Jeb Bush Catches Hell From Old Lady For Saying We Need To "Phase Out Medicare"

An angry elderly woman at a townhall campaign event in New Hampshire let Jeb Bush know just what she and most Americans think of his plan to phase out Medicare.

Jeb Bush defends Medicare 'phase out' comment

Democrats failed abjectly in their attempt to create Death Panels. Jeb Bush has what it takes to make this dream a reality.

"The Hard, Central Truth Of Contemporary Conservatism"

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By ELI STOKOLS

“We’re not going to have adequate coverage for our children or our grandchildren without Medicare. I paid into that for years and years just like all these other seniors here and now you want to take it away?” said the woman, who did not identify herself and left before the town hall concluded. “Why are you always attacking the seniors?”

“Well, I’m not,” Bush responded. “Here’s what I said: I said we’re going to have to reform our entitlement system. We have to.”

“It’s not an entitlement,” the woman shot back. “I earned that.”

“It’s an actuarially unsound healthcare system,” said Bush, who said something must be done before the system burdens future generations with $50 billion of debt. “Social Security is an underfunded retirement system; people have put money into it, for sure.

“The people that are receiving these benefits, I don’t think that we should touch that; but your children and grandchildren are not going to get the benefit of this that they believe they’re going to get or that you think they’re going to get, because the amount of money put in compared to the amount of money the system costs is wrong.”

Of course the Republicans would rather scrap Medicare than make some minor adjustments to how its financed. That goes back to Republicans' pathological fear of raising more revenue for any purpose. Otherwise their Koch donors might be disappointed in their substantial investment in the Republican Party.  

Jeb Bush pushes to ‘phase out’ Medicare

By Steve Benen

It says something important about Republican politics in 2015 when the most mainstream candidate is also the candidate who wants to scrap Medicare altogether.

Regardless, there’s quite a bit wrong with his take on the issue, both as a matter of politics and policy. Let’s start with the former.

The Florida Republican is convinced that “people understand” the need to get rid of Medicare. He’s mistaken. Given the polling from the last several years, what people understand is that Medicare is a popular and successful program, and a pillar of modern American life.

As for the policy, there’s no point in denying that the Medicare system faces long-term fiscal challenges, but to argue, as Jeb Bush does, that Democrats have ignored the conversation is plainly incorrect. On the contrary, while Republicans fight to eliminate the Medicare program, Democrats have had great success in strengthening Medicare finances and extending its fiscal health for many years to come.

The secret, apparently, was passing the Affordable Care Act.

Before “Obamacare” was passed, Medicare was projected to face a serious fiscal shortfall in 2017. As of yesterday, Medicare trustees now believe the system is fiscally secure through 2030.

This shows the extent that Republicans no longer care about typical Americans, its all about pleasing their big donors. That could be one of the factors adding to the GOP base's embrace of Donald Trump. For all his many glaring shortcomings Trump doesn't spend his days begging other members of the elite for money.

Jeb Bush raised 88% of his campaign cash from donors who gave the primary maximum of $2,700

Posted by LEFTY COASTER ON JULy 23, 2015