This should raise doubts among progressives about what kind of cuts President Obama has put on the table in the Debt Ceiling Talks, when the darling of the Tea Party and far right wing presidential candidate Allen West is lavishing praise on the Obama White House's proposed cuts.
Allen West praises – of all people – Barack Obama
“I want to take this moment to commend President Obama for facing the facts that in order for us to bring our fiscal house in order, we need to take necessary steps to address mandatory spending such as Medicare and Social Security,” said West, a tea party favorite known for his withering criticisms of the president.
He was reacting to news reports that Obama has thrown Social Security and Medicare on the bargaining table as part of a potential deal to make substantial cuts in federal spending to rein in the national debt. Some Republicans, who see these entitlement programs as a major budget buster, welcomed a chance for reform.
“For too long individuals and special-interest groups have used these programs to demagogue and scare seniors in order to gain a political advantage,” West said. “President Obama says he finally realizes that to save these programs we need to make significant reforms, and I support his goals.”
And how big a change in Social Security is Allen West demanding?
Allen West To Town Hall: ‘If You Support Medicare…You Can Kiss The United States Of America Goodbye’
WEST: I gotta tell you something: if you support Medicare the way it is now, you can kiss the United States of America goodbye.
Allen West's enthusiastic endorsement makes me very very dubious of the merits of the changes the White House has proposed for Medicare and Social Security. Do these changes include lifting or eliminating the earnings cap? Or are these changes a total surrender to the Tea Party?