Confirmed: Chief Actuary Says Obama Could Pay Social Security Checks During a Shutdown (Obama Caught Playing Politics)

Yesterday Barack Obama told CBS that there simply may not be enough money in the coffers next month to pay Social Security payments.

But Obama was just playing games with seniors.

Congressman Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) pointed out that the decision to withhold checks “would be a political one” made by the President.

During this morning’s Budget Committee meeting, Congressman Huelskamp asked Stephen Goss, Chief Actuary for the Social Security Administration, to explain how the Obama administration could withhold Social Security checks to American seniors. The question was prompted by a statement by President Obama that he could not guarantee that Social Security checks would be mailed August 3, 2011, if Congress fails to increase the debt limit. Yesterday, Congressman Huelskamp issued a statement noting that it is irresponsible for the President to use seniors on Social Security as pawns to leverage his point in the debt limit negotiations.

Mr. Goss told Congressman Huelskamp: “The responsibility of the Social Security Administration per se, my boss, Commissioner Astrue, is to in fact determine how much in the way of benefit payments people are supposed to receive. We send that information actually over to the Department of the Treasury. They are the ones who actually send out the payments, whether it’s electronic funds, transfers, or check.”

Here’s the video:

And yet Obama had the audacity to frighten seniors who depend on their social security checks.
The man is shameless.

#1 July 13, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Taxpayer commented:

That’s a good thing–however, we know Obooby thinks the law is just a suggestion. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him take over SS by exec. order.
#2 July 13, 2011 at 2:46 pm
moron commented:

Social security checks 1st!! Medicare next!! Then police and firemen!! Then euthanize all puppies! Raise the debt ceiling now before Republicans do all of the above by restricting unlimited wealth redistribution!
#3 July 13, 2011 at 2:48 pm
CONNECTICUT SSN 042-68-4425 commented:

Moochelle “The Hamburgler” Obama, Explains how they continue the Usurpation -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyK5-kJ-je8
#4 July 13, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Warthog commented:

So that whole “trust fund” thing was just a lie?

(Next you’ll be telling me it’s not in a lock-box…)
#5 July 13, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Multitude commented:

terrorism (noun):
1.the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.
2.the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization.
3.a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government.

I guess Napolitano dooesn’t have far to go to find the bad guys. Forget all those 95-year-old grandmas, little girls and suburban professional soccer moms, there’s evil sitting in the Oval Office. Wonder if she’ll break the news to her boss…
#6 July 13, 2011 at 3:00 pm
JKB commented:

It’s politics the Chicago way.

Here is what Obama said in Chicagoan: That’s a nice grandma you got there. It’d be a shame if something were to happen to her.

But let’s have a frank discussion of how all those payroll taxes that get taken out every 2 weeks are whisked away to pay for golf outings and trips to fancy European resorts or give the SEIU and UAW walking around money or keep funds flowing the the Atlanta school system
#7 July 13, 2011 at 3:01 pm
mercador commented:

Its ok to lie to the infidels, if you are a muslim.
#8 July 13, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Gimme a Break commented:

So, Obutthead was lying. I’m shocked. Shocked, I tell you.
#9 July 13, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Garrison commented:

Obamma is a looser. What a goon and thugg. What will their be no medicare when I get older, retire?
#10 July 13, 2011 at 3:06 pm
J commented:

So I guess we now know who that faceless politician pushing grandma off the cliff in her wheelchair was.
#11 July 13, 2011 at 3:10 pm
catwoman368 commented:

#10 J someone needs to put obamas face on that picture pushing grandma in the wheelchair off the cliff, and use it in political ads. Nah, rinos dont have the balls to play hardball.
#12 July 13, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Joe College commented:

GOP might as well go for the throat. There is no such thing as a ‘deal’ with Obama.

Morally, he is a swine. Here he is giving the finger to a political enemy in front of a room full of people…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DygBj4Zw6No

He has no class, no honor, and no morals, and he does not like America or the American people. Netanyahu successfully figured out how to deal with him — Ram it down his throat!
#13 July 13, 2011 at 3:12 pm
gus commented:

So Paul Ryan tells the nation that Social Security and Medicare as currently operated is UNSUSTAINABLE. Obama proves him correct.
#14 July 13, 2011 at 3:24 pm
owl commented:

OMG #11…………………that is what I call payback. I dare, double dare, triple dare the GOP to make that ad.

