New Obama ad on Social Security

Posted: Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:18 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC's Mark Murray
This Obama TV ad has been running in battleground states since earlier in the week. But the campaign finally issued a press release about it.

Its message: 1) McCain backed Bush's plan in 2005 to partially privatize Social Security, allowing workers to put some of their Social Security money in the stock market; 2) Had such a plan passed, people's retirement money would be at risk given the current crisis on Wall Street.

The script:
Obama: I’m Barack Obama. And I approve this message.
Female narrator: A broken economy. Failing banks. Unstable markets
Families struggling.
To protect us in retirement…
Social Security has never been more important.
But John McCain’s voted three times in favor of privatizing Social Security
McCain says, “I campaigned in support of President Bush’s proposal.”
Cutting benefits in half. Risking Social Security on the stock market.
The Bush-McCain privatization plan. Can you really afford more of the same?

*** UPDATE *** Factcheck.org takes issue with the ad's contention that the Bush Social Security plan would have cut benefits in half. Citing a report by Obama economic adviser Jason Furman, Factcheck.org says that the plan would have cut benefits by 28% -- not half. (Hat tip: Politico's Ben Smith.)

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Comments

Here's an ad - If your 50 or under, don't bank on Social Security being there when you retire.

Morris Ross (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:25 PM)

I think this is the debut of Social Security for this campaign? Has anyone said anything about this yet?
McCain should be getting a large part of the old folks vote, I wonder if this will change anything.

Josh Q.. Bloomington, IN (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:27 PM)

Excellent ad and it's all straight talk! We cannot afford to allow the Reagan foot soldiers to ruin Social Security with their nefarious privatization plan that will steal from the poorer workers to give to the richest. Time to take the wage caps off of the social security tax so that all workers pay the same percentage, after all that's only fair!

This $700 billion taxpayer funded bailout of Wall Street is nothing less than a bailout of the republican party and the McCain campaign who brought us Reagan's Voo Doo economics that created this whole mess. This bailout is nothing but stealing from our children and grandchildren and we adults should be apologizing to them for the reckless deregulation brought on by the lobbyist loving Reagan foot soldiers. Heck of a job Johnny!

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:28 PM)

This Obama character - a little bit of a control freak he is.

Yoda (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:30 PM)

The ad say's it all!!!!!!!!!!!

Obama/Biden for the rest of us!

Libratine (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:30 PM)

Oh my....this was a great Ad!!! Now this is straight talk!!

Obama/Biden 08

Cre, Vallejo (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:32 PM)

I trust Obama. He's done so well with everything else he's run in his life, why shouldn't we trust him with our Social Security? Obama ran, well, he didn't really run anything. But he's thought about it a lot, and he has that big fancy degree. So he's really smart. I trust Obama.

I Trust Obama (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:33 PM)

I just love the new tougher Barack Obama that has emerged this week showing cool calm wise leadership offering bipartisan solutions while "Bush Hugger" McCain throws temper tantrums and blames everyone but himself and his guilty party.

After "Tailhook" Johnny gets shot down in flames on November 4th we'll be seeing him milling about Washington muttering "Beware the Ides of September". As Dandy Don used to sing "Turn Out the Lights the Party's Over"!

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:34 PM)

Anyone that votes republican is not paying attention.

Bee (Sent Friday, September 19, 2008 9:29 PM)

------------------

Any one that votes for Obama is an idiot.

Dee (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:35 PM)

I hope every voter sees this ad, and realizes
what would have happened if Mccain/bush had
been able to destroy what is left of Social
Security. I am sure it would have been de-
regulated also as republicans do not believe
in regulations.
Wonder what lie Mccain will tell to get out
of this? Expect a whopper.

katiec Pekin, IL (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:37 PM)

obama/biden the real straight talk express.great ad by the way.

claudia (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:40 PM)

I love it! Go for the jugular Barack!

Allen Hussein, Visalia CA (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:40 PM)

Obama/Biden...For the people...Awesome ad!...from one senior who's scared straight..you go guys!

Carolyn, Tuckerton, New Jersey (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:43 PM)

Like was said prior, if you are younger than middle age, don't plan on social security. I'd rather be able to do what I want with my own money, then if I invest it wrong, it's my fault only. Too many people want government hand outs and then blame the government. Let me ask those that back Obama's plan to increase taxes in order to increase the social security fund....would you give me your money so I can hold it for however long (20-40 years?)? Don't worry, you can trust me! What? You don't trust me? Then why do you want our government to take your money when they (both parties over a long, long history) have proven that they can't manage money? I suggest people quit thinking on what they want to hear, but use their brain on reality!

