RICK PERRY: RECKLESS, WRONG ON SOCIAL SECURITY

“Our nominee has to be someone who isn't committed to abolishing Social Security, but who is committed to saving Social Security.” – Mitt Romney

Governor Perry Believes Social Security Should Not Exist:

Perry Does Not Believe Social Security Should Exist, Asking: “Why Is The Federal Government Even In The Pension Program…?” PERRY: “When you look at Social Security, it’s broke. … Get it back to the states. Why is the federal government even in the pension program or the health care delivery program? Let the states do it. … That, I will suggest to you, is one of the ways this federal government can get out of our business, save a lot of money and get back to that Constitutional way of doing business in those enumerated powers that they’re supposed to have.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 11/5/10)

“[A Perry Spokesman] Refused To Explicitly Deny That Perry Wants To ‘End’ The Program, Despite Repeated Attempts … To Clarify Perry's Stance.” (Huffington Post, 9/8/11)

In Fed Up!, Perry Says Social Security Is In Place “At The Expense Of Respect For The Constitution.” “Social Security is something that we’ve been forced to accept for more than 70 years now. … at the expense of respect for the Constitution and limited government.”  (Rick Perry, Fed Up!, 2010, p. 50)

Perry: “Let The States [Decide] How To Run The Pensions.” PERRY: “There's a number of things in that book that will strike Americans as horrifying. And we must, as a people, get put back in the box. Get this government back to the limited form that our founding fathers sought. Let the states, whether it is how to run Medicaid, how to run the pensions.” (FOX’s “On The Record With Greta Van Susteren,” 11/8/10)

Perry: “By Any Measure, Social Security Is A Failure.” (Rick Perry, Fed Up!, 2010, p. 62)

Governor Romney Believes Social Security Should Be Fixed For Current And Future Retirees:

Mitt Romney Believes In Entitlement Reform That Preserves Benefits For Current And Future Retirees While Ensuring Long-Term Solvency. “Any serious attempt to rein in spending will have to include entitlement reform. This issue is among the most complex facing policymakers, but some basic principles guide Mitt Romney’s position. First, we must keep the promises made to our current retirees: their Social Security and Medicare benefits should not be affected. But second, we should ensure that the promises that we make to younger generations are promises we can keep. With respect to Social Security, there are a number of options that can be pursued to keep the system solvent – from raising the eligibility age to changing the way benefits are indexed to inflation for high-income retirees.” (Romney for President, “Believe In America: Mitt Romney’s Plan For Jobs And Economic Growth,” 2011, p. 142)

Orlando - Huntsman Campaign Manager Matt David released the following statement regarding what Governors Romney and Perry wrote about social security in their respective memoirs.

“Despite what Governor Romney's campaign wants you to believe, when it comes to out-of-the-mainstream attacks on social security, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney are two peas in a pod. Governor Romney’s shameless pandering last night on social security is just another example of the problems with his 'say anything' approach to political campaigns.

"The American people want a credible leader who is going to offer serious solutions for reforming social security, not unpresidential platitudes about 'ponzi schemes' and 'fraud.'

"Governor Huntsman supports real reforms that will preserve social security for those who rely on it now and reform it for future generations, thus increasing personal responsibility and choices for those who are currently paying into a system that isn’t sustainable long-term."

Background

At Yesterday’s Debate, Romney Claimed He Would Never Say Social Security Is A Failure:

ROMNEY: “Under no circumstances would I ever say, by any measure, it’s a failure. It is working for millions of Americans.” (Mitt Romney, Remarks At Reagan Library Presidential Debate, Simi Valley, CA, 9/7/11)

In His Book No Apology, Romney Called Social Security Part Of The “Entitlement Nightmare”:

Romney in No Apology: “The Entitlement Nightmare” (Mitt Romney, No Apology: The Case For American Greatness, 2010)

ROMNEY: “To put it in a nutshell, the American people have been effectively defrauded out of their Social Security.” (Mitt Romney, No Apology: The Case For American Greatness, 2010)

Romney On What Would Happen If Private Sector Run Like Social Security: “They Would Go To Jail.” “Let’s look at what would happen if someone in the private sector did a similar thing. Suppose two grandparents created a trust fund, appointed a bank as trustee, and instructed the bank to invest the proceeds of the trust fund so as to provide for their grandchildren’s education. Suppose further that the bank used the proceeds for its own purposes, so that when the grandchildren turned eighteen, there was no money for them to go to college. What would happen to the bankers responsible for misusing the money? They would go to jail. But what has happened to the people responsible for the looming bankruptcy of Social Security? They keep returning to Congress every two years.” (Mitt Romney, No Apology: The Case For American Greatness, 2010)

from RickPerry.org
Sept. 8, 2011 4:57 p.m.

Mitt Romney’s Social Insecurity
Despite Debate Posturing, Romney’s Writings Compare Social Security to a Criminal Enterprise

AUSTIN – The Perry Campaign for President today contrasted former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s posturing on Social Security last night at the Reagan Library Presidential Debate with his recently published book, exposing his inconsistencies on the issue.

Last night, Romney said, “Under no circumstances would I ever say, by any measure, it’s a failure. It is working for millions of Americans.”

However, in his book “No Apology: The Case For American Greatness”, which was published just last year, Romney compared those managing Social Security to criminals, saying:

“Let’s look at what would happen if someone in the private sector did a similar thing. Suppose two grandparents created a trust fund, appointed a bank as trustee, and instructed the bank to invest the proceeds of the trust fund so as to provide for their grandchildren’s education. Suppose further that the bank used the proceeds for its own purposes, so that when the grandchildren turned eighteen, there was no money for them to go to college. What would happen to the bankers responsible for misusing the money? They would go to jail. But what has happened to the people responsible for the looming bankruptcy of Social Security? They keep returning to Congress every two years.”

Romney also says in his book, “To put it in a nutshell, the American people have been effectively defrauded out of their Social Security.”

“In his book, Romney compared Social Security to a fraudulent criminal enterprise, but last night he ran from his position,” said spokesman Ray Sullivan. “His evolving and inconsistent position on this important issue is curious, but unfortunately not unusual.”

Not only has Romney compared Social Security to a criminal enterprise, he said just two weeks ago in New Hampshire:

“I don’t know of any Republican whose running for office who said they want to cut Social Security or Medicare benefits to people who are retired or near retirement. Not one, I haven’t heard a word of it…so Republicans, like myself, are not gonna cut social security or Medicare for people who are retired or near retirement. And for the people who say we are, they are demagoguing an issue very much that harms America. Because we need to be truthful on this.” (8/24/11, Lebanon, New Hampshire)

“Governor Perry believes that Social Security for current beneficiaries, and those nearing retirement, can and must be protected,” said Sullivan. “Additionally, citizens of all ages, experts and elected officials must seriously discuss reforms to Social Security to make it financially sound and sustainable for the long haul.”

“Americans want a leader to speak honestly about the financial challenges facing our nation,” said Sullivan.  “Traditional political rhetoric and tap-dancing don't comfort Americans deeply concerned about the future of our nation.”