Progressive Change Campaign Committee Threatens To Pull Obama Support Ahead Of 2012

CHICAGO — A liberal group upset over potential cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security delivered pledges Friday to President Barack Obama's national campaign headquarters threatening to pull its support.

About a dozen people representing the Progressive Change Campaign Committee delivered what they said were 200,000 pledges from people who will refuse to donate or volunteer for Obama's re-election campaign if he cuts the entitlement programs.

"It's not a question of who they're going to support for president, they're going to vote for Barack Obama. It's a question of where their time and money is going to go," spokesman T. Neil Sroka said.

Obama has been taking heat from the left over the debt ceiling negotiations, in which he has been willing to target the long-standing programs. His approach is certain to sit better with independent voters, many of whom have told pollsters they want Washington politicians to work together to solve the big problems.

Sroka said the 200,000 people represent more than $17 million in donations to Obama's campaign in 2008 and about 2.6 million volunteer hours.

Protester Mary Ellen Croteau, 61, of Chicago said she's even ready to find someone else to support if Obama cuts Medicare and Social Security.

"I don't know who I'm going to vote for yet because there doesn't seem to be too many people on the horizon, but I will vote for someone whether it's a Green candidate, whether it's a communist, I don't care. Somebody who's going to stand up for people," Croteau said.

Sroka later said she was not speaking on behalf of the group.

The Obama campaign's chief operating officer, Ann Marie Habershaw, accepted the group's petitions in the lobby of the downtown office building that houses the campaign.

"Americans elected the president in 2008 to take on the big challenges facing our country, and he's engaged in an effort to do just that," Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt said in a statement.

 

 

Comments

[judibluiz]

02:01 PM on 07/22/2011

The sad fact is it stands, Medicare cannot be sustained. The only answer is Medicare for all, or Single Payer. Many don't realize that this does NOT take private insurance out of the equation. Medicare has, and will have, under Single Payer Medicare Part B, purchased from private insurance companies to cover procedures that Medicare does not cover. You have the CHOICE on how much extra coverage you want to purchase with Part B.

With the climate in Washington DC, I don't see Single Payer happening anytime soon, so my guess is Medicare will be means tested so those making more will pay more for their Medicare coverage.
We can try and fix it now, or we can kick it down the road, but something has to be done to save the program.

Privatizing Medicare is NOT an option. That would be like giving all seniors Medicare Advantage which Democrats got rid of in HCR because the big insurance companies gouged taxpayers to the tune of 5 Billion dollars.

[kimbanyc]

06:40 PM on 07/22/2011

JUDI

FANNED YOU LONG AGO

IT JUST ANNOYS THESE NICKEL MERCENARIES EVERY TIME I FAN SOMEONE

HAHAHAHAA

[kitsapdem]

02:11 PM on 07/21/2011

Try taking your own advice healthcarenow.

[healthcarenow]

12:47 PM on 07/19/2011

""I don't know who I'm going to vote for yet because there doesn't seem to be too many people on the horizon, but I will vote for someone whether it's a Green candidate, whether it's a communist, I don't care".......I get it but you're wrong...a vote for anyone besides Obama is a vote for the GOP, and you can't seriously want to do that. I'm just as mad at you about Medicare/SS being on the table, but I will not participate actively or passively to elect ANY Republican.

[jsrl317]

03:19 PM on 07/19/2011

O.K. Please tell me, is there ANYTHING that Obama would do that would not have you vote for him? Anything? Is it like that? no matter WHAT he does or doesn't do, he is , by default, better than any other candidate? I'm not talking GOP here, I'm talking about another progressive. Once again, is there ANYTHING he could do that would cause you NOT to vote for him?

The reason I ask is that Nader spoke about this, and that part of the problem was we as an electorate, acting like sheeple and having our expectations lowered time and time again, with the somewhat false hope that what we have is better than the alternative. Of course we limit WHAT those alternatives are (black/white, GOP/Democrat, good/bad) Will there ever be a time when you are comfortable voting your strong convictions? Or will we always be afraid of some boogie man at the ready to take over if we do not cast the RIGHT vote?

