President Obama may have hoped his proposal to cut Social Security benefits would go unnoticed this weekend. If so, he was sorely mistaken.
Progressives across the country are rising up against his dangerous plan. Democracy for America members are leading the charge -- and making headlines:
-- Democracy for America called the cuts "profoundly disturbing," on CNN.
-- DFA Chair Jim Dean is quoted on ABC News as saying "We are prepared to fight (President Obama) every step of the way."
--And the Huffington Post reported that "any Democrat that votes to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits is risking a primary challenge" from DFA members.
The pundits and power-brokers in DC are taking notice. We've got the momentum -- but only a few more days before President Obama formally sends his proposal to Congress. We can't let up on the pressure.
"The news that the Democratic President will be openly pushing for cuts to Social Security benefits is a profoundly disturbing shot across the bow for the progressives who called their neighbors, spent weekends knocking doors and donated millions to reelect him."
"Let's be clear: President Obama, when it comes to cutting Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare benefits, over 200,000 progressive members of your own party don't "have your back" and we are prepared to fight you every step of the way." -- Jim Dean, Chair, Democracy for America
Key facts about DFA's fight against Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefit cuts:
A letter, co-authored by Reps. Alan Grayson (D-FL) and Mark Takano (CA-D), that vows to vote against any deal with benefit cuts has 30 congressional co-signers, over 200,000 citizen co-signers, and has been endorsed by 20 major organizations including the Democracy For America, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, MoveOn.Org and the National Organization for Women.
Another 100 members of Congress have signed the Congressional Progressive Caucus's letter opposing any cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits.
Democracy for America has 1 million members nationwide.
Stephen Colbert hilariously explains the real danger of the Keystone XL pipeline. WATCH:
While Colbert makes a great point with satire, the dangers of diluted bitumen are real. A 2012 article in the New York Times laid out the dangers of a tar-sands pipeline spill:
After the dilbit gushed into the river, it began separating into its constituent parts. The heavy bitumen sank to the river bottom, leaving a mess that is still being cleaned up. Meanwhile, the chemical additives evaporated, creating a foul smell that lingered for days. People reported headaches, dizziness and nausea. No one could say with certainty what they should do. Federal officials at the scene didn’t know until weeks later that the pipeline was carrying dilbit, because federal law doesn’t require pipeline operators to reveal that information.
The 2010 spill could have been worse if it had reached Lake Michigan, as authorities originally feared it might. Lake Michigan supplies drinking water to more than 12 million people. Fortunately, the damage was restricted to a tributary creek and about 36 miles of the Kalamazoo, used primarily for recreation, not drinking water.
The bottom line Keystone XL is an environmental disaster waiting to happen. This isn't your grandpa's oil being pumped in, but something much much worse, and it's up to us to stop it. Add your name to to tell President Obama no on KXL.
