Alan Simpson: Social Security Is Like a "Milk Cow with 310 Million Tits!"

President Barack Obama stands with the co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, Erskine Bowles, second from right, and Alan Simpson, right, in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, where he signed an executive order creating the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. Vice President Joe Biden is at left.

/ AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

Updated with Simpson's apology and calls for his dismissal from Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter DeFazio.

Liberals and groups in favor of preserving Social Security are calling for the co-chair of President Obama's deficit commission to resign after he said in an e-mail that Social Security is "a milk cow with 310 million tits."

In a letter responding to criticisms against him from a group representing older women, former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson wrote that he has "spent many years in public life trying to stabilize" Social Security. However, he wrote, "Yes, I've made some plenty smart cracks about people on Social Security who milk it to the last degree. You know 'em too. It's the same with any system in America. We've reached a point now where it's like a milk cow with 310 million tits!"

Simpson and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, the co-chairs of Mr. Obama's bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, have raised the ire of liberals with remarks suggesting they intend to recommend scaling back Social Security as a means of reducing the deficit.

However, groups are saying today that Simpson's latest remarks prove he is unfit to lead the commission and should resign.

"Alan Simpson's comments are offensive and sexist and clearly demonstrate that he is unfit to continue to lead the President's Fiscal Commission," Eric Kingson, Co-Director of Social Security Works, said in a statement. "His comments not only show his true view of women and older Americans but also his disdain for the very program he claims he is trying to protect - Social Security."

If Simpson does not resign, Kingson said, Mr. Obama should fire him. Richard Eskow of the liberal group Campaign for America's Future agreed that Simpson should resign immediately or be fired.

Simpson's letter "demonstrates conclusively that he possesses neither the judgment, the ability, nor the emotional stability to carry out his mission," Eskow wrote.

AARP Senior Vice President Drew Nannis blasted Simpson's "woeful disconnect from or disinterest" in the challenges facing many Americans, but he stopped short of calling for Simpson's resignation.

"Senator Simpson's latest attack on Social Security is offensive for several reasons, particularly for belittling a bedrock program that is the foundation of family security for all generations," he said. "The vast majority of the 310 million Americans he insulted - particularly 156 million women and younger Americans for whom the traditional pension will be a relic of history - don't have access to the type of traditional pension retirement security that Sen. Simpson has from his decades in Congress."

Nannis continued that Simpson's remarks are a "departure from reality" that "undermine the serious work of the commission and give us little confidence the commission can fairly look at important programs such as Social Security."

Simpson's letter was addressed to Ashley Carson, executive director of the National Older Women's League (OWL), a group representing middle-aged and elderly women. It was sent in response to a Huffington Post blog entry in which Carson wrote, "Mr. Simpson continues to paint the picture that everyone receiving Social Security benefits is living the high life - driving luxury cars, dining out and living in gated communities."

In reality, Carson wrote, the average Social Security beneficiary in America receives $13,900 annually -- providing a lifeline for the many older women living in poverty. She cites the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities to show that the Bush tax cuts and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are largely responsible for the nation's deficit problems, not Social Security.

OWL is also now calling for Simpson's resignation and has set up a petition to Mr. Obama for his dismissal.

Democrats this year have attacked Republicans for proposals to privatize Social Security, in the hopes that the GOP's views on the entitlement program will boost Democratic candidates and blunt Republican hopes for predicted victories in this fall's midterm elections.

However, liberals have been nearly as wary of Democrats, some of whom have suggested they are open to scaling back benefits. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said earlier this year he thinks raising the retirement age could be done with other modifications to ensure that Social Security benefits still support those most in need - such as paying out benefits on a progressive scale. House Democratic Whip James Clyburn has also said he would support raising the retirement age. Additionally, Mr. Obama said this year that "everything has to be on the table" with respect to reducing the deficit.

UPDATE, 3:55 p.m. ET: Simpson this afternoon wrote a letter of apology to Carson for his e-mail.

"I know you care deeply about strengthening Social Security, and so do I, just as deeply," Simpson wrote. "Over the last 40 years, I have had my size 15 feet in my mouth a time or two."

Simpson said that it was not his intention to cause Carson any anguish or to diminish her work for the Older Women's League. He also suggested the two meet in person so he could learn more about her concerns.

Meanwhile, other groups this afternoon condemned Simspon's remarks and called for his resignation, including the Alliance for Retired Americans and the National Organization for Women.

UPDATE, 5 p.m. ET: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) today sent President Obama a letter urging him to dismiss Simpson from the deficit commission.

