DEFEND SOCIAL SECURITY...ALAN SIMPSON HAS GOT TO GO from MOVEON.ORG 26AUG10 & Alan Simpson: Social Security Is 'A Milk Cow With 310 Million Tits' [UPDATE] 25AUG10

Alan Simpson's attitude toward those of us who pay into the system is disgusting, he has made objectionable comments before but his comment referring to Social Security being a milk cow with 310 million tits is the last straw and he needs to be removed from the deficit commission now. Call the WH, I did, and the operator told me they are getting lots of calls for Simpson's removal and said I should e mail the WH also...did that, hope you will to. Remember, democracy is not a spectator sport! Check out the story from HuffPost on this latest Simpson outrage and what the video of Simpson in action attacking a Social Security advocate.



It's time for Alan Simpson to resign.
When President Obama appointed former Sen. Simpson co-chair of the deficit commission, he said Sen. Simpson would lead the commission in building "a bipartisan consensus to put America on the path toward fiscal reform and responsibility."1

But instead, Sen. Simpson has made clear, again and again, that he has contempt for people who rely on Social Security, and will use his position to rant at anyone who doesn't agree with his plans to cut benefits.
First, he referred to people who rely on Social Security as "greedy geezers,"2 then he called Americans who need Social Security "lesser people."3 On Monday he sent an off-the-wall email to the Executive Director of a group representing older women about "people on Social Security who milk it to the last degree." He went on to say, "It's the same with any system in America. We've reached a point now where [Social Security is] like a milk cow with 310 million tits."4

Simpson just apologized for the last comment, saying it was a case of him putting his foot in his mouth.5 But this isn't about a poor choice of words or a one-time gaffe. Simpson has repeatedly, over the course of years, shown contempt for those who rely on Social Security while berating those who disagree with him. As Paul Krugman wrote yesterday, "he has to go."6
Can you call the White House and tell them that Sen. Simpson needs to be removed from the deficit commission?

The White House—(202) 456-1111
http://pol.moveon.org/call?cp_id=1443&tg=652&id=22899-17549061-kwiHTWx&t=1

Alan Simpson is in charge of a commission that everyone expects will recommend cuts to Social Security to deal with the deficit—even though Social Security doesn't contribute one cent to the deficit.7 But someone with such extreme disdain for the people who rely on America's most successful social program has no place leading a commission that could well decide its fate.

To make matters worse, Simpson has repeatedly gotten his facts wrong on Social Security (check out Paul Krugman's fact-check of Simpson after his last outburst8).

Here's the full excerpt from his ranting email to the Executive Director of the Older Women's League:
If you have some better suggestions about how to stabilize Social Security instead of just babbling into the vapors, let me know. And yes, I've made some plenty smart cracks about people on Social Security who milk it to the last degree. You know 'em too. It's the same with any system in America. We've reached a point now where it's like a milk cow with 310 million tits! Call when you get honest work!9

President Obama appointed Simpson. But with Simpson's continued abuse of those who disagree with him—and his lack of understanding for the program he is charged with reforming, it's clear that Obama must ask him to resign.

The White House—(202) 456-1111
http://pol.moveon.org/call?cp_id=1443&tg=652&id=22899-17549061-kwiHTWx&t=2

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Anna, Nita, Duncan, and the rest of the team

P.S. If you haven't already, check out our Top 5 Myths about Social Security:

http://pol.moveon.org/ssmyths/index.html?id=22899-17549061-kwiHTWx&t=3

Sources:

1. "President Obama Establishes Bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform," The White House, February 18, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90094&id=22899-17549061-kwiHTWx&t=4

2. "Intemperate, Ignorant, Uncivil, Unqualified: Why Alan Simpson Must Go," The Huffington Post, August 25, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90095&id=22899-17549061-kwiHTWx&t=5

3. "Caught on Video," MoveOn.org Political Action, August 25, 2010
http://pol.moveon.org/deficitcommission/simpson.html?id=22899-17549061-kwiHTWx&t=6

