Obama, McCain Parry On Social Security

Dem Tells AARP That Republican Candidate Would Undermine Program; McCain Says He Is Against Privatization

(AP)  Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama criticized Republican John McCain's approach to Social Security on Saturday, saying it would undermine the government program aimed mainly at retirees. McCain said he would preserve Social Security.

Both candidates spoke via satellite to a gathering of the AARP, the nation's largest group of older Americans.

Obama said McCain's campaign has suggested trimming Social Security benefits, raising the eligibility age and privatizing a portion of the program.

"Privatizing Social Security was a bad idea when George Bush proposed it, and it's a bad idea today," Obama said.

He also said that McCain has called the way Social Security works "an absolute disgrace." McCain has said he meant that it was disgraceful that young workers might eventually receive fewer benefits than current retirees.

McCain said repeatedly that he did not favor privatization of Social Security.

"I'm committed to protecting and preserving Social Security," he said. "I will protect and preserve it. I won't hand it off to an unluckier generation - a system that is broken."

He said that in seeking a solution, he would be guided by some basic principles: not to raise taxes and to insure that retirees and workers close to retirement would not be affected by any changes. "There may be a role for private investment accounts for younger workers as long as they are not a substitute for insuring the solvency of the system and does not affect the system," McCain said.

McCain said he would bring Democrats and Republicans together to find an answer, much like President Ronald Reagan and the late House Speaker Thomas O'Neill did in the early 1980s with a commission that strengthened Social Security's solvency for many years. He referred to Reagan as a liberal but quickly corrected himself to say conservative.

"Every day we delay the more radical the fix has to be," McCain said.

Asked how he would save Social Security, protect workers' pensions and at the same time help Americans save, McCain audibly sighed and said, "It's a very tough problem."

All workers pay Social Security payroll taxes on the first $102,000 of their annual income. The money pays for benefits for current retirees and for other government programs. Analysts say the program will begin running short of funds in a few decades if it is not changed.

Obama cited his proposals to place a new Social Security payroll tax on incomes above $250,000 and to eliminate federal income taxes for older people making less than $50,000 a year. He also said he would "allow the government to negotiate with drug companies to lower costs for seniors, and we'll allow reimportation of drugs from other countries and ensure their safety."

The Wall Street Journal reported in March that McCain's top aides were "considering cost-of-living adjustment cuts and raising the retirement age as part of their Social Security plan." McCain has not endorsed or rejected those ideas.


The AP's White House Correspondent Terence Hunt reported from Colorado Springs, Colo.

[cbs4me3]

Why were 12,000 American flags thrown into the trash at BO''s denver thing. Boy Scouts salvaged and presented them at John McCain''s Colorado Springs rally. We know BO has dissed Small-Town America and his wife said she was not proud of America until in recent months, but why throw American flags into the trash. BO must explain this action, for true Americans cherish the American flag.

[gce65]

Finally McSame is willing to actually talk about an issue!

McCain is lying! He was in favor of Bush''s idea to privatize SS or parts of it back when Bush proposed it. Now he''ll say anything not to spread that fear through older Americans.

[gce65]

I alos heard today the 70''s rock group Heart issued a Cease and Desist Order against the McCain Campaign for illegally using its song "Barracuda" at the RNC convention.

Apparently McSame doesn''t respect copyright or intellectual property rights.

Didn''t he also illegally use Bo Diddly''s song Johnny Be Good ( aka"Go Johnny Go") previously?

And he also stole the campaign slogan Change You Deserve, until it was discovered it was a trademark phrase for an antidepressant! Freudian slip, I guess.

[aldon61]

Why were 12,000 American flags thrown into the trash at BO''''s denver thing. Boy Scouts salvaged and presented them at John McCain''''s Colorado Springs rally. We know BO has dissed Small-Town America and his wife said she was not proud of America until in recent months, but why throw American flags into the trash. BO must explain this action, for true Americans cherish the American flag.

Posted by CBS4me3 at 04:10 PM : Sep 06, 2008

What the heck does this have to do with social security? Workers left some small hand held flags; that proves THEIR ignorance, not Obamas. If you go down this road, we''ll be hanging both candidates out to dry constantly. Stick to the subject matter at hand and let''s talk about social security; this is one of the hot issues of this campaign.

[jmurrieta1]

"McCain said repeatedly that he did not favor privatization of Social Security.


Oh really? Another flip flop on McCain''s part for the expediency of the moment. McCain certainly has shown himself to be a shape-shifter.


