Here's a recent article by Norman Solomon (unsuccessful Democratic Party candidate in the 2012 for Congress) regarding our West County's US Representative Jared Huffman's refusal to sign a letter pledging to vote "against any cuts in Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare benefits."
While I strongly support these programs I don't support such a "Nordquestian" pledge on 2 counts:
1) While clearly this pledge is much different to Grover Nordquist's pledge to not raise taxes, they both take extreme positions that exclude any compromise, not matter how reasonable. Signers would be bound to the same productive intransigence as the Republicans when it comes to raising taxes.
So for instance, if Obama manages to strike a deal with Republicans that substantially raises taxes on the wealthy and corporations, closes tax loopholes, cuts the military, and makes slight changes medicare benefits (raises eligibility age by one year? Chained CPI?), signers to this pledge would be required to vote no.
2) Social Security does not cause the budget deficit, but Medicare and Medicaid have enormous effects on the deficit. Something needs to give a bit, plus I can't imagine that there are no improvements that can be made to these programs the preserve their original mission while reducing costs.
What do you think? Is this just political positioning by Norman Solomon? Is the rigidity he supports warranted?
Barry
Marin Voice: Congressman Huffman should be challenged
https://www.marinij.com/opinion/ci_22802401/marin-voice-congressman-huffman-should-be-challenged
By Norman Solomon
Guest op-ed column
Posted: 03/17/2013
IN RECENT WEEKS, Marin's new congressman Jared Huffman has gradually polarized with some constituents urging him to commit to voting against any cuts in Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare benefits.
Norman Solomon
With petitions, phone calls and a wide range of correspondence, thousands of people in the North Bay-North Coast district have asked Huffman to make a clear commitment.
Last weekend, he wrote on his public Facebook page: "I won't be bullied from the left or the right into signing Norquistian vote pledges to outside groups."
That response is off-base on several counts.
Constituents who express strong opinions are not "bullying" — they're participating in a democratic process.
On an issue of profound importance, it's appropriate to seek a commitment from an elected representative.
And pledging not to raise any taxes for rigid ideological reasons is a very different matter than committing to fully protect the Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits of Americans who often depend on those programs as matters of life and death.
Jared Huffman
In an effort to denigrate the constituents who are saying they want him to make such a commitment, Huffman has latched onto a facile pejorative word — "Norquistian" — as if standing up for economically vulnerable people is on a par with the right-wing zealotry of Grover Norquist.
At issue is a congressional letter that makes a basic commitment: "We will vote against any and every cut to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security benefits — including raising the retirement age or cutting the cost of living adjustments that our constituents earned and need."
Twenty-eight members of Congress have signed the letter. Two of them, Alan Grayson and Mark Takano, were the initiating signers. Both co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Keith Ellison and Raul Grijalva, have signed the letter. In the Bay Area, so have Barbara Lee and Michael Honda.
But Huffman and his echoing allies don't mention the letter's support in Congress — and avoid mentioning the names of the impressive groups that have endorsed it.
Here are just a few: National Nurses United, Credo Action, MoveOn.org Civic Action, Democracy for America, Social Security Works, Progressive Democrats of America, Rebuild the Dream, Progressives United, Campaign for America's Future, Latinos for a Secure Retirement, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.
Many Democrats in Congress won't sign the letter. They anticipate intense pressure from the White House for some kind of package deal — and want to have wiggle room when the party hierarchy cracks the whip.
That happened on New Year's Day as the curtain came down on the previous Congress. Past rhetoric notwithstanding, most Democrats caved and voted to make permanent the Bush tax cuts for married couples with incomes between $250,000 and $450,000 a year.
Instead of making a commitment without wiggle room, Huffman has signed a much easier letter that urges President Obama not to make cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid — but does not commit to voting against such cuts on the House floor.
It's one thing to say what you hope the president will do. It's another thing to make a public commitment to what you will do.
If Jared Huffman ends up voting for cuts to Social Security, Medicaid or Medicare benefits, he should face political consequences. That's not a threat. That's democracy.
Norman Solomon of West Marin is an author and was an unsuccessful Democratic Party candidate in the 2012 race for Marin's seat in Congress.