Obama hits McCain on Social Security

[Enrique]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hyEHa5vNXXyk_a13jhW9zJeN7m8QD9318E180

NEWARK, N.J. (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.

Obama said McCain's campaign has suggested trimming Social Security benefits and raising the eligibility age, according to prepared remarks of his speech to a gathering of the AARP. Obama was addressing the group via satellite.

McCain has not specifically embraced such plans. But by saying "everything is on the table" in discussing changes to Social Security, he has opened himself to such criticisms from Democrats.

Obama also said McCain wants to privatize a portion of Social Security. McCain has praised the notion of letting younger workers place a portion of their Social Security taxes into a package that is invested and follows them to retirement, but he has not made it a campaign promise.

(...)

Obama bringing out the big guns here. Up to now, he hasn't really talked much about Social Security. I think we'll be hearing a lot about it soon, and seeing ads like this earlier DNC one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyBwMy27Aoc&eurl=http://www.oregondemocrats.org/mccain_social_security

[Zombie2]

1. great youtube... n/t

[suston96]

2. The real problem about Social Security is not that the sky is falling....

The resolution to the problem is new jobs keeping up with work force growth.

And ........stop losing so many jobs. 650,000 lost so far this year. 6.1% unemployment. Do the math. Those job losses immediately affect inputs to the infamous Social Security Trust Fund.

The emphasis should be not on 30 years from now but on growing the economy NOW especially with new jobs and a halt to lost jobs especially those lost by transferring them overseas.

[defendandprotect]

3. It would help if someone would really explain to Americans what the GOP has

been doing with Social Security surpluses ---

and right-wing propaganda about SS ---