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Retiree Leader Joins Labor, Progressive Leaders in Condemning McCain Social Security “Disgrace” Comments
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
For Immediate Release
Retiree Leader Joins Labor, Progressive Leaders in Condemning McCain Social Security “Disgrace” Comments
The following statement was issued today by Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. Coyle participated in a telephone press conference with leaders of labor and other progressive groups to discuss recent statements by Senator John McCain.
“Unlike Senator John McCain, the 3.5 million members of the Alliance for Retired Americans do not think Social Security is a disgrace.
“Forty Two million Americans receive Social Security benefits – these are our nation’s elderly, our widows and widowers, and our young children who have seen a parent die. Helping them is not a disgrace. Social Security has kept millions out of poverty, and is one our nation’s greatest success stories.
“We are disturbed that Senator McCain appears to misunderstand both the basic financing mechanism of Social Security, as well as the inter-generational compact of Social Security. We are a nation in which Americans support one another.
“Our nation’s retirees are suffering from skyrocketing gasoline, grocery, and health care prices. They see the turbulence of our financial markets, and worry about plans, advocated by Senator McCain, to throw a privatized Social Security system on to this roulette wheel.
“Senator McCain’s comments were grossly insensitive current – and future – retirees. We call upon other elected officials in this country to say whether they too believe that Social Security is ‘an absolute disgrace.’”
“Americans have got to understand
that we are paying present-day retirees with
the taxes paid by young workers in America
today. And that's a disgrace. It's an
absolute disgrace, and it's got to be
fixed.”
- John McCain, July 7, 2008
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Contact: Marcie Kohenak, (202) 637-5178 or mkohenak@retiredamericans.org