Over the weekend, Republicans have tried to
position themselves as the saviors of Medicare who will protect us against
Obama’s plans to cut $700 billion dollars from the program. For instance, Mitt Romney himself said,
Unlike the current President, who’s cut
Medicare funding by 700 billion dollars, we will preserve and protect Medicare
and Social Security and keep them there for future generations.
And, on Meet the
Press, RNC Chairman Reince Preibus said,
This president stole — he didn’t cut Medicare — he stole $700 billion from
Medicare to fund Obamacare. If any
person in this entire debate has blood on their hands in regard to Medicare,
it’s Barack Obama. He’s the one that’s destroying Medicare.
As PolitiFact has repeatedly pointed out,
this charge is false. The Affordable
Care Act does not cut any benefits from Medicare subscribers, but seeks to
reduce the growth of Medicare expenses by various policy changes, including
modifying payments to healthcare providers, increasing premiums for well-off beneficiaries,
and various administrative changes. The
irony underlying the Republican charges - which highlights their abject cynicism - is
that these same changes in the Medicare system were incorporated into the
Republican budget passed by the House, with overwhelming Republican
approval.
Obama will be cutting Medicare –
The GOP is saying that to scare
Us older folks for whom, when we fall ill,
It pays our hospital or doctor’s bill.
It’s just another scurrilous attack -
Our benefits won’t be contracted back
Obama will reduce the growth of costs
With schemes that try to save on money lost.
Republicans are doing all this lyin’
To camouflage the plans of Paul D. Ryan
Who wants to do away with Medicare.
The irony of this bizarre affair:
The “cuts” in Medicare, as they misjudge it,
Were ones they voted for in Ryan’s budget!
