RNC: Debbie Dodges Reality

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz Claims Economy Is Turning Around Again, Can't Answer Questions About Medicare

WITH INCREASING UNEMPLOYMENT, DWS ONCE AGAIN CLAIMED THE ECONOMY IS TURNING AROUND

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2011/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Republican National Committee:

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080519/RNCLOGO

DWS Claimed Obama Turned The Economy Around. DWS: "He really shouldn't be questioning the President's record, which has turned – begun to turn this economy around and now each month, each quarter has created private sector jobs, millions at this point…" (CNN's "The Situation Room," 7/20/11)

Click To Watch DWS Say Yet Again That Obama Has Turned The Economy Around

REALITY CHECK: The Unemployment Rate Increased From 9.1 Percent To 9.2 Percent. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov, Accessed 7/20/11)

The Economy Only Added A Disappointing 18,000 Jobs In June. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov, Accessed 7/20/11)

DWS UNABLE TO ANSWER WHETHER SHE SUPPORTS ADDRESSING MEDICARE EVEN WITH THE PRESIDENT PUTTING IT ON THE TABLE

DWS Couldn't Answer If She Would Support Plans To Address Medicare. CNN'S WOLF BLITZER: "If there are cuts in Medicare, Social Security, could you embrace it?" DNC CHAIR DWS: "Well I haven't seen the details of the plan or know how it impacts Medicare but I do think it's important to note that Democrats have put all of our sacred cows on the table, that we're willing to consider items that are going to preserve the long term security of Medicare and Social Security without impacting or harming seniors." BLITZER: "Because one of the proposals the President himself has embraced is called means-testing for Medicare recipients, in other words, richer elderly people would have to pay more to get the basic Medicare treatment than middle-class or poor recipients. Is that something you could live with?" DWS: "Well, I think we need - I'm not prepared to commit to any specific proposal." (CNN's "The Situation Room," 7/20/11)

Earlier Today, DWS Dodged MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell's Question About Cutting Medicare. MSNBC's ANDREA MITCHELL: "You yourself are going to have to consider some Medicare, Medicaid cuts down the road. These are not popular positions for you, especially coming from Florida or for any Democrat. But you're prepared to support what may emerge from the Senate?" DWS: "Well what we need to do is make sure we can solve this big problem with the big solution. And Democrats have put all of our sacred cows on the table including Medicare, including Social Security…" (MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports," 7/20/11)

YESTERDAY, DWS AVOIDED ANSWERING MSNBC'S CHUCK TODD'S QUESTION ABOUT MEDICARE

MSNBC's Chuck Todd Called DWS Out For Dodging His Question About Whether She Supports The President's Plan On Medicare. MSNBC'S CHUCK TODD: "[Y]ou could support potentially a means testing of Medicare as the President came out for?" DWS: "What the President has said and Democrats have said is that we need to protect benefits that we don't need to be slashing benefits at the expense of middle class folks, of seniors, of children, and that's what I'm going to continue to back him up on. I want to make sure that we solve this problem in a big way." TODD: "Sounds like you don't want to say where you are on this, this means testing. I understand…" (MSNBC's "Daily Rundown," 7/19/11)

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SOURCE Republican National Committee