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President 2012 GOP Poll Watch: Rick Perry’s Ponzi Scheme Comment on Social Security a Non-Issue?
Yes, according to the latest Gallup Poll.Texas Gov. and presidential candidate Rick Perry’s comments on Social Security, which include calling it a “Ponzi scheme,” appear to be a non-issue for most Republicans. However, they could cost him support with independents should he ultimately win the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. As many Republicans say they are more likely to vote for Perry for president because of his views on Social Security as say they are less likely — 19% each. Among independents, 12% are more likely to vote for him and 32% less likely.
These results are from a Sept. 13-14 USA Today/Gallup poll, conducted less than a week after Perry made his comments about Social Security during the Sept. 9 Republican presidential debate — repeating something that appears in his book “Fed Up,” published last year. Perry’s chief rival for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney, has subsequently jumped on the issue as a way to paint Perry as out of touch with mainstream views and unelectable.
In fact, Perry’s statements on Social Security are more likely to harm his campaign indirectly by weakening his perceived viability than they are to turn off Republicans who disagree with his views. In contrast to the 19% of Republicans who say they would personally be less likely to support Perry over his Social Security views, 37% believe those views would hurt his chances of being elected president if he were the GOP nominee. Just 17% say they will help his chances.
I think most American voters understand how current social security recipients are not drawing upon funds that they paid into the system. They realize it is the young folks who are having money withdrawn form their pay checks that is funding their retirement.
But……social security has been a successful program and Texas Governor Rick Perry may do OK with Republicans in a primary election but will struggle in a general election unless he clarifies his remarks.
President Obama and his media meisters will try to scare senior citizens (who vote in great numbers) into thinking that Perry will end Social Security. Perry and the Republicans cannot allow this to happen.
Independents tilt even more strongly toward perceiving the issue hurts rather than helps Perry’s electability, 40% vs. 11%.
The chart:
The majority of Republicans DO want to preserve Social Security.The chart:
So, what does this all mean?Rick Perry will “walk back” his comments on social security and develop a Paul Ryan type plan to “save” the system. If Perry does not, he will be attacked unmercifully by Mitt Romney in Florida where there are many social security recipients who will vote in the early GOP primary election. Note this poll on Republicans is early without the benefit of a negative Romney media campaign.
Perry will not have to worry about the Democrats spinning his statements on Social Security because he will not be the GOP nominee.
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Social Security and Medicare Collapsing Under the Weight of Recession
Political Cartoon by Michael RamirezAnd, the Obama Administration is INCREASING spending while insolvency looms for social security and medicare?Even as Congress hunted for ways to finance a major expansion of health insurance coverage, the Obama administration reported Tuesday that the financial condition of the two largest federal benefit programs, Medicare and Social Security, had deteriorated, in part because of the recession.
As a result, the administration said, the Medicare fund that pays hospital bills for older Americans is expected to run out of money in 2017, two years sooner than projected last year. The Social Security trust fund will be exhausted in 2037, four years earlier than predicted, it said.
Spending on Social Security and Medicare totaled more than $1 trillion last year, accounting for more than one-third of the federal budget.
Does anyone REALLY think that the United States can afford universal health care coverage and Obamacare? Hell, America cannot afford the system we have now.
Technorati Tags: Obamacare, Social Security, Medicare
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Barack Obama Watch: Here Comes the Increase in Payroll Taxes
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., speaks to senior citizens, Friday, June 13, 2008, in Columbus, Ohio, as his wife Michelle Obama looks on
If anyone believes that Barack Obama as President and the Democrat controlled Congress would limit Social Security payroll taxes to increase for taxpayers ONLY making more than $250,000 a year then Flap has a New York bridge to sell you.
Democrat Barack Obama would apply the Social Security payroll tax to all annual incomes above $250,000, which he says would affect the wealthiest 3 percent of Americans.
The payroll tax is now applied to all income up to $102,000 a year, which covers the entire amount for most Americans. Under Obama’s plan, the tax would not apply to incomes between that amount and $250,000. But all annual income above the quarter-million-dollar amount would be taxed under his plan.
But……
1. There are insufficent number of “BALLERS” to exact the amount of money to make Social Security solvent.
2. Most of these taxpayers faced with increasing taxes would divert their income stream to non-earned income compensation which would NOT be subject to the increased taxation.
This is a prime example of the consistent Democrat age and social class pandering act.
Change?
Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose – The more things change, the more they stay the same.
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Barack Obama on Social Security
Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., greets seniors after speaking at Huntinton Terrace Assisted Living Community in Gresham, Ore., Sunday, May 18, 2008
It is pandering to the old folks but it is effective. Let’s look at Obama’s proposals:
But Senator McCain’s campaign went even further a few weeks ago, suggesting that the best answer to the growing pressures on Social Security might be to cut cost-of-living adjustments or to raise the retirement age. I think there is another option that is fairer to working men and women. We have to protect Social Security for future generations without pushing the burden on to seniors who have earned the right to retire in dignity.
Here’s my plan. Right now, the Social Security payroll tax only applies to the first $102,000 a worker makes. I think the best way forward is to adjust the cap on the payroll tax so that people like me pay a little bit more and people in need are protected. That way we can extend the promise of Social Security without shifting the burden on to seniors. And we should include what’s called a “donut hole†to make sure that this change doesn’t ensnare any middle class Americans.
Obama is proposing a tax increase and John McCain has proposed the pain of reduced benefits to senior citizens.
Who do you think will win the favor of voters?
In reality, a non-partisan commission will have to propose some tax increases and benefit equity/reductions in order to assure the system remains financially solvent. Neither party will want to deal the disfavor to voters.
But, note how Obama paints McCain with the unpopular George Bush brush again and the weak McCain response.
“Barack Obama’s response to our slowing economy is to raise taxes on job creating investment. His response to high gas prices is to raise taxes on oil. With his lack of experience, it should be no surprise that Barack Obama’s response to the problems facing Social Security is to raise Social Security taxes, while making mis-informed partisan attacks. His proposal for billions upon billions in tax increases on Social Security is just another example of his weak economic judgment. John McCain has been clear about his belief that we must fix Social Security for future generations and keep our promise to today’s retirees, but raising taxes should not be the answer to every problem.â€
Advantage Obama.
Most senior voters will accept a higher payroll tax cap of a tax increase when threatened with a reduction of their benefits.
McCain will have to counter with a “VIABLE” plan to “SAVE” Social Security or Obama and the Democrats will demagogue him to defeat.