Everyone in politics today is talking about how last night's huge loss by the Republicans in the 26 congressional district in New York is due to the GOP plan to cut Medicare. It's Medicare, Medicare, Medicare - from the DNC to all the media.
The only person who isn't talking about Medicare when discussing NY-26 is the President of the United States. It's a bizarre missed opportunity that's led at least one of our readers to ask whether it's a "tell" from the White House that Medicare cuts are on the table, as far as the President is concerned, and thus he doesn't want to box himself in by saying he's against such cuts because the only good that could come of it would be saving Medicare and guaranteeing his re-election and Democratic control of the House and Senate. And who would want that?
Now for everyone else who thinks it's important to mention Medicare, then the President's non-statement.
DNC:
Yesterday voters in New York’s 26th Congressional District rejected the Republican Party’s plan to end Medicare as we know it and sent a Democrat to Washingtn to fight for seniors, working families and young people.AP:
“Corwin saw her early lead dissolve after coming out in favor of a Republican budget plan that would cut billions from Medicare”NYT:
“Voters... said they trusted Ms. Hochul... to protect Medicare."Washington Post:
“A Democratic triumph in a conservative district that many regarded a referendum on House Republicans’ efforts to reform Medicare.”CBS:
Kathy Hochul’s special election triumph sends Republicans ominous Medicare messagePolitico:
Democrat Kathy Hochul defeated Republican Jane Corwin in a western New York special election that emerged as a political testing ground for the ambitious GOP blueprint to reform Medicare.The Hill:
Democrat Kathy Hochul pulled off a victory in New York's special election Tuesday in a race that had been cast as a referendum on the GOP's Medicare proposal.MSNBC First Read:
There was a reason why Republican strategists convinced their House candidates last year not to support Paul Ryan’s budget “roadmap” (which included an overhaul of both Medicare and Social Security): Touching popular entitlement programs doesn’t make good politics.Buffalo News and the candidate herself:
And as a jubilant Hochul took the stage at her headquarters at the UAW Hall in Amherst at about 10:30 p.m., she reminded supporters about the core of her campaign — controversial proposals by the GOP to revamp Medicare.Finally, there's President Obama:
I want to extend my congratulations to Congresswoman-elect Kathy Hochul for her victory in New York's 26th Congressional District. Kathy and I both believe that we need to create jobs, grow our economy, and reduce the deficit in order to outcompete other nations and win the future. Kathy has shown, through her victory and throughout her career, that she will fight for the families and businesses in western New York, and I look forward to working with her when she gets to Washington.
