocketed. Just the co-pay to see your primary doctor will go up 50% from 2012 to 2013. And if you think those monthly premiums aren't going to follow suit !?!? Go ahead and vote for The Amateur King. It will cost you Big Time when Obamacare really kicks in. And that's if you don't get triaged out when you really need care. Vote smart. Everything remains the same with Social Securty & Medicare if you vote for ROMNEY/RYAN.
Smokie backs me up :
I read through one already and the cost are going up. I sure hope that the Senors actually read these things because they are the ones that are going to get raped by Obama-Care.Joe Biden can stand up in front of crowd of Seniors and tell them we are going to take away over a Trillion Dollars from Medicare and Social Security but your services are going to be the same. That's ridiculous!! Obama and the Democrats have raped this country. The majority of the American People said No to Obama-Care but they forced it on us anyway. Vote them all out of office.
hey I thought insurance was people who don't work????will yall make your minds up
oh sorry I do have insurance...I don't have to pay a co pay anymore for me or my family...so sorry its getting better
what plan do you have with no copay? Even the sweetheart govt plans all have copays?
apwu
it was 18 dollars
All seniors need to look carefully when their new booklets come. Mine came Friday.
Obamacare IS putting the screws to Medicare recipients NOW. Just think how bad it will be when fully implemented.
Vote ROMNEY/RYAN Seniors Wake the smuck up! To quote the Black Panthers.
what happen to all the betters..on this vine I bank at fivepointcu.com...Port AurthurTX.send and pay up
whats the bet elvis? you giving odds? :-)
i bet my trailer for their mantion
Romney and Ryan are counting on seniors being selfish and stupid. You know, like Romney and Ryan are!
Speaking to elites in support of Willard Romoney recently, Bill Marriott (Hotel chain CEO) said that Willard once helped him dock his yacht at a lakefront marina where both have summer homes. He further stated that "that's what Mitt will do for America."
That settles it! Romoney will help you too, dock your yacht!
Just where did Biden come up with this BS? Did someone do a study or did he just pull it out of his a$$?
Republican politicians lock in members votes with the following tactics.
These and more are what keep the Republican voters locked in self abuse and gloom while they ask for worse conditions at the polls.
There is a self-hate, masochistic, Stockholm syndrome epidemic, and they don't care.
Yup Affinity -
Insult and disrespect people then expect them to vote for you!
That's the Romoney-way!
No wonder he's losing!
Sorry crazies. It's not the media! It's not the pollsters! It's not even Romney! It's the Republican party! Voters have watched Republican candidates discuss forced ultrasound vaginal probes, "legitimate rape", hatred of union teachers, policemen,firemen and sanitation workers . Voters see a party that hates education. logic & facts and prefers teaching creationism and hatred of minorities and women and they are realizing they don't like you or your party.
These are the hard facts:
Seniors, especially Florida seniors : Check your Humana or United Medicare booklets that are now arriving in the mail this week. You will find Obamacare is already costing you more money. The co-pays have skyrocketed. Just the co-pay to see your primary doctor will go up 50% from 2012 to 2013. And if you think those monthly premiums aren't going to follow suit !?!? Go ahead and vote for The Amateur King. It will cost you Big Time when Obamacare really kicks in. And that's if you don't get triaged out when you really need care. Vote smart. Everything remains the same with Social Securty & Medicare if you vote for ROMNEY/RYAN.
Smokie backs me up :
I read through one already and the cost are going up. I sure hope that the Senors actually read these things because they are the ones that are going to get raped by Obama-Care.Joe Biden can stand up in front of crowd of Seniors and tell them we are going to take away over a Trillion Dollars from Medicare and Social Security but your services are going to be the same. That's ridiculous!! Obama and the Democrats have raped this country. The majority of the American People said No to Obama-Care but they forced it on us anyway. Vote them all out of office.
Defense Contract workers: Look for your pink slips in November, before the election. Seniors: Yours are in your mailbox right now. Numbers don't lie. Check them out.
Humana Medicare: Primary (in-network)Doctor visit 2012 = $10, 2013 = $15 Specialists 2012 = $30 2013 = $40
Monthly premium up $5.00/month - still sounds like a BARGAIN to me!
That's 50%. And that is no bargain for senior citizens on a fixed income. Especially coming from Biden's big mouth who is trying to scare seniors. The proof is in the pudding. All seniors, "look at your Medicare booklets when they arrive."
We don't yet know what the monthly premiums will be. This is just the co=pays.
MY Humana booklet clearly states the 2012 monthly premium was $59/mo and in 2013 it will go to $64/mo.
The Obama campaign attacks Mr. Romney for lacking specifics. And here, the Obama campaign attacks Mr. Romney with their own "hypothetical" specifics.
Meanwhile, the Obama campaign hasn't offered a long-term plan for entitlements.