McCain doesn''t have to worry about his retirement program--he married it.

The rest of us would do well to think what would have happened if Social Security had been put into mortgages or the Stock market. My 401K lost 10% in the last year alone. That what the neocons want to do.

[brianbwb-2009]

McSame has supported privatizing social security ever since Bush had that lunatic idea.

It is a good bet that if the idea of privatizing social security had come up for a vote recently, it would be one of those times in the 95% that McSame kissed the Bush line.

His convoluted positions, that change depending on the crowd he speaks to, would almost instantly bankrupt the country, if our unilateral military disasters don''t do it even more immediately.

But that is OK, he can lie, cheat, have scandal involved people as his vp, call for more war, shoot his mouth off about invading and destroting other countries, the whole nine yards, it doesn''t really matter, because there are a large enough number of unevolved, who cannot see past the matter of Obama''s ethnicity as to bring the vote to within Diebold cheating distance.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by CBS4me3 at 04:10 PM :

ever heard of the phrase which I paraphrase, "Thou shalt not make unto thyself to worship, any graven image"?

What part of that don''t you understand?

[letxa]

Unfortunate that McCain is against privatizing social security. A 100% privatization of social security is the only thing that will save it. Someone else said, "Good thing it wasn''t privatized because my 401K lost 10%." Lack of insight. If we continue on the course we''re on now, you will lose far more than 10% of the amount you''ve contributed to social security when you retire. The system is unsustainable.

Trusting the government with your money for 4-5 decades and thinking it''ll actually be there when you retire is about as foolish as it gets.

[aldon61]

He also said that McCain has called the way Social Security works "an absolute disgrace." McCain has said he meant that it was disgraceful that young workers might eventually receive fewer benefits than current retirees.

If that''s what he "meant" to say, he should have said it. Another example of McCain''s mouth engaging before his brain does. I don''t buy his straight talk express!

[smirk5]

The safest place for Bin Laden to hide from John McCain is near Larry King. McCain is deathly afraid of Larry King.

[nolalou]

Trusting the government with your money for 4-5 decades and thinking it''''ll actually be there when you retire is about as foolish as it gets.
Posted by letxa

Millions of Americans have trusted it, and are now collecting retirement benefits! Yes, it needs reform, but privatization is NOT the answer. There are many ways for people to invest their own money for retirement, but Social Security is supposed to be a safty net. I know several people, relatives included, who made some bad investment decisions, but thanks to Social Security, they at least collect enough to make ends meet!

[smirk5]

Obama cited his proposals to place a new Social Security payroll tax on incomes above $250,000 and to eliminate federal income taxes for older people making less than $50,000 a year. He also said he would "allow the government to negotiate with drug companies to lower costs for seniors, and we''ll allow reimportation of drugs from other countries and ensure their safety."

"Asked how he would save Social Security, protect workers'' pensions and at the same time help Americans save, McCain audibly sighed and said, "It''s a very tough problem.""

"The Wall Street Journal reported in March that McCain''s top aides were "considering cost-of-living adjustment cuts and raising the retirement age as part of their Social Security plan." McCain has not endorsed or rejected those ideas."

McBombbomb just can''t take a stand on anything. He has no concrete proposals that he''ll solidly back.

The Republicans think Americans are stupid.

[pvperson]

"It''s a very tough problem."

Boy that takes care of it, don''t you feel safe knowing McCain concedes that it''s "tough", I didn''t notice any answers though.

Also, was he FOR privatization before? Isn''t this ANOTHER flip?

[aldon61]

Note to both Obama and McCain:

I have paid in to SS for 40 years. I expect the contract to be upheld. I do NOT want my money handed to a bunch of fat handed stock brokers who have already led to the tanking of our economy and a housing crisis of historic proportions.

Period.

Posted by sincityq at 04:38 PM : Sep 06, 2008

Great post, I''ve been paying in for 50 years, and started collecting it this year. BTW, I continue to work fulltime as it''s not quite enough to retire on. I sure as heck don''t want anyone messing with it either!

[pvperson]

"The Republicans think Americans are stupid"

yes they do and Americans prove then right every 4 years. That''s why they win elections, they NEVER underestimate America gullibility.

[smirk5]

PVperson,

"It''s a very tough problem."

Typical BushRovespeak. Reminds me of "It''s hard work".

[smirk5]

What''s the difference between Cheney and Palin?

Lipstick.

or

Cheney went into hiding AFTER the election.

