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Blitzer distortion: "Obama administration will deprive" seniors of Social Security COLAs

October 15, 2009 6:12 pm ET

From the October 15 edition of CNN's Situation Room:

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As Media Matters for America has noted, the Social Security Administration has used the same formula to index benefits to inflation since the 1970s, and although 2009 reportedly marks the first time the formula will translate into no cost-of-living increase, the Obama administration is urging Congress to provide seniors with tax rebates that are equal to a cost-of-living adjustment.

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    • Author by kfraz43 (October 15, 2009 6:16 pm ET)
      3  
      Newsflash - a "cost of living adjustment" is provided when the - wait for it - cost of living goes up. Since it has not gone up this year, then it would be entirely appropriate that COLA would not be in effect for this year.
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      • Author by usp (October 15, 2009 6:21 pm ET)
           
        it seems pretty self-explanitory
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      • Author by Limit Corp. Ownership (October 15, 2009 6:44 pm ET)
        1 1
        I think the Social Security Administration is mandated "by law" to use a set formula to determine COLAs for Social Security.

        It's not like some guy is sitting in his office going, "ok, let's give em' zero percent this year. It's been a bad year."

        Very dishonest by Blitzer. But not too surprising.

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      • Author by mari2jj (October 15, 2009 10:12 pm ET)
        1  
        Yes. This is a "duh" Blitzer moment for sure. Frankly as a Senior, I can tell you although I need the money I would return it because I want some part of our country intact financially for my grandkids. Perhaps Blitzer does not know what COLA stands for. Ummm, Wolf, it stands for Cost of Living Allowance and it is sent out on the basis of increased cost of living numbers. DUH!
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    • Author by RafaelBlock (October 15, 2009 6:18 pm ET)
         
      Ah....

      Conservative
      News
      Network

      No lie left untold.

      Shame really....
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Martha (October 15, 2009 6:30 pm ET)
         
      Clap for the Wolfman...........he try to get his ratings high......

      Clap for the Wolfman.........he goin' to lie until his ratings hit the sky!
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    • Author by diamonds (October 15, 2009 10:08 pm ET)
      1 1
      The wording was really bad here, making it seem like the Obama administration was deciding not to give out the increase, when in fact I think he was trying to say "Why the Obama administration cannot give them of something they have been getting for years..." if you must mention the administration at all.

      I would have also like to seen the report, he wasn't actually giving any facts, but a summary of what was to come, I wouldn't consider that alone a distortion.

      I think we/the press ought to be looking at why the dollar-value of cost of living is going up every year, because isn't it the tendency of prices to go down in a free economy? Instead we are in the mind set we are entitled to these price and wage increases.
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      • Author by DellDolly (October 15, 2009 10:58 pm ET)
          1
        No Presidential Administration "gives" or "deprives" Social Security recipients anything!!!!

        This was a horrific distortion.
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    • Author by jjamele2880 (October 15, 2009 10:10 pm ET)
        1
      Commenting on the search for the little boy who wasn't in the balloon in Colorado, Blitzer expressed concern that "the sun will be going down soon, which will make the search more difficult." This was at around 4 PM EST. The guest had to remind Clueless Wolf that it was quite a bit earlier in Colorado, and that in fact there were more than five hours of daylight remaining where the search was actually taking place.

      In short- Blitzer is a moron who couldn't find his a** with a GPS unit and a flashlight.
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    • Author by rsinebada7366 (October 15, 2009 10:56 pm ET)
        1
      CNN is increasingly moving right....Wolf Blitzer, Dana Bash, John Lynch. Why? What national or international corporate links are tied to CNN? Anyone have any answers for me?
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    • Author by ttariku20046974 (October 16, 2009 1:35 am ET)
         
      I think meadia accountability should be the rule of the law. As President Obama said, if they misrepresent what we said "call'em out". I don't think FCC is doing its job because after news people have done enough damage to the truth doesn't make sense to spend valuable time explaining the reporting was false. It should be checked before on the air. I think there should be some kind of cost for every contamenated informations they throw at us.
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    • Author by vonbargen9388 (October 16, 2009 2:59 am ET)
      1  
      Would you put any faith in a news story by a guy who finished in the hole on Jeopardy. He is dumber than Lou Dobbs, but less mean.
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