The DEMS would make it. That is the difference between bringing a knife or gun to the fight. We sit here with BB guns.
#15 July 13, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Chisum commented:

What Happened to the $2.6 Trillion Social Security Trust Fund?

http://blogs.forbes.com/merrillmatthews/2011/07/13/what-happened-to-the-2-6-trillion-social-security-trust-fund/
#16 July 13, 2011 at 3:29 pm
Major Kong commented:

Old-line republicans must simply go away. After receiving a loud and clear mandate in last November’s elections they just don’t know what to do with a president who grows more unpopular everyday. Bachmann, Rubio, Sessions, Demint, Ryan,et al represent the future of the party if, indeed it can survive at all. Obama should be told to pound sand unless and until he stops playing these crass political gains. Brother! It’s enough to make a thinking man stop and take a drink!
#17 July 13, 2011 at 3:32 pm
john03 commented:

Good point #6. If those social security checks don’t go out…..well I just might not be able to send in the taxes witheld from my employees paychecks. Fair enough???
#18 July 13, 2011 at 3:37 pm
KR commented:

But the employed/employers will still be required to pay SS withholdings.
#19 July 13, 2011 at 3:42 pm
Buffalobob commented:

Playing thug politics, who would have thunk? Leader? NO. Cheap community organizer who plays to the uninformed? YES.
#20 July 13, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Molon Labe commented:

Racists. Do you realize how much Obama and Michelle’s vacations cost?

Let the old folks eat cake.
#21 July 13, 2011 at 3:49 pm
tommy mc donnell commented:

people here are always complaining that the republicans haven’t any nerve, won’t play hard ball, ect. wake up! the only time a republican is different from a democrat is when they are running for office. once elected, like the democrat they want to stay in office permanently. the best way to do that is to be a socialist. the bought and paid for voter will vote for a candidate no matter how bad they are as long as the checks keep coming. they only way to combat this is for the american worker to take back their right to the fruits of their labor that has been stolen by the american politican. that right is what made the american people free. we need to start working to institue tax repeal at every level of government if the american people are ever going to regain their freedom.

the power to tax is the power to tyrannize.
#22 July 13, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Mahdi Al-Dajjal commented:

Again… If it’s not reported on the evening news then it DIDN’T HAPPEN! That is all.
#23 July 13, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Militant Conservative commented:

What?! The dark fallen angel , Satan, lies???!!

It’s all he knows, much like a foul bowel,

This terd shall pass.

Powder is dry
#24 July 13, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Jean commented:

There should be no doubt now that Obama truly wants to destroy the economy.
#25 July 13, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Finncrisp commented:

You think the chaos of the debt ceiling is something; think what would happen if we stopped congress from stealing the social security and medicare taxes every month for their “whimseys”?
We are not even close to solvent if that theft loophole is closed. We better take our lumps for this nonsense, and the sooner the better. Barry is such a tool.
#26 July 13, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Redwine commented:

I know the lines are busy, but call, call, call:
Don’t let McConnell and spineless RINOs give Barry Liar an inch. He’ll take a mile.
Clog the phone line…
Tell Mitch McConnell to scrap his Barry-saving (and electing) “compromise”:
Washington Office
Phone: (202) 224-2541
#27 July 13, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Gandalf commented:

If Obummer holds back SS checks it will be a cold cold day in hexx before the folks dependent on them vote for him. Old does not mean stupid. He is not now and never has been Presidential. He is a Marxist bully and a thug and it is showing more and more every day. He is also a one termer. Sarah Palin will sure have her work cut out for her by January 2013 but she is up to it.
#28 July 13, 2011 at 4:16 pm
SeniorD commented:

Obama ‘shameless’??

The inept Maoist Puppet needs to buy a conscience before he can be called ‘shameless’.
#29 July 13, 2011 at 4:23 pm
tommy mc donnell commented:

if obama does this, he will get away with it because american tass and democratic party front organizations like the AARP will blame it on republicans. unfortunetly most senior citizens still rely on american tass for their news. it will be 1996 all over again, clinton refused to sign a budget and the media blamed it on republicans, even though it takes two to dance that tango.
#30 July 13, 2011 at 4:28 pm
RWGinger commented:

obama is NOT saying he can’t write the checks.
he is trying to scare old people by saying there may not be enough money to write checks
which is also a LIE
and he is vile to firighten our elderly
#31 July 13, 2011 at 4:29 pm
cal rifkin commented:

Soooo, yer sayin’ he’s a lyin’ mofo? OK…I’ll try to ‘member that!
#32 July 13, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Guy in Ohio commented:

#6 JKB Said: “But let’s have a frank discussion of how all those PAYROLL TAXES that get taken out every 2 weeks are whisked away to pay for golf outings and trips to fancy European resorts ….”

No offense JKB, but making statements like that makes you part of the problem. Our Social Security contributions are NOT A TAX, and every time we allow someone to call our Social Security contributions a tax reinforces the government’s endless campaign to condition us into accepting their theft of our money.

Social Security is a TRUST FUND!! It belongs to the citizens who paid into the fund. It is OUR money, not the government’s money, and any attempt to treat it otherwise, any threat to withhold paying it to us, or any mismanagement of the funds that prevents them from being returned to THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS is a criminal offense. Any President, politician, or government official who participates in such criminal activity should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and perhaps even found guilty of treason.

Every citizen needs to wake up! Quit calling your Social Security contributions a TAX, and aggressively challenge our media, our politicians, and our fellow citizens EVERY SINGLE TIME they refer to our Social Security contributions as PAYROLL TAX. If we continue to allow them to CALL it a tax, and let generation after generation THINK of it as a tax, we will have nobody to blame but ourselves when it BECOMES a tax.

