Alex Wagner: Are you at all concerned about getting the Dems to the table in terms of a borader deal given the obstinance we're hearing in terms of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security cuts.
Hoyer: The Democrats are prepared to come to the table, with everything on the table. I think what your hearing from Democrats is that we have no intention of undermining the security of our seniors or people who need health care. That does not mean that we're not going to look at the long term fiscal sustainability of those programs, I think we are prepared to do that. But we want to make sure that nobody who is relying on Social Security --- which frankly has not been part of the debt creation, it is part of the fiscal situation we're confronting, but it's not created the debt --- and Medicare as well which is absolutely essential for the health of so many millions of Americans.
But I think that Democrats have said, look everything's on the table, that doesn't mean we're for what's going to be on the table but we need to have a full consideration of the whole gamut of things that are creating this issue and can solve this issue...
It's necessary for us to come to a place where we will be able to adopt a fiscally sustainable credible path for this country. That will give great confidence to the American people and in my opinion will be the single largest stimulus package that we could get for the economy...
I certainly hope nobody else adopts that line because it's completely ridiculous, worthy of only the most deluded right wingers.