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June 22, 2010

GOP Co-Chair of Obama Deficit Commission Calls Social Security Recipients "Lesser People"
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The Republican co-chair of the Obama administration’s bipartisan panel
on cutting the deficit has been videotaped referring to Americans
reliant on Social Security as "lesser people." Former Republican Senator
Alan Simpson made the comments in response to questioning from Alan
Lawson of the group Social Security Works.

Alan Simpson: "We’re really working on solvency. The key is solvency."

*Alan Lawson: "And what about adequacy? Are you focusing on adequacy, as
well?"

Alan Simpson: "Well, sure, we have to take care of the lesser in
society. I don’t know where you get all this crap. Where do you get all
the crap you come up with?

Alan Lawson: "Well, I just wanted—that’s what I wanted to ask
you."

Alan Simpson: "Let me tell you what we’re doing here now. We’re
taking—let me give it to you before you ask me. We’re trying to
take care of the lesser people in society, like we always have in this
country."

Simpson is a leading proponent of Republican attempts to gut Social
Security based on the faulty warnings that the system faces insolvency.
The group Move On.org is calling on Simpson to resign as co-chair of the
National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility.



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