I don’t know about you JKB, but as a small business owner who must MATCH my own personal Social Security contributions, I’ve paid a hell of a lot of money into the fund over the last forty years. Despite their attempts to convince me that it’s not my money, the day they tell me my money is gone, or “whisked away” as you put it, there’s going to be BIG, BIG trouble….
#33 July 13, 2011 at 4:39 pm
Guy in Ohio commented:

#15 – Chisum – BINGO! We have a winner … excellent link, and a perfect illustration of the THEFT we have suffered. People should be going to JAIL for this … or being executed. I prefer the latter.
#34 July 13, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Guy in Ohio commented:

Would someone care to list all the other retirement plans out there that are allowed to SPEND all the principal in the fund on non-related things, with the PROMISE that they will make it up later somehow?

It’s a short list:

The US Government

What they have done is criminal. It’s about time we recognize what we’re dealing with, and start holding people accountable for it.
#36 July 13, 2011 at 4:56 pm
john03 commented:

@Guy in Ohio – Our Social Security System = ponzi scheme. You hit the nail on the head. Our governement leaders are no better than Bernie Madoff.
#37 July 13, 2011 at 5:09 pm
KR commented:

Guy in Ohio,
I know what you are saying, the politicians tell us it is a trust fund, but the reality is, it is handled like a ponzi scheme. As we pay in today it immediately goes out to others who paid in years ago.
FDR claimed SS was insurance, which it wasn’t, and it has been repeatedly raided since LBJ.

I have long believed that my generation, approx. 15 years from now, will be the one left holding an empty bag.
#38 July 13, 2011 at 5:13 pm
mcc commented:

BO is one big lie. He spits them out with ease when he wants something. You were right if you smelled this as more mendacity:

“She was in her hospital room looking at insurance forms because the insurance company said that maybe she had a pre-existing condition and maybe they wouldn’t have to reimburse her for her medical bills,” Obama added in January 2008.

“The insurance companies were saying, ‘Maybe there’s a pre-existing condition and we don’t have to pay your medical bills,’ ” Obama said in a debate with Republican opponent Sen. John McCain in October 2008.

It was a simple and powerful story, one Obama would tell many more times as president during the national health care debate. But now we’re learning the real story of Ann Dunham’s health coverage is not quite what her son made it out to be.
[...]
…Scott, who had access to Dunham’s correspondence from the time, reveals that Dunham unquestionably had health coverage.

http://sistertoldjah.com/archives/2011/07/13/was-obamas-story-about-his-moms-health-insurance-issues-a-lie/
#40 July 13, 2011 at 5:53 pm
JaneLovesJesus commented:

And by “playing politics” you mean, LYING. (again!)
#42 July 13, 2011 at 6:08 pm
#1AMERICAN commented:

again…mooslum barry opens mouth…who would have thought ANOTHER lie comes out… if that isn’t enough ammo for seniors to NOT vote for the kenyan fraud
#45 July 13, 2011 at 8:09 pm
randyinrocklin commented:

this guy Huelskamp voted no to repeal the light bulb ban!!!!! WTF???? Got some spalining to do for his stupid vote.
#46 July 13, 2011 at 8:43 pm
CBDenver commented:

#32 — Guy in Ohio — sorry to inform you, but in the 1937 Helvering v Davis ruling, the Supreme Court said that Social Security is a tax http://www.law.cornell.edu/socsec/course/readings/301us619.htm
#48 July 13, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Guy in Ohio commented:

#46 – CB, just because a group of corrupt judges and politicians declares they aren’t stealing from us doesn’t change the fact that they’re stealing from us. The case you cited is an excellent example of judicial activism at it’s worst. It’s also a fine example of why we no longer believe a single word of the promises our government or our politicians make to us.

Social Security was presented and sold to the American people with the understanding that it was a TRUST, specifically earmarked for our RETIREMENT, not just another tax to be funneled into the general fund. We were told that every individual that paid into it would receive their money back, with interest, at rates higher than we could expect to receive investing it on our own. However, AS PREDICTED, within a few short years they started changing the rules, and the pillaging of the fund began.

Considering the fact that the American public was FORCED into this plan, we have a right to expect our government to honor the original terms of the plan, not a new set of terms, which have been quietly crafted behind closed doors by greedy, corrupt politicians. Any change to the terms should have been subject to the direct approval of the American public.

The Social Security debacle is an excellent example of why we should have NEVER given our federal government the power to collect this money in the first place. Once the money begins piling up in a fund like that, the temptation to tap into it becomes irresistible.

I don’t care how many laws these criminals pass, or how many times judges re-write those laws … in my mind, and the minds of millions of Americans, our Social Security contributions are OUR money. They are NOT a tax, and they never will be. Allowing them to be redefined as a tax by judges, politicians, and the media doesn’t change that fact.
#50 July 13, 2011 at 11:11 pm
Ang commented:

Thats MY Guy he robo live calls here all the time and Im from Springfield Mo but finally a MAN with B A L L S. Liiving in Salina right dead center of flyover refueling country and get it TIM. We need about 200 more like him.