Barack Obama actually said...

"the alternatives, like raising the retirement age or cutting benefits or raising the payroll tax on everybody... those are not good policy options."

"But let me be very clear about what I meant because it's something that I have said in public. It's something that I have said on television, which is that people are going through very difficult time..."

"Well, I not only have pledged not to raise their taxes, I have been the first candidate in this race to specifically say I would cut their taxes."

"Because the commander-in-chief sets the mission, Charlie. That's not the role of the generals."