Hillary Has Failed To Show Leadership On Retirement Security, And Bill's Administration Routinely Hit Seniors To Raise Government Revenue
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"Hillary Clinton has avoided answering how she would save Social
Security, instead asking that Americans trust her on retirement security by
pointing to her husband's record. But that record is one of increased taxes on
Social Security benefits and drastic cuts to Medicare. If higher taxes and fewer
benefits for seniors are what Senator Clinton looks to as a model for retirement
security, it becomes obvious why she doesn't want to answer questions about her
own plans."
-Danny Diaz, RNC Spokesperson
Today, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Is Speaking About Retirement Security In Webster City, Iowa:
"On Tuesday, Clinton Travels To Webster City, Iowa, To Discuss Retirement Security At 11:00 AM ET ..." (Tahman Bradley and Jacqueline Klingebiel, ABC News' "The Note's Sneak Peek," 10/8/07)
Hillary Has Asked Voters To Look To Her Husband's Administration To See What Sort Of President She'd Be:
Yesterday, Hillary's Policy Speech Was Filled With References To Her Husband's Administration, Implying That Is How She Would Govern. "Former President Clinton was nowhere to be seen Monday. But the former first lady makes sure her husband is never far from people's minds ... As Sen. Clinton told the crowd in Marshalltown ... 'I know we can do better, because it wasn't so long ago that we did better.'" (M.E. Sprengelmeyer, "Clinton Keeps Focus On Hopes For Middle Class," Rocky Mountain [CO] News, 10/9/07)
But President Clinton Hit Seniors In His First Year In Office By Increasing Taxes On Social Security Benefits:
In 1993, President Clinton Increased The Portion Of Taxable Social Security Benefits To A Staggering 85%; Raising Taxes On Seniors Earning Barely More Than $34,000 Per Year. "[P]resident Bill Clinton's 1993 tax increase ... hiked taxes on Social Security benefits for seniors. ... Prior to 1993, seniors paid taxes on half their Social Security benefits if their combined income exceeded $25,000 for individuals or $32,000 for couples. But in 1993, the portion of taxable Social Security benefits increased to 85%, as individuals with incomes above $34,000 and couples with incomes above $44,000 became subject to the higher rate of taxation." (Americans For Tax Reform Website, www.atr.org, Accessed 9/19/07)
"Critics Say That Tax Levels At 85% Are Not Only Immoral, But Provide A Strong Disincentive For Seniors To Save Or Continue Working." (Americans For Tax Reform Website, www.atr.org, Accessed 9/19/07)
Sen. Hillary Clinton Has Voted At Least Twice Against Repealing Her Husband's 1993 Tax Increase On Social Security Benefits. (S. Con. Res. 18, CQ Vote #74: Adopted 55-45: R 50-5; D 5-39; I 0-1, 3/17/05, Clinton Voted Nay; S. Con. Res. 23, CQ Vote #94: Rejected 48-51: R 48-3; D 0-47; I 0-1, 3/25/03, Clinton Voted Nay)
President Clinton Also Cut Medicare By $56 Billion, And HillaryCare Attempted To Cut Another $124 Billion:
Clinton's Economic Plan Also Hit Seniors With $56 Billion In Medicare Cuts And HillaryCare Proposed An Additional $124 Billion In Cuts. "Moreover, seniors, who were hit by $56 billion in Medicare cuts in Mr. Clinton's recently enacted economic plan, are already riled by his proposal to finance health reform with another $124 billion in Medicare trims. 'Many seniors feel like they were double-crossed (then). They know you don't put your hand on the stove twice to know it's hot,' said [William Ritz of the Washington-based National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare]." (Karen Riley, "Health Plan's Fate Hinges On Who Benefits," The Washington Times, 9/20/93)
NOTE: The AARP Opposed Clinton's Higher Taxes On Social Security Benefits And Medicare Cutbacks. "White House officials say that opposition from the following groups poses the most danger [to Clinton's economic plan]: ... Senior citizens. Although the powerful American Association of Retired Persons has not yet announced a big grass-roots campaign, it opposes Clinton's Medicare cutbacks and his plan to tax up to 85 percent of Social Security benefits for individuals with total incomes of more than $25,000 a year and couples with incomes of more than $32,000." (Kenneth T. Walsh, Gloria Bo rger, and Matthew Cooper, "Public Fever For New Budget Cuts," U.S. News & World Report, 3/1/93)
Hillary Hasn't Led On Retirement Security; Most Recently She Was Evasive On Ensuring Social Security's Solvency:
When Asked At The Last Debate About Her Plan For Fixing Social Security, Hillary Repeatedly Avoided The Question And Refused To Offer Any Specifics. Tim Russert: "But you would not take lifting the cap at $97,500 off the table?" Hillary: "Well, I'd take everything off the table until we move toward fiscal responsibility and before we have a bipartisan process. I don't think I should be negotiating about what I would do as president. You know, I want to see what other people come to the table with." ... Russert: "So, Senator, a simple question, a simple question: What do you put on the table [for solving Social Security]?" ... Hillary: "I'm not putting anything on the proverbial table until we move toward fiscal responsibility." (Sen. Hillary Clinton, MSNBC Democrat Presidential C andidate Debate, Hanover, NH, 9/26/07)
NBC's Chuck Todd: "[O]n Social Security ... Hillary Wouldn't Answer The Question Because She's Absolutely Only Thinking About The General [Election], About Taxes." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 9/26/07)
RE-LIVING HISTORY: MSNBC's Chris Matthews: "Bill Clinton never took a position on reform of any entitlement program. ... [I]t's a very cynical move because you're saying to the public I am not telling you anything I intend to do." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 9/26/07)
Other Democrat Presidential Candidates Have Criticized Hillary's Unwillingness To Provide Specifics:
Edwards Attacked Hillary's Social Security Plan, Calling It "Politician Double-Talk." Edwards: "[T]he American people deserve to hear the truth. They have heard so much politician double-talk on this issue." (Former Sen. John Edwards, MSNBC Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Hanover, NH, 9/26/07)
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) Was "Stunned" At Hillary's Unwillingness To Tackle The Social Security Issue. Sen. Dodd: "So, I'm rather stunned that we had, sort of, this vague, unwillingness to be clear about what you would specifically do on a major fiscal issue in the country." (MSNBC's "Hardball," 9/26/07)
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