Thoughts?

[healthcarenow]

05:23 PM on 07/19/2011

"is there ANYTHING he could do that would cause you NOT to vote for him?".....sure, he could perpetuate the wars and serve up Medicare and SS; BUT, there would have to be a VERY good candidate to look at; I would consider that in the primary, but I am saying,as a result of being burned by the GOP over my whole adult life, I would never vote for a Republican again (I voted for Nixon against McGovern, using my STRONG CONVICTIONS). So far, I don't see ANYONE with Obama's political skills and knowledge that would make me look around. Obama raised my expectations and I still believe in him.

[emm1924]

10:58 AM on 07/19/2011

Obama If you want me to live on the streets ,just stop my SS CK! thats where I will be, My three husbands are deceased & never drew hardly any of there S S CKs, so who got that?I i get one of there's ,worked all my life & pd into it now we quit getting colas when you came into office,(I voted for you) we quit getting other benefit's, Now you are considering taking part or all of our S S CK's? start with your cks,then Senator's,salary.,Then the congresses salary,???Why not ?Strart at the top!!!!!!!!

That will help the debt & Quit paying Past presidents Pensions!!!!!!

[cajanman]

10:36 PM on 07/19/2011

I want to vote for you, I have been thinking the same thing. If I preformed my job as bad as washington, I would be homeless and not getting a fat check every month for life. If tey didn't waste our taxes than we wouldn't have this problem.

[Dangerous Dan]

11:14 PM on 07/18/2011

Why campaign at all? Captured votes are captured votes.

[Bude]

07:13 PM on 07/18/2011

I say the same thing myself , then I think, who am I gonna vote for, Michelle Bachmann?

[Dangerous Dan]

11:07 PM on 07/18/2011

Still waiting for someone else to solve your problems? At least theTea Party Movement put candidates on the ballot that the RNC was dead set against. Where are the Progressives on the Democrat Primary Ballot. Oh! Sorry, DNC says no primary! Suks to be a captured vote.

[jsrl317]

03:26 PM on 07/19/2011

THANK YOU DAN FOR SPEAKING THE TRUTH! F&F!

We Democrats can do the same thing as the TP, get some ballsy progressive lefty Democrats to replace these blue dogs and middling wafflers. YES, we may have to lose a few elelctions to do this, but it can be done. It took the GOP a generation to take control, and now they have had thier policies in place for a geneneration.

Until we wake up and take the longer view, and stop being afraid to lose or afraid to fail as we fail by voting the SAME characters in time after time, we will never understand that our dreams can be made real, and that our hopes can indeed be realized.

How about:
Warren for Senator Mass.
Bernie Sanders for President
Paul Krugman for Treasury

THis is JUSt off the top of my head.

Let's do this!

[lel737]

12:07 PM on 07/18/2011

Obama needs to dump these goofballs. He might get my vote if he leans towards the center more...

[pickles n pops]

12:52 PM on 07/18/2011

Which goofballs are those?

[citizen of the universe]

01:09 PM on 07/19/2011

Congressional Democrats who have been hiding behind him. Congress hasn't been doing their job, but then again you folks didn't give Democrats a choice, since most of you had a temper tantrum and sat outNow, Harry Reid is brokering a deal that would sell out the President and you folks are "up in arms" about Obama just talking about Social Security, letting Congress off the hook for failing to do their job, but then again you folks have been looking the wrong way for a long time.

[apauline]

08:39 AM on 07/18/2011

President Obama is by far one of the most 'strategic' presidents in my life time. Since I don't have all of the facts, (no one outside of his administration has all the facts), I am trusting his judgment to do the right thing and I know he is having to do thinks very strategically to get things done. Because I don't have all the facts, and what I see and hear isn't necessarily accurate, I will reserve judgement and dis-satisfaction with this president. Under the circumstances President Obama is under, I am shocked, dazed and amazed, he even wants to run again. Regardless of what I see and hear, I'm supporting this president in words and deeds.

