McConnell Downplays Politics of Medicare

By JENNIFER STEINHAUER

Senator Mitch McConnell knows one of the golden rules of politics: when your friends are down, do some punching on their behalf.

Philip Scott Andrews/The New York TimesMitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader from Kentucky, discusses the ongoing budget debate at a news conference on Capitol Hill.

Mr. McConnell, the Senate minority leader, took advantage of a quiet Friday morning before a holiday weekend to make some things clear on behalf of his party: the defeat of a Republican in a New York special election portends nothing; any compromise to lift the debt ceiling will include a reshaping of the Medicare program but not tax increases; and Bill Clinton agrees with Republicans.

In a news conference Friday, Mr. McConnell criticized his Democratic colleagues in the Senate for having ?no plan at all? to reduce the nation?s deficit or to cut spending, and he repeated former President Clinton?s warnings to his party this week that they must address Medicare.

Mr. McConnell did not specifically mention Representative Paul D. Ryan, who wrote the budget that failed in the Senate this week, or Mr. Ryan?s plan to convert Medicare into a subsidized program for the private insurance market.

Mr. McConnell would not say whether he agrees with the House idea for Medicare, nor would he specify the amount of cuts he would require to vote to raise the debt ceiling. But he did reiterate that he would need to see short- and long-term cuts and changes to entitlement programs, and that he would not accept any tax increases.

?Medicare is on the table,? he said. ?We don?t have this problem because we tax too little. We have it because we spent too much. And I am confident that taxes are not going to be a part of this.?

When pressed about the political ramifications of pressing for cuts to the Medicare program, Mr. McConnell pointed to Ronald Reagan?s landslide election after reforming the Social Security program with Democrats in Congress, and dismissed the notion that the Republican loss in a heavily Republican district in upstate New York on Tuesday was a harbinger of future political problems for his party.

?What I don?t understand is all this hand wringin? about the politics,? he said. ?Anything we agree to do together will not be an issue in next year?s election.?

Asked if the Republican plan needed a better sell, Mr. McConnell said: ?I?m trying to do that. I don?t think it?s that hard. I?m going to quote Bill Clinton.?

McConnell Downplays Politics of Medicare

Senator Mitch McConnell knows one of the golden rules of politics: when your friends are down, do some punching on their behalf.

Is Sarah Palin Pulling a Donald Trump?

Is Sarah Palin pulling a Donald Trump on the political universe?

Video: Palin?s Potential Impact

Matt Bai offers his assessment of the influence of Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor, on the 2012 presidential race if she does indeed choose to enter the Republican primary.

Is Sarah Palin Pulling a Donald Trump?

Is Sarah Palin pulling a Donald Trump on the political universe?

Is Sarah Palin Pulling a Donald Trump?

Is Sarah Palin pulling a Donald Trump on the political universe?

White House Looks to Cast Obama as ?Tough?

Senior officials at the White House want to make sure President Obama is associated with one word: tough.

Political Memo: State of Uncertainty for Romney Camp as It Looks to Iowa

By JEFF ZELENY

After an unsatisfactory showing at the Iowa caucuses in 2008, Mitt Romney is weighing the question of how extensively he should campaign there.

Tension Marks Clinton?s Visit to Pakistan

By STEVEN LEE MYERS

Officials described the visit as an effort to measure Pakistan?s commitment to fighting extremism after the killing of Osama bin Laden strained relations with Washington.

Illegal Workers: Court Upholds Faulting Hirers

By ADAM LIPTAK

A 5-to-3 ruling appeared to endorse vigorous state efforts to punish employers who intentionally hire illegal workers.

Obama Seeks Aid for Egypt and Tunisia at Meeting

By MARK LANDLER

The president, speaking in France, faced down crosscutting pressures to marshal economic support for the Arab Spring success stories, while boosting America?s role in Libya.

News Analysis: As Goal Shifts in Libya, Time Constrains NATO

By ERIC SCHMITT and DAVID E. SANGER

President Obama has shifted from protecting civilians to regime change, but NATO faces tensions over how long it will take.

Source: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/mcconnell-downplays-politics-of-medicare/

governor races 2010 obama spill 2010 min wage immigration and arizona