[aldon61]

I ran across a very interesting site today. Check out www.sarapalinexposed.com. I bet she''ll be off the ticket within the next two weeks.

[smirk5]

Why did Bristol Palin conceive a b*astard child?

Her mother made her wear a "Drill here, Drill now" T-shirt.

[pvperson]

And Palin hits what SHE shoots at (not your fellow hunters).

[aldon61]

Obama cited his proposals to place a new Social Security payroll tax on incomes above $250,000 and to eliminate federal income taxes for older people making less than $50,000 a year. He also said he would "allow the government to negotiate with drug companies to lower costs for seniors, and we''''ll allow reimportation of drugs from other countries and ensure their safety."

"Asked how he would save Social Security, protect workers'''' pensions and at the same time help Americans save, McCain audibly sighed and said, "It''''s a very tough problem.""

In short, Obama has a plan, McCain doesn''t. We need ideas , not more of the same old BS!

[benighse]

COMPARE: Obama will protect social security for old-white-haired-guys like me---Mccain already has his $100 million in the bank so doesn''t care about other white-haired guys.....Obama will appoint federal judges who protect all women''s choice and uphold the law of the land in Roe v Wade---Mccain says flat out he wants constitutional amendment to outlaw a woman''s choice and will appoint judges to overturn Roe v Wade....Obama wants an energy plan to get the United States to be independent of Arab and Venezuelan oil----Mccain says drill offshore and pollute with coal, neither of which will change America in ten years and we''ll keep sponsoring Arab Islamists with payments for that Arab oil....Obama wants to build America''s infrastructure, roads and bridges and cars that are hybrid and electric and wind power and solar power---Mccain says clean coal is the answer without saying clean coal is like peeing in the pool and calling it fresh water and then selects the Governor for vp who supported the Bridge to Nowhere.....Obama will build international partnerships for a safer America and a safer world---Mccain says he''ll continue current wars and start some more and continue to insult the rest of the world.=====All of this equals+ OBAMA / BIDEN ''08

[a8151947]

If SS is mest with it well be a disgrace. People can''t make it on SS the way it is. Every time they give you more in SS, Medcare takes it by upping the cost. It is a disgrace the way it works with medcare, and something need to be done. The people that run SS and Medcare need to go.

[smirk5]

Mr. McCain, how will you bring change to America when you''ve voted nearly in lockstep with George Bush and are offering the same foreign and economic policies that George Bush has been using?

"It''s a very tough problem."

[benighse]

PALIN MUST HAVE GOTTEN PLANNED PARENTHOOD''s BOOKS BANNED ON CONDOM USE AND BIRTH CONTROL---That really worked!!

Palin must have also banned the MATH book that shows August 29, 1988 to April 20, 1989 is 7 months 22 days for her first born----My Dad always said the first one can come anytime but the second takes at least NINE MONTHS---She certainly proves he was right! No problem with this LIFE HAPPENS event, but don''t be so Hypocritical in calling for ABSTINENCE ONLY when you didn''t follow it YOURSELF!!!

PALIN ALSO WANTS TO BAN ALL LAW BOOKS THAT HAVE ROE v WADE IN THEM----A woman''s RIGHT TO CHOOSE must be BANNED according to her and McCain!!!

[aldon61]

The SS system works very well, I have been drawing it since I was 62 and I have never had not one problem. Medicare signup was very smooth and efficient and I have had absolutely no problems.

In dealing with SS in regards to my father(passed away 8 yrs ago) and my mother (85) we have not had any problems at all.
I think that SS is the best run dept in the federal government, much better than the so-called independent Post Office which gets worse daily.

Posted by hhroams at 04:56 PM : Sep 06, 2008

Your experience and mine are also identical. I just signed up this year, and it was a very smooth transaction. Medicare was no problem either.

[l8c6]

"I''m committed to protecting and preserving Social Security," he said. "I will protect and preserve it. I won''t hand it off to an unluckier generation - a system that is broken." McCain.

If social security is broken, it''s largely because republicans have broken it by robbing from it. How about we the people start busting into the private accounts of the right wing pirates and see if they can maintain solvency under such conditions.

[smirk5]

"There may be a role for private investment accounts for younger workers as long as they are not a substitute for insuring the solvency of the system and does not affect the system," McCain said.

This statement shows that McCain thinks Americans are stupid. If you take money from young workers that would be going into Social Security and move it to the risky private market, this is a major cut in Social Security and will break the system. He knows this and is counting on the stupidity of Americans to not notice. The Republicans think Americans are stupid. They are the elitists.