John Smith (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:45 PM)

I am a Florida retiree and living on railroad re-
tirement which is the same as social security.
All we received last January was a 2.3% raise with
$96.00 taken out for Medicare. Next year 2009 $135.00
will be taken out. With high prices of gas and food,
how much more do we have to tighten our belts??
We are in a "deep depression". Think about who you
will vote for.

Mary Ann Rathbun, Port Charlotte, FL (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:45 PM)

Eric, Salinas, CA
Libratine
Cre, Vallejo
----------------------------------------------------
Straight talk, my ass!!!!!!!

OBAMA IS LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH. THIS "LYING" SCARE TACTIC WILL NOT WORK.

Ron Lincoln - Tulsa, OK (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:45 PM)

Economy, Social Security, the war on terror, keeping our allies (Spain!!??) Maybe people will stop looking at the color of Obama's skin before its too late and there is nothing left of America. If McCain had been in charge this last week would we have financial markets left? Four more years of the last eight, that's not something Americans can afford...
OBAMA/BIDEN 2008

Mingpeke, Thomaston Maine (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 2:46 PM)

McCain/Palin = Unstable/Unable , and it is really as simple as that.

James In Oregon (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 4:40 PM)

I fully support Senator Obama.

BUT!!!!

28% is bad enough - - - - no exaggerations! "We" cannot give the McCain team a reason to call "us" liars. That's a title Senator McCain wants to keep all to himself.

Mrs J - Illinois (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 4:41 PM)

It's an eerily clever ad. Since, at this point in the campaign most voters have already decided on who they'll vote for. Both candidates covet only two things, gaining ground with Undecideds and picking off Independents. This ad should prove problematic to Sen. McCain on both fronts. I believe that McCain's position on Social Security has been the albatross around his neck for some time. The wall street meltdown has driven this issue to the fore and McCain is on the wrong side of it. This is the issue that will wreak havoc on his nationwide poll numbers as the seniors, his base, begin to splinter off. Although McCain's campaign has suffered many lacerations over the last two weeks, i believe that when the coroner does the autopsy of his campaign on November 5th, a lethal injection of social security will be regarded as the cause of death. This is ad is the tip of the syringe.

Darius, Hampton, Va (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 4:43 PM)

An Obama Presidency will make ALL Americans poor. Can you believe this id1ot wants to take our hard earned money and give it to the UN to disperse it to the poor? The only problem is this will only line the pockets of the rich dictators of the world.

TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION~that's OBAMA/Biden

just vote NO'bama 08

oh, is it just me, or does Obama Biden sound a lot like Osama Bin Laden? Obama Bi(n) (la)den. WEIRD

Braun (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 4:44 PM)

Hey Okie, isn't about time for another dust bowl? It sure seems the dust has made it to your brain cells. But go ahead and watch your tax money flow away with the big cats trying to save their profits and their golden parachutes. It's amazing how stupid people can be even when their own interests are on the table. But you just can't fight those redneck racists for bringing you such good government...like we've had for almost 8 years. You know Okie, why don't you just stay at home. Given that you voted for Bush last time, I would think you should be prohibited this time around. I mean for the sake of the country.

Debra (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 4:50 PM)

Obama can exaggerate because MCCain is one GIANT lie. This is no equality in the level of lying between the two. McCAin is so dishonorable. He will erupt at the debates and his poor temperament will be on display. He is extremely jealous of Obama.

Jon (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 4:52 PM)

Ron Lincoln,

I think you have the names mixed up. You mean the scare, dishonorable, misdirected tactics that the Republicans and McCain campaign have used will not work.

I forgive your mistake.

Fix the Broken (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 4:52 PM)

Close your eyes. Open your eyes. You see and hear Senator Obama for the very first time. He is white, his family is white. Because of what he say, and who he speaks to, most Jewish, Black, and Hispanic, and women, and middle class working white voters would overwhelmingly vote for him. Think about. According to what is important in your life, whom should you really vote for? Evangelicals (God is watching you)!

M King Toledo OH (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 4:59 PM)

MSNBC since you are putting factchecks on Obama's ads, please do so on McCain's ads. Please post because I never see any of my remarks.

Linda (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:01 PM)

i don't know what some people think all do they think at all you have somebody like mc cain that dont even know what he can do in office like who he can fire and who run what that only tell you that somebody else is behind the show think about it who can that be

reggie binghamton ny (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:01 PM)

Thanks for the factcheck FR. Whew! that makes it all better. Only a 28% cut for my mom before some trader begins gambling with the General Social Security fund.
FDR would get up out of his chair and spit right in McBushe's face.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:02 PM)

I agree 100% with Mingpeke.While McCain has these knee jerk reactions Obama is calm and thinks thing through-It has been proven over and over again.Yes,there are negitive ad's on both sides,however take a really close look at what is important.What ever concerns you have whether it be the economy,the war,or social security do you really want someone in the White House that makes rash decisions that affect our lives!!I have always been for Obama.What really put me over the top was his response to this wall street crisis.Obama stated that we are in a crisis and we ALL need to work together to solve it and said he would even cross party lines to accomplish that.McCain's response was to blame Obama-Really!!! Those of you who are concerned over the color of Obama's skin need to get over it before there is no more America!!!THIS IS YOUR WAKE UP CALL!!

