The Huffington Post: on Social Security
Arianna Huffington:
Calling Social Security a Ponzi scheme is radical & extreme
Back in the middle of August, just after Rick Perry tossed his cowboy hat into the ring, anonymous White House and Obama campaign aides were quoted saying that they welcomed the Texas governor into the race because they assumed that, given his radical
positions, he would be easier to beat. And that is certainly the conventional wisdom. After all, the man does have more than his share of extreme positions. To wit (or is it nitwit?):
We know he believes, depending on which day it is, that
Social Security is "set up like an illegal Ponzi scheme," and a "monstrous lie."
We know he believes that the use of conventional monetary policy tools by the Fed is "almost treasonous," and that Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke would be treated "pretty
ugly down in Texas."
We know all that. So surely someone with a history of radical statements like these could never get elected president. Americans would simply never put someone like that in the White House, right?
Source: Huffington Post, "Rick Perry's Extreme"
Sep 26, 2011
Cory Booker:
Opposes raising retirement age; expand entitlements
Cory Booker said he supports expanding Social Security and Medicare hours, following a press conference where his opponents challenged Booker on the issue. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee held a morning rally in Trenton with Booker's opponents
pressing Booker on the Social Security issue. Later Booker took to Twitter to say that he wants to expand, not cut Social Security and Medicare, and that he opposes raising the retirement age. A week ago Booker said that he would consider voting to raise
the retirement age for those in their 20s or younger.In response to the PCCC, Booker said that he believes that tying Social Security benefits to the Consumer Price Index or a change in the retirement age would constitute cuts to the program. Booker
has found himself pressed by his opponents on the Social Security issue in recent weeks, [based on] the mayor's ties to Wall Street interests. Booker has long been a recipient of campaign contributions from those in the financial services sector.
Source: Huffington Post on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Aug 1, 2013
Donald Trump:
Going "full-steam ahead" on limiting disability benefits
The Social Security Administration is "still going full-steam ahead" on new rules limiting disability benefits, according to a source in the agency.
One set of proposed changes to the claims process could affect hundreds of thousands of applicants each year if finalized. The agency previously said to expect the new rule in June.
Source: Huffington Post on Trump Administration
Mar 24, 2020
Gary Johnson:
Create personal investment accounts
[In an interview with the Huffington Post at the Conservative Political Action Conference], it's clear that if Johnson hopes to offer himself as a serious alternative to the Democratic & Republican nominees, he'll have to polish his presentation a bit.
Asked about his plan to reform Social Security, he suggested three proposals, but could only articulate two: raising the retirement age and creating personal investment accounts."Gosh there's one other one, what is it?"
Johnson mused before trailing off. The final proposal--means testing for Social Security recipients--came to Johnson several minutes later.
To his credit, he was able to discuss the proposal in detail, but if he does make it into the general election debates, there will be no two-minute lags, and SNL's writers would love nothing more than a pro-weed third party candidate who forgets things.
Source: Huffington Post on 2016 Conservative Political Action Conf.
Mar 10, 2016
Greg Gianforte:
Noah in the Bible was still working at age 600
In a talk at the Montana Bible College about how to find "godly purpose" in work, Gianforte explained why retirement isn't consistent with biblical teachings: "There's nothing in the Bible that talks about retirement. And yet it's been an accepted
concept in our culture today," he said. "Nowhere does it say, 'Well, he was a good and faithful servant, so he went to the beach.' It doesn't say that anywhere."
"The example I think of is Noah," he continued. "How old was Noah when he built the ark? 600. He wasn't like, cashing Social Security checks, he wasn't hanging out, he was working. So, I think we have an obligation to work. The role we have in work
may change over time, but the concept of retirement is not biblical."
[A supporter explained] that Gianforte was speaking "to the idea that we should all be good stewards of the unique gifts and talents we each have been given."
Source: HuffingtonPost.com on 2016 Montana gubernatorial race
Jun 10, 2015
Joe Sestak:
Social Security is the cornerstone of retirement security
Democratic candidate Rep. Joe Sestak staked out social security as a battleground, lambasting Republican opponent Rep. Pat Toomey for supporting privatization and dropping two new attack ads to drive home the message. "Social
Security is the cornerstone of our retirement security," said Sestak in a statewide conference call with seniors Tuesday. "It's outrageous that Congressman Toomey wants to gamble our social security on Wall Street."
Source: Huffington Post on 2010 Pennsylvania Senate race
Oct 12, 2010
Mike Pence:
Down-the-road raising of the Social Security retirement age
Top Republican leaders in the House offered a fairly strong signal on Sunday that they would favor a down-the-road raising of the Social Security retirement age as part of an effort to revamp the entitlement program. Later during the "Meet the Press"
program, Mike Pence was asked if he supported the idea. The Indiana Republican stammered around for a bit, echoing the same talking point concerning the need for "an adult conversation about domestic spending and entitlements."
Source: Huffington Post, "Retirement Age": 2016 Veepstakes
Aug 8, 2010
Theresa Greenfield:
Social Security personal, helped when husband died on job
Greenfield reminds voters that when husband Rodney Wirtjes, an electrical lineman, was electrocuted in June 1988, his union informed her about Social Security's survivors benefits for widows with small children. Greenfield's first son was
18 months old at the time and she was pregnant with her second child. "When it comes to Social Security, it's one of those fights that I'll carry in my heart," she said, sounding excited by the prospect of a brawl to protect the social insurance program.
Source: Huffington Post on 2020 Iowa Senate race
May 12, 2020
Page last updated: Aug 04, 2024