[healthcarenow]

12:48 PM on 07/19/2011

" I am trusting his judgment to do the right thing and I know he is having to do thinks very strategica­lly to get things done."......took the words right out of my mouth...well said! FF

[AZ Stang]

12:43 AM on 07/18/2011

So what? The 10% of extremists on the left and 10% extremists on the right do all the screaming and get all the press, but neither group decides an election. Don't fall for it, and don't buy into it.

[apauline]

08:42 AM on 07/18/2011

DITTO.

[the964kid]

09:18 PM on 07/17/2011

None of those programs are going to be cut, they need to stop being so melodramatic.

I don't remember progressive groups freaking out when Clinton cut medicare back when he balanced the budget. In fact every Dem in Congress voted for those medicare cuts.

I also don't remember 'progressives' freaking out when Clinton enacted NAFTA and DADT.

There's something odd about modern day 'progressives' and this President.

[FearlessFreep]

11:20 PM on 07/17/2011

Maybe the liberals should have "freaked out" when Clinton sold out. Maybe they're learning from past mistakes?

[gdoud]

02:39 AM on 07/18/2011

You have a revisionist version of history. People did freak out over both NAFTA and DADT. Especially NAFTA and the other pro-corporate globalization trade agreements that screwed the worker. Remember the "Battle in Seattle"?

But even when Clinton was deregulating the banks, he never would have considered slashing Social Security. Obama has gone way over the edge. He has totally abandoned the "left" (call it the base) of his party to go after a few soccer moms in Ohio. He is leaving millions of dollars and volunteer hours on the carpet to make a dying demographic like him.

The pathetic thing is that they won't, because there will still be close to 9% unemployment, and they will blame him.

[Dangerous Dan]

11:11 PM on 07/18/2011

And 18% under employment, and 19% minority unemployment, and youth unemployment. And retirement raised to 70! No room at the bottom. Suks to be Obama. It's still the economy, Genius.

[AZ Stang]

11:38 AM on 07/19/2011

So WTH is he thinking, wanting to bring in 12 million more illegal aliens?

[Evette Wilson]

08:46 PM on 07/17/2011

I say "Get Back under the TENT" It was this type of behavior that gave the REPUGS the House! We will divide the house on stupid stuff instead to agree to disagree. Nobody will ever get their way on either side completely thats why their should be room for compromise in the DEMOCRATIC HOUSE! DIvided we fall! Dont fall victim to those idealogues who are caught up in the Dream Fantasy that their way is the only way to think and support our PRESIDENT

[FearlessFreep]

11:21 PM on 07/17/2011

It was Obama's behavior that gave the GOP the House.

[Evette Wilson]

09:30 PM on 07/18/2011

No....THOSE PROGRESSIVE not sticking with the PRESIDENT CHANGED THE HOUSE! The public got upset that the former DEMS who are not in office now had no SPINES. There are others whom they left behind that have to leave too!

[citizen of the universe]

01:15 PM on 07/19/2011

I beg to differ. It was "jobs" campaign Republicans put on and the hissy fit Progressives threw about not getting the public option. Now we have a bunch of clueless novice who made a suicide pact but failed to mention that the American people is the pact.

[AZ Stang]

12:33 AM on 07/18/2011

Both sides think their way is the only way! Where have you been?

[OhioIsHome]

07:31 PM on 07/17/2011

I commend the President for compromising and trying to reach a workable solution. He's had to make tough choices.

[MileHighCityMan]

08:31 PM on 07/17/2011

Sincerely,

Democrats in Favor of Recycled Republican Policies

[the964kid]

09:22 PM on 07/17/2011

Obama isn't a king, he has to go through a Congress filled with Tea Baggers and turn-coat Blue-Dogs. How exactly would you have expected him to get votes on anything with the recent make-up of our Congress?

