David GREGORY - Host of Meet the Press: Are you prepared in the first year of your second term to significantly reform those two programs?
To go beyond the cuts you've suggested to benefits in Medicare, which your own debt commission suggested you'd have to do if you were really going to shore up Medicare at least.
(Gregory is referring to Simpson-Bowles debt commission that failed its primary test and whose endorsed candidates got their butts handed to them in November. -z)
Are you prepared to do that in your first year of the second term?
PRESIDENT Barack OBAMA - Two-term Democratic president: What I've said is I am prepared to do everything I can to make sure that Medicare and Social Security are there, not just for this generation but for future generations.
GREGORY: You've got to talk tough to seniors don't you about this? And say, something's got to give?
God Forbid we insult some Millionaire or Billionaire's accountant with a miniscule tax hike.