"Simpson's comments are highly insulting to the tens of millions of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, widows and orphans who have contributed into this highly-successful program and who now utilize it," the letter says. "It is false and demeaning to say that these people, the vast majority of whom have worked their entire lives and contributed into the Social Security system, are somehow 'milking' the system."

[JoeBoogles]

Alan Simpson enjoys full retirement benefits and a six-figure government salary - all funded by taxpayer monies. Meanwhile, due to the WEP and GPO laws, hundreds of thousands of retirees have had their EARNED Social Security benefits slashed by as much as 60% while fools like Alan Simpson misappropriate our tax dollars; e.g., giving billions in foreign aid to anti-American rat-hole countries like Pakistan. The question is, why is Alan Simpson and the other criminals in congress removed from office and made to stand trial for mismanaging our tax monies? If you steal a couple hundred bucks, you'll go to jail. But these government pr*cks steal and/or mismanage trillions and they get rewarded with hefty salaries and generous retirement packages. It's time to remember the French Revolution.

[JoeBoogles]

Alan Simpson - that stupid baldheaded c*cksucker - should be in jail along with many members of congress who have been mismanaging our tax dollars for decades. That idiotic criminal pr*ck has a lot of nerve calling Social Security recipients moochers when taxpayers paid into the system for decades. Meanwhile, it's estimated we're going to wast FOUR (4) TRILLION DOLLARS on these pointless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Simpson and other members of congress should be immediately arrested and made to stand trial for the mismanagement of government funds. Alan Simpson is scum.

[Doninkansas]

This offensive statement by Alan Simpson is disturbing for several reasons. First, it demonstrates a profound disregard for the importance of Social Security to older Americans. Second, it illustrates the misrepresentation that Social Security is some form of handout. The money that beneficiaries receive is not a handout...it is benefits earned from years of payments into Soc. Sec. over many decades & has operated at a surplus for many years. Yet, it is apparent that too many of our leaders in Washington, D.C. would rather cut Social Security benefits before touching favorite pork barrel projects. There are many forms of wasteful government spending that should be cut instead of reneging on the benefit payments due to America's seniors!
How can we expect a commission chaired by someone who makes such irresponsible comments to objectively consider the impact of cuts to America's seniors? How can we trust them to make a fair recommendation to the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility & Reform which is due by December 1 to President Obama?
Mr. Simpson has little to worry about in his retirement - he benefits from the generous pension provided to him at taxpayers expense due to his time in the U.S. Congress! The vast majority of older Americans must depend upon their Social Security benefits to survive.
Mr. Simpson does not deserve in his position in the U.S. Congress!!

[asifkane2]

As of 2007 there are over 17,000 federal lobbyists based in Washington, DC.
2010 Federal lobbyists
11,972
Senate
Members 100
House of Representatives
Members 435 plus 6 non-voting members
11,972
100
435
6
______
12,513

Lets add 12 for Supreme Court who have gave away an election and given a piece of paper equal rights as I have,

12,525

Simple math and responsibility error.

[billydd55]

Alan Simpson should be removed. Besides a crude comparison, cows don't have "****" they are "teats". It sounds like he knows as little about SSI as he does about cows.

[golfguy65]

The words are pretty typical for Alan Simpson, once you get over the initial shock you should be able to see that what he is getting at is an honest assessment of the situation. He is a guy who calls them as he sees them. He is not trying to be politically correct, thank goodness!

[Supersarge53]

He is a TOTAL disgrace for making comments like he did.

[Supersarge53]

He is a TOTAL disgrace for making comments like he did.

[bobnjersey]

[However, liberals have been nearly as wary of Democrats, some of whom have suggested they are open to scaling back benefits. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said earlier this year he thinks raising the retirement age could be done with other modifications to ensure that Social Security benefits still support those most in need - such as paying out benefits on a progressive scale. House Democratic Whip James Clyburn has also said he would support raising the retirement age.]

you all better get behind really high walls when you do this ... cause this should initiate a revolution ... one where everyone turns off the tv ... then shuts congress down ... so they don't see any of their benefits come their way either.

it would be great for them to do this as a bi-partisan effort ... maybe it would unite the electorate ... against the real enemy of this country ... lying/cheating/scvmb@g politicians.

[rhodzimm]

President Obama needs to immediately remove Senator Alan Simpson from his position on his Fiscal Commission and any other position of authority. Simpson's arrogant, insulting, stupid comments about Social Security, when he has retirement benefits most of us only dream about, reflect much of what is wrong with America today. The only "Milk Cow" that exists is the one Senator Simpson and his fellow travelers are tapping into for their untold benefits - at the expense of the taxpayers.