Serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis. © James Conner.
Is Sen. John Walsh open to privatization of Social Security for young people who are not currently in the workforce? That sure seems to be what’s he’s saying in an anti-Walsh video released by Dirk Adams, one of two Democrats opposing Walsh in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. Adams supports strengthening Social Security:
Supporting Seniors. Dirk Adams is committed to making sure that our parents and grandparents — those who raised us — are supported in their old age. Programs for seniors represent an important example of where the federal government has a critical role to play. Adams is committed to strengthening the long-term stability of Social Security and Medicare while making sure that Montana seniors who count on it are protected.
Former Montana LT. Gov. John Bohlinger, running against Walsh and Adams, in a five-page PDF, says he will co-sponsor Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s bill to expand Social Security.
Now, Adams’ video ad:
Walsh is speaking in a restaurant. The video is steady, but Walsh is in shadow and the audio is uneven. Here’s my transcript:
QUESTION: Congressman Ryan is still sort of pushing for the privatization of Social Security. Do you ever think there would be a circumstance where privatization of Social Security would make sense?
WALSH: No I don’t think … look at all the options … But not for those who are currently in Social Security right now. (unintelligible) There may be an option when you look at it for new employees who are not in the work force…
Here’s the video:
And here’s what Walsh says on his website:
Standing Strong on Retirement Security. Our seniors have spent their lifetimes working and paying into Social Security & Medicare. They deserve to have the benefits and services they have earned and are counting on in their retirements. I will fight to protect these crucial benefits against Washington special interests that seek to balance our budget on the backs of Montana’s seniors.
That paragraph is artfully worded. He’s standing strong on retirement security, not Social Security. He’ll fight for the Social Security benefits that seniors have earned. But he says nothing about making certain that Social Security will be alive and robust for today’s 18-year-olds when they retire. What he promises on his website is consistent with what he says in the video.
Before Obama was elected, I would have dismissed Walsh’s words as a clumsy attempt to appear open minded. But Obama supported the Chained CPI, and would have cut Social Security as part of a grand bargain. When a Democrat who is President is willing to chip pieces off the crown jewel of our triad of social insurance (Medicare and Medicaid are the other members), then a Democratic Senator’s words must be taken at face value when he says he’d consider something different from Social Security for today’ high school graduates.
Adams’ ad and Walsh’s own words raise serious questions about how well Walsh understands social insurance, and how committed he is to the concept of Social Security, now, forever, and better. He has some explaining to do.