SEARCH
Pennsylvania Seniors Tell McCain: Don’t Mess with Social Security |
|
If John McCain had a chance to take a break from his presidential campaign stop in Wilkes-Barre yesterday and put his feet up to watch a little TV, he would have gotten an earful and an eyeful over his recent remarks calling Social Security a “disgrace” and his support of privatization.
The Alliance for Retired Americans bought a three-day ad blitz for airing on area stations during shows popular with older viewers. The ads show the reaction of several Dupont, Pa., seniors to McCain’s remarks at a July 7 town hall meeting in Denver where he called Social Security an “absolute disgrace…it’s got to be fixed.”
Says one senior, “What do you mean–fixed?” Another warns, “Don’t mess with it.”
A second commercial tells McCain, “Keep your mitts off our money.” Click here and here to see the commercials.
Jean Friday, president of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans, says:
Sen. McCain’s disparaging remarks toward Social Security—as well as his support for throwing a privatized Social Security system on the roulette wheel of Wall Street—show a lack of understanding of the challenges facing retirees in Pennsylvania and across the country.
In contrast to McCain’s stand on Social Security, presidential candidate Barack Obama has stated he will not privatize Social Security and will not cut benefits or raise the retirement age.
As Obama puts it:
I believe there are a number of ways we can make Social Security solvent that do not involve placing these added burdens on our seniors.
Meanwhile, McCain’s remarks, his support of privatization and the recent revelation that he receives a Social Security check worth nearly $2,000 every month have mobilized seniors around the country.
Along with the commercials and a rally today in Wilkes-Barre, Alliance members in Arizona rallied outside McCain’s Southwest regional headquarters in Goodyear. Tomorrow, Alliance members in Nevada, Ohio and Oregon will protest McCain’s record and proposals on Social Security and Medicare.
No Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
