Paul Krugman's most recent column ("Now, Finally It's Time For GOP To Put Up Or Shut Up") is a perfect example of how he often distorts the truth. He notes that "conservatives have backed away from spending cuts they themselves proposed in the past". He is referring to the fact that Republicans, about twenty years ago wanted to cut Medicare spending, and that they now oppose the Democrats' plan to move about $500 billion out of Medicare in order to help fund their Health Care/Health Insurance Reform bill(s). Sounds like a purely political flip-flop made by the "Party of No". But it isn't, and Krugman knows this very well.
The Republicans oppose stripping the Medicare budget for two reasons. The first is that Medicare is on a course to insolvency. Taking money away from the program will only accelerate its demise. Secondly, the Republicans doubt that Democrats will, when push comes to shove, actually take money away from Medicare. Cutting entitlement programs is not their M.O. The Republicans expect that the Dems would contoct a way to take $500 billion out of Medicare, spend it on their Health Care program, then restore the Medicare budget with tax increases.
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