Liberals: Obama must back Social Security

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WASHINGTON, July 26 (UPI) -- Some liberals in the U.S. Congress worry that President Obama would be open to scaling back Social Security and Medicare if he wins a second term.

Senators Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, and Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with the Democrats, cite his silence on the campaign trail, The Hill reported. They say the president has criticized a budget plan backed by Mitt Romney, the likely Republican nominee, that would lead to sharp cuts but has not unequivocally said he will make none of his own.

"Have you heard him? I haven't heard him," Sanders said. "It causes me concern, and I'm chairman of the caucus to defend Social Security."

But Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., said he is not worried because even Republicans have stopped talking about cutting Social Security.