Obama v. McCain on the Issues: Protecting Social Security

After all the lies we heard coming out of the RNC, and since the Republicans had their chance yet choose not to talk about REAL ISSUES for an entire week, let's take a closer look at the differences between Obama and McCain's policies that affect working families most.

ISSUE: PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY’S FUTURE

BARACK OBAMA

• Obama Opposes Private Accounts and Will Protect Benefits. Obama is committed to ensuring Social Security is solvent and viable for the American people, now and in the future. Obama will be honest with the American people about the long-term solvency of Social Security and the ways we can address the shortfall. Obama is strongly opposed to privatizing Social Security. Obama will protect Social Security benefits for current and future beneficiaries alike. [Vote 68, 3/16/06; Quad City Times, 9/21/07]

• Obama Opposes Raising The Retirement Age On Social Security. Obama opposes cutting benefits or raising the retirement age to keep Social Security solvent. [AP, 6/14/08]

• Obama Will Work With Congress To Strengthen Social Security. Barack Obama will work with members of Congress from both parties to strengthen Social Security and prevent privatization while protecting middle class families from tax increases or benefit cuts. He will ask those making over $250,000 to contribute a bit more to Social Security to keep it sound.

JOHN MCCAIN

• McCain Supports Social Security Privatization “Along The Lines” Of The Bush Plan And Campaigned With Bush To Help Sell His Privatization Plan. McCain said that as part of Social Security reform, he wants private accounts “along the lines” of the Bush plan to privatize Social Security. McCain even campaigned with President Bush to help increase support for Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security in 2005. [Wall Street Journal, 3/3/08; Associated Press, 3/22/05]

• McCain Is Considering COLA Cuts & Increasing The Retirement Age For Social Security. Earlier this year, the McCain campaign said they were considering cost-of-living adjustment cuts and raising the retirement age as part of their Social Security plan. [Wall Street Journal, 3/3/08]

• McCain Voted To Raise The Retirement Age. McCain voted to raise the Social Security retirement age from 65 to 67. [HR 1900, Vote 20, 3/9/1983, Passed 228-202: R 152-14; D 76-188; HR 1900, Vote 220, 3/9/1983, Passed 230-200: R 152-14; D 78-186]

• McCain Said The Way Social Security Was Funded Was “An Absolute Disgrace.” McCain said that the way that Social Security was funded was “an absolute disgrace, and it’s got to be fixed.”[McCain Town Hall, Denver, CO, 7/7/08]

That's not change, that's just more of the same.