Maria Kirchner,Federal Way,Washington (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:05 PM)

To all the Obama haters out there: STOP HATING, Obama is a very smart and intelligent person, could that be the reasons you're hating on him? You can be smart also by being and showing a little intelligence, show love for people or persons that don't have the color skin you have. Part of being smart is knowing what you're dumb at!

Put a little love in your hearts. OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12

Peg from Broward County Florida (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:05 PM)

McCain/Bush - deregulate energy:
RESULTS: ENRON, Gas Futures trading, High gas prices - Lose your wealth

McCain/Bush/Graham - deregulate Wall Street
RESULTS: Fannie, Freddie, AIG, Lehman, Mortgage Meltdown, Lose your wealth

McCain - deregulate social security and turn it over to Wall Street
RESULTS: Lose your retirement

McCain/Palin - Deregulate Health care
RESULTS: Lose your Health

McCain / Palin - Lose your Health, Wealth, Yourself

This would be funny if it were not so sad.

nadeem (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:11 PM)

Ron Lincoln - Tulsa, OK: You tell em' Ron! That meltdown we're witnessing. That's just what a strong economy does in McCainWorld.

Ian (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:14 PM)

40% of this country would glady exist 24 hours a day with a foot planted firmly up their ass then to ever vote for a black man. Contrary to the McCain lie's and the neo-right's assortion Obama would not hurt us financially nor militarilary. Face it, he's smarter than 98% of the country and the two percent that are smarter than he is generally agree that he's the right one for job of president at this time. If you haven't noticed the rest of the talking heads have proposed more of what has always been done without much in the way of strategy or reflection in order to gage a fundamentally more sound way forward. McCain and his "Keating five" mindset offer little or no forward thinking beyond what we've always had. No vision. The bible say's "where there is no vision, the people perish". Based on that bit of wisdom I'd suggest that this nation has one foot in the grave and the other on an bananna peel. My grandma used to say that "the older people get the dumber they get". Hence the good ole' U.S. of A. in a nut shell. History's great and powerful nation trash heap is litered with nations such as ours who simply refused to change the way they looked at things. Young leaders like Obama don't grow on trees and sheldom are we blessed to realize what we have in them. An admirable and exceptionally intelligent young man whom has the forsight to see where we need to go and the ability to navigate the dangerous path to get us there. But alas, that "40%".

Laurence, Newport News, Va. (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:18 PM)

Obama is not lying! McCains votes are referenced and no scare tactic is needed. It might be fine for some country bumpkin frum Tulsa but for the rest of us with at least half a brain a John McCain presidency is scary enough!

Arizona, Phoenix, AZ (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:18 PM)

This is a hard hitting ad and it tells the truth; I am currently receiving social security and I don't want my benefits placed on the risky stock market. But I believe it would have hurts those who are not retired because it would place some of their money in the stock market. But what people don't understand is that the dollars paid into the system today goes to help those who are already retired.

olivia (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:19 PM)

50% or 28%, wrong on the numbers but true when it comes to cutting benefits. Hard working Americans deserve their full benefits. A question for America, do you really want your government risking your SS on the stock market????

James, South Carolina (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:20 PM)

50%...28%.......does it matter.........any amount is too much...........

ginger, highlands ranch, co (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:20 PM)

How can anyone vote for someone who is a clone of Bush? How can anyone vote for someone who doesn't know how many homes he and his spouse have? Some things, one MUST know. He clearly doesn't know that. McCain is wrong on the economy and wrong on everything else.

Obama is smart and can think for himself. He's right on the war and the economy.

I look forward to voting for Obama and hope that many likeminded people out there follow my lead. We need more Democrats in the Senate and in the Statehouses (especially Governors), too.

Noam N. Kogen, New York, NY (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:22 PM)

And thank you Wall Street!!! There go our new roads, safe bridges, decent schools, health care, college for my grandchildren. If the repigs win, they won't raise our taxes, oh no they don't do that, they'll find some other way to screw we working class. But if my 'real friend' Obamma wins he'll make PATRIOTS of the upper class.

BJN Taos NM (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:32 PM)

So is Barck afraid to challenge McCain and hit hard? I don't think so. To all you generation nexters. What if Dubwa and McCain had been able to push through the SS change? We boomers would not be affected, but you guys and gals would be biting your nails right now!

Ed, FW, TX (Sent Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:34 PM)

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