4. "Alan Simpson: Social Security Is 'A Milk Cow With 310 Million Tits'," The Huffington Post, August 25, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90096&id=22899-17549061-kwiHTWx&t=7

5. Ibid.

6. "Fire Alan Simpson," The New York Times, August 25, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90102&id=22899-17549061-kwiHTWx&t=8

7. "Social Security Works for America," Social Security Works
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89288&id=22899-17549061-kwiHTWx&t=9

8. "Zombies Have Already Killed The Deficit Commission," The New York Times, June 21, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89114&id=22899-17549061-kwiHTWx&t=10

9. "Alan Simpson: Social Security Is 'A Milk Cow With 310 Million Tits'," The Huffington Post, August 25, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=90096&id=22899-17549061-kwiHTWx&t=11

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Alan Simpson: Social Security Is 'A Milk Cow With 310 Million Tits' [UPDATE]

UPDATE: Wednesday 8:30 p.m. - Simpson isn't going anywhere, the New York Times reports. "Alan Simpson has apologized and while we regret and do not condone his comments, we accept his apology and he will continue to serve," White House spokesperson Jennifer Psaki told the Times.

UPDATE: Wednesday 3:59 p.m. - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) called on President Obama to fire Alan Simpson from the deficit commission for referring to Social Security as "a milk cow with 310 million tits!" in an email this week to OWL executive director Ashley Carson.

The letter, provided to HuffPost, concludes:

The statement by Senator Simpson that Social Security is "like a milk cow with 310 million tits" is really quite beyond comprehension. Today, Social Security provides the majority of income for two-thirds of the nation's elderly and for one-third it provides nearly all their income. Without it, millions of Americans would be living in abject poverty as was the case before the creation of Social Security. It is false and demeaning to say that these people, the vast majority of whom have worked their entire lives and contributed into the Social Security system, are somehow "milking" the system.

Despite the many years of distinguished public service former Senator Simpson has dedicated to this country, his recent e-mail indicates that it is no longer appropriate for him to serve on the bi-partisan deficit reduction commission. Therefore, in order for your commission's recommendations to have credibility with Congress, we respectfully urge you to remove Senator Simpson from the commission.

* * * * *

UPDATE: Wednesday 3:08 p.m. - Alan Simpson apologized Wednesday for describing Social Security as "a milk cow with 310 million tits!" in an email to OWL executive director Ashley Carson.

Simpson's apology comes as pressure is mounting on the former Wyoming Senate Republican to resign his co-chairmanship of President Obama's deficit commission, which is considering cuts to Social Security.

The National Organization for Women called on him to step down Wednesday. "Alan Simpson is not fit to lead the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform," said NOW President Terry O'Neill in a statement to HuffPost. "The ugliness of his disrespect for women is matched only by his dogged determination to dismantle Social Security by cutting benefits or increasing the retirement age. The National Organization for Women urges President Obama to take a stand on this issue and replace Simpson immediately."
Story continues below

And in a public statement, AARP called Simpson's comment "offensive" and said that it "undermine[s] the serious work of the commission and give[s] us little confidence the commission can fairly look at important programs such as Social Security."

Simpson wrote Carson while on vacation:

My wife Ann and I are in Yellowstone National Park for the opening of the new visitor center, so I only just now have had the opportunity to read your response to my recent e-mail. I apologize for what I wrote. I can see that my remarks have caused you anguish, and that was not my intention. I certainly did not intend to diminish your hard work for the Older Women's League. I know you care deeply about strengthening Social Security, and so do I, just as deeply. I remember your testimony at our public hearing in June about the importance of retirement security for women. Over the last 40 years, I have had my size 15 feet in my mouth a time or two. To quote my old friend and colleague, Senator Lloyd Bentsen, when I make a mistake, "It's a doozy!"

Next time I'm in Washington, perhaps we could meet in person, and I could learn further of your sincere concerns.

Carson told HuffPost she was appreciative of the apology but that his comments demonstrate that he is unfit to lead the commission. A spokeswoman for NOW also said that their call for his resignation stands, despite the apology.

