Both sides are pushing back hard against those characterizations, as the days-long back-and-forth underscores just how politically treacherous it has become to even marginally discuss changes to entitlement programs, which are considered the third rail of American politics.
The effort from Biden to elevate the idea of Republican cuts to the programs — which we expect he will continue to do— indicates how potent an issue he believes it could be during a potential reelection bid.
“I know that a lot of Republicans, their dream is to cut Social Security and Medicare,” Biden said in Tampa. “Well, let me say this: If that’s your dream, I’m your nightmare.”
