Rubio runs away from Social Security privatization
Rubio vs. Rubio on privatizing Social Security
It has now been confirmed: Marco Rubio’s team can read a poll. He now claims to be opposed to privatizing Social Security, even though his support for creating Wall Street traded private accounts, and raising the retirement age, were what once made him so very special (in a Paul Ryan kind of way…) Curious.
Said Rubio to Neil Cavuto on Fox:
RUBIO: Anyone telling you that we shouldn’t touch [Social Security], they are going to play tricky political games, they’re going to go around saying that I’m in favor of privatizing it, or raising the retirement age on current beneficiaries —
CAVUTO: But you are open to privatizing it, sir?
RUBIO: No, I think for that — no I’m not. That time has come and gone.
CAVUTO: What about for young guys like you who could take some of the money and put it in the market?
RUBIO: The problem is that it takes money — it makes it more difficult to balance the system in the long term.
CAVUTO: Do you’d be against it?
RUBIO: Yeah, I don’t think that’s the solution.
But here’s the thing: Marco Rubio is on the record favoring privatized Social Security, and for raising the retirement age so we can all work til we’re 70 (unless we’re rich,) and for cutting the benefits of younger workers. I asked the Rubio campaign about his views on the subject back in February and his spokesman, Alex Burgos said this in an email that’s still sitting in my in-box:
“Rubio supports giving people the option of investing a portion of their Social Security in personal retirement accounts.”
And there’s Rubio’s name as a signatory to Laura Ingraham’s “ten point pledge” for right wingers, that included privatizing Social Security, just as Rubio’s mentor Jeb’s big brother George W. Bush attempted to propose when he was president.
He is hardly alone. Rubio’s backers in the tea party movement believe Social Security is several Republicans in Congress who want to turn Social Security over, lock, stock and barrel, to Wall Street.
What’s incredible is that conservatives keep claiming to hold views that are in the mainstream, but they somehow feel the need to dress up as moderates when it’s time to try and win an election, rather than proudly flaunting their right wing views. Except of course for the tea party wackies like Sharron Angle, Rand Paul or Joe Miller or Christine O’Donnell (or Michelle Bachman, while we’re at it…) who can’t help but be themselves. What’s up with that?
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Perhaps the fact that Rubio’s father died of Cancer last week, and that those medical bills will be paid out of Rubio, Sr.’s Social Security/Medicare Funds and not out of Marco Rubio’s very own tight wad pocket, has something to do with Rubio’s change of heart. … maybe he just had an illumination from above. Although, I don’t trust his rabidly conservative heart … and, is he throwing a bucket of iced cold water on Jeb Bush’s face? Anyhow, I do hope he has to dog tail it out of his intended Senate Power Grab come November.
Interesting how both Greer and Rubio have opened their eyes and seen a bit of reality. How far can Marco go without irritating the teabaggers??
Snitker just picked up 5 more votes.
I don’t want to wait until age 75 to draw social security, dear Marco Rubio. There are other ways to deal with Social Security issues. Privatization and Raising the Age Minimum is not the answer. Many people depend on Social Security and are not able to continue working until age 75. Their health is too poor.
I’ve been working since I was 15 years old. I’m tired, and I can’t work until I’m 75 years old. The idea of wall street handling my social security really scares me.
It’s one thing to change your mind, if new evidence or data comes to light, but Marco Rubio is flip flopping. He found out the idea is unpopular in Florida.