HillaryClintonReactstoSen.McCain’sSupportforSocialSecurityPrivatization&HisHousingSpeech

ThefollowingareexcerptsfromapressavailabilitythatHillaryClintonheldattheUniversityofPittsburghatGreensburgearlierthisweek:

“…SocialSecurityisabigissueinthiscampaign.TherearedifferencesbetweenmyselfandSenatorObamaandthereareverybigdifferencesbetweenmyselfandJohnMcCain.AndIhavetoadmittobeingsomewhatsurprisedwhenIsawthatSenatorMcCainhadsaidthathewouldtrytocontinuetotrytoprivatizeSocialSecurityalongthelinesofwhatPresidentBushtriedandfailedindoingin2005.Thatisaverysignificantdifferencebetweenthetwoofus.”

…

“…PennsylvaniaasyouknowhasahigherpercentageofolderpeoplethanmoststatessoitisaparticularconcerntoalotofPennsylvanianswhoareonSocialSecurity,likeacoupleweheardfromearliertodaywhokeepseeingtheirexpensesincreaseandrealizethattheyareinaverydifficultpositiontryingtoaffordallofthenecessitiesoflifeandbeingonafixedincomeliketheyare.That’swhyit’ssoimportantthatwearedoingeverythingwecantomeetthelongtermchallengesofSocialSecurity.TheSocialSecuritytrusteesjustissuedareport,actuallywhileIwasspeaking,andtherehasbeensomeimprovementintheoutlookforSocialSecurityaccordingtosome,totheSocialSecuritytrustees.SoIthinkthatitreinforceswhatIhavesaidforalongtime,whichiswehavesomelongtermchallenges.Itisnotacrisis.Wecanfixwhat’sneedingtobechangedinSocialSecurity.OurrealchallengeisMedicarewhichismuchmoreincrisisanddeservescloserattention.”

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ThefollowingisClinton’sresponsetoSen.McCain’scommentsonthehousingcrisis.

“ItsoundsremarkablylikeHerbertHooverandIdon’tthinkthat’sagoodeconomicpolicy.Wehaveaframeworkofregulation,itneedstobeupdatedandmodernized.Thegovernmenthasanumberoftoolsatitsdisposalthatarewell-suitedforjustthissituation.IthinkthatinactionhascontributedtotheproblemswefacetodayandIbelievefurtherinactionwouldexacerbatethoseproblems.I’velaidoutwhatIwoulddo.Idon’tthinkit’sanadequateresponsetosaythegovernmentshouldn’tbehelpingeitherbanksorpeoplebecauseIthinkthatwouldbeadownwardspiralthatwouldcausetremendouseconomicpainandlossinourcountryandIdon’tseewhyweshouldwaitbyforthattohappen.”

--HillaryClintonforPresidentCampaign;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,ActingEditor