[pollroller1]

I thought about voting for McCain until he selected Palin for his VP. Now I am definitely going to vote for Obama.

[vastr-wcon]

.
If you don''t like hussein''s position on Social Security, don''t worry - just wait an hour and he''ll change it!

hussein''s double-talk is endless:

I will take public financing for my campaign-----I will NOT take public financing for my campaign.
Clinton''s NAFTA is BAD-----Just kidding, NAFTA is GREAT.
I will get the troops home immediately-----I will NOT get the troops home immediately.
"I could no more disown him (rev. wright) than I could disown my ... grandmother."-----I DISOWN rev wright. (Look out grandma, you may be next!).
I support total gun control-----I do NOT support total gun control.
NO on offshore drilling-----YES on offshore drilling.
The surge is BAD-----The surge is GOOD
NO on tapping the strategic oil reserve-----YES on tapping the strategic oil reserve.
I don''t need no stinkin'' flag pin-----I NOW WEAR a flag pin since I''m now patriotic (wink, wink)!
No immunity for illegal wiretapping telcos-----I vote YES on Bush''s immunity for illegal wiretapping telcos.

Note how he has shifted from the loony-left ultra-liberal positions to the centrist positions of McCain-Palin. So why not vote for the ORIGINAL, instead of a double-talking empty-suit substitute?

/

[blackshaft-2009]

Obama quote?
Hillary please help me we cannot do it without you? Bend over a second time for us? We need someone with bbaallss to do are fighting? Joe Biden and I have no executive experience As do John Mccain and Sarah Palin.
Please Hillary Please Hillary help us so you can get it a second time.

[kevsan1]

I thought about voting for Obama until McCain picked Palin. Now I may vote for McCain. But it is still too early to tell. Anyone who has made up their mind already is a fool. There is so much we do not know about any of them.

[ribbie149]

First of all, the Denver flag story is a lie and has been refuted and secondly, it is what Republicans always do when they have no legitimate response to an issue (which is most of the time)- they change the subject to some hot-button issue like flag-burning, gay marraige or infanticide. By the way, wearing a shirt made of the American flag is also flag desecration- how many of THOSE did you see at the RNC? These people are morally and intellectually bankrupt, which is appropriate, since that is the condition they are leaving our economy in. Any senior citizen who depends on Social Security and Medicare to live in their retirement and votes for McCain obviously has a death-wish for his standard of living. The Republicans have tried to dismantle both programs since their inception. Wake up people!

[smirk5]

So, where is the Republican Pit Bull in a skirt?
She''s somewhere with her tail between her legs hiding from the press.

[aldon61]

hussein''''s double-talk is endless:

I will take public financing for my campaign-----I will NOT take public financing for my campaign.
Clinton''''s NAFTA is BAD-----Just kidding, NAFTA is GREAT.
I will get the troops home immediately-----I will NOT get the troops home immediately.
"I could no more disown him (rev. wright) than I could disown my ... grandmother."-----I DISOWN rev wright. (Look out grandma, you may be next!).
I support total gun control-----I do NOT support total gun control.
NO on offshore drilling-----YES on offshore drilling.
The surge is BAD-----The surge is GOOD
NO on tapping the strategic oil reserve-----YES on tapping the strategic oil reserve.
I don''''t need no stinkin'''' flag pin-----I NOW WEAR a flag pin since I''''m now patriotic (wink, wink)!
No immunity for illegal wiretapping telcos-----I vote YES on Bush''''s immunity for illegal wiretapping telcos.

Note how he has shifted from the loony-left ultra-liberal positions to the centrist positions of McCain-Palin. So why not vote for the ORIGINAL, instead of a double-talking empty-suit substitute?

/

Posted by VastR-WCon at 05:10 PM : Sep 06, 2008
+ report

What in the world does this have to do with the subject at hand? This is a debate about a REAL issue, not a wedge issue. The problem with you neocons is that your candidate doesn''t have a clue how to fix social security, Obama has put his out there for all americans to accept or reject. That is leadership! Your post is ridiculous!

[l8c6]

Washington state is facing the sore loser, Dino Rossi again who won''t give up running for governor. Right wing privatizers are persistent greedy self centered little bas*tards this is to their credit. Dino says he will run government like a household by shrinking government but making sure the most vulnerable will not be neglected. Liars, crooks and liars. Republican politicians say why let a bureaucrat in Washington make your healthcare decisions for you. I say why let a private profiteering right wing politician make it for you.

[book54552134]

McCain - "Change is coming"???

Well, there will be a technical change in January. But change in government policies?

Only if voters choose Democrats & Liberal Independents for President & Congress.

Republicans stand for:

-Perpetual war
-US Imperial hegemony, worldwide
-Unrestrained military largess
-Authoritarianism via an ever increasing & abusive Police State
-A government system which systematically spies on American citizens
-An ever increasing undermining of the Constitution & Constitutional protections
-An ever increasing prison population (the US has more prisoners both per capita & in actual numbers than any other nation, worldwide, including China)
-Advancement of government policies to advance torture, abuse, & the Death Penalty of prisoners
-Tax cuts for the wealthy
-Tax increases (of all type) for the middle class & the poor
-Cuts in what little remains of the Social Safety Net
-A Fascist philosophy; i.e to merge the powers of corporations & the government
-Discontinuation of the Social Security program
-A general attitude that the lower two-thirds of the masses exist for the benefit of the rich & powerful
-An abuse of religion for the benefit of the GOP

The GOP is an evil entity. It''s a shame that so many millions can''t understand that & thus, vote against their own best interests.

[blackshaft-2009]

Obama does not even have the experience to be in charge of a Deli. Let alone a union, let alone a country called America. Why would any educated democrat vote for Obama with no executive experience? Its beyond belief.

[nextgenman]

McCain on Social Security: *** those old people who aren''t rich like my sugar mommy Cindy! I need that money to send to foreigners like Israel and Georgia and to fund the Iraq Failure for a Hunnert More Years!

[l8c6]

The Wall Street Journal reported in March that McCain''s top aides were "considering cost-of-living adjustment cuts and raising the retirement age as part of their Social Security plan." McCain has not endorsed or rejected those ideas. ----------


Classic old european ruling attitudes. The rich get richer and the masses are left to fend for themselves. The masses are suckers to allow these organized sociopaths to get by with their trickery.

[smirk5]

Sarah Palin''s husband wanted to remove a star from the American flag. He wanted Alaska to leave the states. Sarah Palin has been to at least one AIP meeting and even made a video for them. Sarah Palin''s preacher believes that Israelis are impacted by terrorism because Jews in that country don''t accept Jesus as their savior.

[nextgenman]

Why would anybody vote for a Jesus Nutball with zero experience?

[blackshaft-2009]

Hillary is crying because of the pain she is feeling!

[l8c6]

So, where is the Republican Pit Bull in a skirt?
She''''s somewhere with her tail between her legs hiding from the press.

Posted by Smirk5


Yeah, they say it''s a liberal press. I say that when if may appear that way it''s an absolute smoke screen by the owners of the media. If a democrat pulled a running mate out of their bu*tt and they went into hiding like the untraveled Palin, the truly RIGHT WING media would be squealing like the pigs it''s owned by.

[vastr-wcon]

.
The mindless hussein sycophants will even distort comments made here, right aldon61?

/

[tonic1111]

Palin is being taught foreign policy by a jewish man Joe Lieberman. How does this work for Muslim and Black haters ?

Palin acquired her undergraduate degree in journalism from four small universities over six years. The degree only requires four years of study.

But I believe she is right for V.P. and right if she needs to be president. But I am not sure why.

[aldon61]

thought about voting for Obama until McCain picked Palin. Now I may vote for McCain. But it is still too early to tell. Anyone who has made up their mind already is a fool. There is so much we do not know about any of them.

Posted by kevsan1 at 05:13 PM : Sep 06, 2008

That is one savy post. If your mind isn''t made up, keep an open mind and judge both candidates on their stands on REAL issues. Don''t let the hate and misinformation you see on the internet affect your decision. This story is on a real issue, social security.

[gmond]

Social security has been a joke for at least 30 years, and now the candidates need to address the joke that is civil service. I am tired of paying the salaries of people who don''t have to work.

[l8c6]

Republicans hated Hillary big time. One of McCain''s supporters asked McCain, "How do we get rid of the ***?" McCain, the fine upstanding citizen he is chuckled. Republicans are filthy and immoral. Christian evangelicals are ticks attaching themselves to religious to cover the corpses beneath their skin.

[blackshaft-2009]

News Flash!
Hillary will vote for Mccain and Palin!
Why!


because I shafted her!
...................sign Barrack Hussein Obama