"I am very appreciative of Mr. Simpson's quick apology and for his acknowledgment of wrongdoing," said Carson. "That said, OWL's position that Mr. Simpson should resign from the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform has not changed. This is much more than a 'foot in your mouth' situation. Mr. Simpson has demonstrated a consistent, decades-long, pattern of making statements that are offensive to seniors, to women and that are just plain unacceptable in 2010. There are consequences for actions -- especially when those actions result in uniting people who fight for a common purpose. We, the advocates, do honest work day in and day out to help disadvantaged individuals create better lives for themselves and their loved ones. His actions demonstrate that he does not possess the judgment necessary to make objective recommendations about some of America's most valued programs."
* * * * *

UPDATE: Wednesday 10:27 a.m. - Alan Simpson should resign as co-chair of President Obama's deficit commission for sending an email to a leading women's rights advocate calling Social Security "a milk cow with 310 million tits!" a leading advocate of Social Security said Wednesday, arguing that Simpson's "disdain for the very program he claims he is trying to protect" makes him unfit for a leadership position on the panel, which is considering cuts to Social Security.

Social Security Works co-director Eric Kingson, in a statement released the day after the email became public, said that Simpson's "disdain for the very program he claims he is trying to protect" makes him unfit for a leadership position on the commission, which is considering cuts to Social Security.

Social Security Works is on steering committee of the 125 member Strengthen Social Security Coalition.

"Alan Simpson's comments are offensive and sexist and clearly demonstrate that he is unfit to continue to lead the President's Fiscal Commission," he said. "His comments not only show his true view of women and older Americans but also his disdain for the very program he claims he is trying to protect - Social Security. Social Security Works is demanding that he resign immediately."

The commission was established with an executive order from President Obama after Republicans who had championed such a commission voted against creating one on the Senate floor in an effort to deprive the president of a political victory. Obama has the authority to place and remove commissioners. If Simpson refuses to resign, said Kingson, Obama should can him.

"If he will not [resign], the President must fire him," he said. "Alan Simpson has no business deciding the fate of hundreds of millions of Americans' retirement future. He should have no power over Social Security, which provides vital economic support to millions of children and people with disabilities, as well as seniors and their families."
* * * * *

Tuesday 7:32 p.m. - Alan Simpson believes that Social Security is "like a milk cow with 310 million tits," according to an email he sent to the executive director of National Older Women's League Tuesday morning. Simpson co-chairs the deficit commission, which is considering various proposals to cut Social Security benefits.

Simpson's email, which OWL chief Ashley Carson released publicly, (PDF) was sent in response to an April blog post Carson wrote for the Huffington Post. Carson criticized Simpson for repeatedly describing his Social Security opponents as "Pink Panthers," arguing that the description had sexist connotations.

His email is peppered with exclamation points and condescension. At one point he urged Carson to read a certain graph, "which I hope you are able to discern if you are any good at reading graphs."

Simpson concludes by implying that leading a major organization dedicated to the interests of middle-aged and elderly women is not "honest work."

"If you have some better suggestions about how to stabilize Social Security instead of just babbling into the vapors, let me know," he writes. "And yes, I've made some plenty smart cracks about people on Social Security who milk it to the last degree. You know 'em too. It's the same with any system in America. We've reached a point now where it's like a milk cow
with 310 million tits! Call when you get honest work!"

It's unclear from Simpson's email if he means Social Security is the milk cow or if he's referring to America in general. A Simpson assistant responded to a HuffPost email saying that Simpson was traveling and unable to comment immediately. OWL is now circulating a petition calling on the former Republican Senator from Wyoming to resign.

Simpson's tirade continues a pattern of erratic behavior that threatens to undermine the commission's work. In June, he unleashed a stream of error-riddled invective on a Social Security advocate wielding a camera outside a closed-door commission meeting, leading Paul Krugman to conclude (happily) that Simpson was killing the commission.

Watch Simpson berate a Social Security advocate: