Romney tries to scare older Florida voters

Just for the record, Gov. Rick Perry never said he wanted to take Social Security benefits away from your grandma. From Freedom's Lighthouse:

Romney knows that’s not true because he was standing beside Rick Perry during the recent GOP Debate when Perry said if you are a current retiree or nearing retirement – “you have nothing to worry about.” He knows Perry wants to reform the program so that younger workers don’t get ripped off in the end.

But that's not stopping Romney from pandering to and scaring older voters in Florida:



This flier may not be as monstrous a lie as Social Security, but it's certainly a lie. How can we trust Romney, a mealymouthed equivocator on abortion, and creator of MassCare?  

Philip Klein:

Romney's decision to pile on suggests that he's willing to play the "granny card" against Perry if it will help him get elected, a tactic more becoming of the likes of DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz than a potential Republican nominee.

Exactly. This is straight out of the left's playbook: lie about the opponent's positions and play on voters' fears. It's repugnant, the polar opposite of what I'm looking for in a candidate. Just say no to Mitt.

Perry:

"For people who are on Social Security now, like my folks, and people who are approaching Social Security, like me, it's going to be there," Perry said.

But, he added, where is the transition? At what point will eligibility have to be raised because funds simply aren't there?

"People are tired of scare tactics," Perry said. "They're looking for a leader who will tell them the truth but also find solutions."

H/t: Hot Air

Perry today:

The first step to fixing a problem is honestly admitting there is a problem. America's goal must be to fix Social Security by making it more financially sound and sustainable for the long term. But Americans deserve a frank and honest discussion of the dire financial challenges facing the nearly 80-year-old program.

As I said at the Reagan Library recently, Social Security benefits for current recipients and those nearing retirement must be protected. For younger workers, we must consider reforms to make Social Security financially viable.

These are the hard facts: Social Security's unfunded liability is calculated in the trillions of dollars. Last year, annual Social Security outlays exceeded annual revenues for the first time since 1983. The Congressional Budget Office projects that outlays will be roughly 5% greater than revenues over the next five years, worsening as more and more Baby Boomers retire.

By 2037, retirees will only get roughly 76 cents back for every dollar that is put into Social Security unless reforms are implemented. Imagine how long a traditional retirement or investment plan could survive if it projected investors would lose 24% of their money?

I am going to be honest with the American people. Our elected leaders must have the strength to speak frankly about entitlement reform if we are to right our nation's financial course and get the USA working again.

For too long, politicians have been afraid to speak honestly about Social Security. We must have the guts to talk about its financial condition if we are to fix Social Security and make it financially viable for generations to come.

Americans must come together and agree to address the problems so today's beneficiaries and tomorrow's retirees really can count on Social Security for the long haul.

We must have a frank, honest national conversation about fixing Social Security to protect benefits for those at or near retirement while keeping faith with younger generations, who are being asked to pay.

There's a debate tonight in Florida. Stay tuned.

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