[MileHighCityMan]

12:27 AM on 07/18/2011

The link reporting that Obama considers himself a Blue Dog:, which is not what he campaigned on and you know it. He uses them and Rs as cover to not even attempt passing a real change agenda as promised. And you fell for it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/01/us/politics/01bai.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1310963103-I0HcNhYaV8vPzVwOiYnpXA

[the964kid]

09:20 PM on 07/17/2011

I agree. There's never been a party in Congress working so adamantly against every single little thing a president has tried to do in modern history.

[FearlessFreep]

11:22 PM on 07/17/2011

So trying to work with them doesn't make much sense.

[AZ Stang]

12:34 AM on 07/18/2011

Thank goodness. Imagine the hole we'd be in now if the hadn't.

[DaveC19]

07:28 PM on 07/17/2011

Good I am tired of Obama caving in to the GOP all of the time.

Raise the eligibility age to the point where I May not live long enough to collect? Not everyone has a cushy desk job where they can work until 70 you know.

All of that and cutting oil subsidies, the MIC, tax cuts for the rich, and corporate welfare is off of the table? His priorities are WAY off.

[AZ Stang]

12:45 AM on 07/18/2011

Do you think maybe the people who are in these high- level meetings get more information than we do?

[citizen of the universe]

01:21 PM on 07/19/2011

Raise the eligibilit­y age to the point where I May not live long enough to collect? Not everyone has a cushy desk job where they can work until 70 you know.

Eligibility age has already been raised from 65 to 67 and what difference does it make what kind of job someone does if they fall in the same age group as you. Will they not be 70 as well or is it all about you?

[Hiker54]

01:57 PM on 07/19/2011

The problem about raising the age is that the people who will most need SS can't work that long. People who do physical labor have a hard time working into their late 60's. In fact, their life expectancy is lower than those with office or desk jobs.

Someone should do a study of means testing. Eliminate those who will not need SS because of means and check the life expectancy of those left. I'm thinking it won't be 77.6 years.

[Anthony Miller]

07:28 PM on 07/17/2011

Jane Hamsher, Adam Green, and Cenk Uygur all are Republicans/Libetarians who could not cut it on their side so they decide to pretend to be progressives causing many Progressives to donate to their PACs who have not once helped President Obama since being elected and has not done anything to speak up regarding the Republicans actions.

Have you heard them say one thing about the Republicans not willing to negotiate and put increase taxes on the table? Any progressive who is truly informed cannot support people like Jane, Adam or Cenk who had done nothing to advance the discourse of the national conversation or remind people of the progress we have made.

If they achieve their goal along with McConnell to make President Obama a one term President, maybe the silver lining is that people will quit donating to their pathetic PAC.

[MileHighCityMan]

08:01 PM on 07/17/2011

Yeah what are those three figures thinking? Who are they to think for themselves instead of blindly fall in line with a recycled Republican agenda that breaks uncountable campaign promises. The nerve!

We need to support the president no matter what. He is a Democrat on the Blue Team. That's our team! Anybody who doesn't march behind all Democrats is a secret Republican.

I just know Obama will finally start being really progressive if we just fall in line and elect as many corporate DLC Blue Dogs as possible in 2012. After the election, he will finally be the progressive we knew he was. He's just been playing 11th dimensional chess, he is so smart! I hope he enacts a really conservative agenda because I want him to do anything possible to beat Republicans at their own game. That is way more important than progressive laws that affect my own life.

Adam Green only wants Democrats to lose because he is a secret Republican. He doesn't know the realities of legislating like me. I know that Democrats will eventually get Republicans to do what they want if you put out enough an olive branch and rationally explain the facts. We need to drop the extremes and just work together like adults.

Bottom line - If you don't support the president 110% then obviously you secretly are plotting for Bachman and Palin. And you are motivated by race.

[FearlessFreep]

08:51 PM on 07/17/2011

A conspiracy theorist (ho hum).

[AZ Stang]

12:46 AM on 07/18/2011

shocking...

[PukkaDemocrat]

07:21 PM on 07/17/2011

Hahaha, go ahead and threaten all you like, progressive scum. We all know you're going to vote straight Democrat come November 2012.