New Radio Ad: Tell Congresswoman Michele Bachmann ‘Hands Off My Social Security and Medicare’
Ad from Americans United for Change Responds to Bachmann’s Misguided Statements That Future Retirees Should Be “Weaned” Off Of Social Security and Medicare Through Risky Privatization Schemes
Click Here to Listen to “Hands Off!”
WashingtonD.C.– Americans United for Change launched a new radio in Minnesota today taking U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (MN-6) to task for her recent statements that America’s future retirees should be “weaned” off of Social Security and Medicare. See script below for “Hands Off” which airs today and tomorrow in St. Cloud on WWJO-FM, KZPK-FM, and WJON-AM. Known formerly as Americans United to Protect Social Security, AUFC led the national campaign to beat back President Bush’s effort to privatize Social Security in 2005.
Congresswoman Bachmann says she’s “open” to a radical alternative Republican 2011 federal budget plan being offered by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, (R-WI), the ranking Republican on the House budget committee, that calls for dismantling Social Security with a risky privatization scheme and replacing Medicare with a voucher program that will lead to “massive rationing” of care for seniors.
Tom McMahon, Acting Executive Director, Americans United for Change: “Congresswoman Bachmann has eyebrow-raising ideas for the future of Social Security and Medicare: dismantling both as we know it. Bachmann is embracing radical proposals put forward inthe Republican budget plan that is a blueprint for resuscitating the same misguided proposals of the Bush-era that the people of Minnesota are trying hard to forget -- from tax breaks for the extremely rich, to privatizing Social Security, to replacing Medicare with vouchers that won’t be worth the paper they’re printed on. Carving into the Social Security trust fund to pay for risky private accounts would result in massive new debt for our grandchildren and massive benefit cuts for seniors. The people of Minnesota overwhelmingly rejected this risky privatization scheme when President Bush proposed it, so why does Congresswoman Bachmann keep insisting on going down the same tortured path?”
BACKGROUND:
- Bachmann proposes “wean[ing] everybody else off” Social Security and Medicare.At the Constitutional Coalition’s annual conference in St. Louis, Missouri on Feb. 6th, Rep. Bachmann said: "So, what you have to do, is keep faith with the people that are already in the system, that don't have any other options, we have to keep faith with them. But basically what we have to do is wean everybody else off. And wean everybody off because we have to take those unfunded net liabilities off our bank sheet, we can't do it.” [ThinkProgress, 2/8/10]
- In attempt to clarify remarks, Bachmann Spokesman Points to Ryan Proposal That Would Privatize Social Security and Medicare. Bachmann’s spokesperson said the Congresswoman was referring to ideas put forward in an alternative budget proposal by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, (R-WI): "Bachmann's spokester Dave Dziok cites a potential fix based on a proposal by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., which resembles a reheated version of Bush's personal retirement accounts." [Star Tribune, 2/10/10]
- WashingtonPost.com’s Ezra Klein:“Ryan's budget proposes reforms that are nothing short of violent. Medicare is privatized. Seniors get a voucher to buy private insurance, and the voucher's growth is far slower than the expected growth of health-care costs…And beyond health care, Social Security gets guaranteed, private accounts that CBO says will actually cost more than the present arrangement.” [WashingtonPost.com, 2/1/09]
- Nobel Prize Winning Economist Paul Krugman:“In particular, Mr. Ryan offers a plan for Social Security privatization that is basically identical to the Bush proposals of five years ago. [New York Times, 2/11/10]
- ThinkProgress’s Matthew Yglesias:‘Paul Ryan’s Budget Alternative = Massive Rationing’
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Script (:60) -- “Hands Off”
Wife: Did you hear what that Michele Bachmann said this time?
Husband: No, what was it?
Wife: Congresswoman Bachmann actually said we should be “weaned” off of Social Security and Medicare. She wants to privatize Social Security and replace Medicare with some kind of voucher system that won’t even cover the full cost of medical care or prescriptions.
Husband: So let me get this straight. Congresswoman Bachmann wants me to gamble with my Social Security on Wall Street?
Wife: Yup, she wants us to hand over our Social Security to the same greedy, reckless CEOs responsible for crashing our economy. That’s just plain crazy.
Husband: No thanks. Privatization was a bad idea when President Bush tried it -- and it’s even worse today.
Wife: And Congresswoman Bachmann actually wants me to trade in my Medicare for some voucher that’s not worth the paper it’s printed on. She should spend less time on national TV and more time worrying about Senior citizens back home in Minnesota.
Husband: Let’s call Congresswoman Bachmann right now at 320-253-5931 and tell her, “Hands off my Social Security and Medicare.”
Announcer: Paid for by Americans United for Change