Politicker: AZ GOP calls Obama 'almost as scary as Iran' on Social Security

[highplainsdem]

http://www.politickeraz.com/evanbrown/1658/az-gop-calls-obama-almost-scary-iran-social-security

July 10, 2008 - 3:39pm
By Evan Brown

The Arizona Republican Party is responding to an attack by the Arizona Democratic Party over comments U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Phoenix) made regarding Social Security, saying U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is not fit to handle the issue.

-snip-

Sean McCaffrey, executive director and acting spokesman of the Arizona Republican Party, blamed Democrats for the current state of the Social Security system when he spoke with PolitickerAZ.com.

"Since Democrats took control of Congress - and they have controlled Congress for the better part of half a century - they have made an art out of raiding the Social Security trust fund to pay for big government programs," said McCaffrey. "Imagine how solvent it would be today if they hadn't started that practice."

Also, while careful to note he is not a spokesman for the McCain campaign, McCaffrey praised McCain and took aim at his presidential rival, Barack Obama.

"Of the two major party nominees, McCain is the only one talking about fixing ," McCaffrey said.

He went on to question Obama's ability to handle the issue.

"Senator Obama made four million dollars last year, and a million dollars the year before that. Hardly any of that is in stock. Senator Obama doesn't even know about investing."

McCaffrey added, "The thought of him getting involved in Social Security reform is almost as scary as the thought of Iran with nuclear firearms."

I'm not that familiar with Politicker (this turned up in Google News), so I don't know how much coverage this idiot McCaffrey's remarks are likely to get. What would be the best way to respond to this? A statement from McCaffrey's counterpart in the Arizona Democratic Party, or from the national campaign?

[redstate_democrat]

1. I would force McCain to repudiate it himself.

Some reporter out there needs to ask him about it. If they ask Obama's camp, they need to call on McCain to repudiate it and say that kind of talk does not belong in this campaign. :D

[sniffa]

2. I'm not familiar with Iran's position on Social Security

Do they want to wipe it off the face of the map? :shrug:

[highplainsdem]

3. LOL! That's Politicker's headline, and it was clumsy. The article gives the full quote.

[dansolo]

4. What about the "off the books" spending on the Iraq War?

None of the spending on Iraq (or Afghanistan) is factored into the deficit.

[grantcart]

5. ..

"The thought of him getting involved in Social Security reform is almost as scary as the thought of Iran with nuclear firearms."


The thought of Iran with nuclear firearms is almost as scary as the thought of trusting Arizona to nominate a presidential candidate

[blondeatlast]

7. Hey, there... We gave you Bruce Babbitt and Mo Udall... nt

[AZBlue]

8. This comment made me think of the polls you've posted.

Probably just being paranoid, but is this an attempt to salvage AZ for McCain? There are a LOT of seniors in AZ.

As for trusting Arizona to nominate a presidential candidate, I'll have to agree with that - hell, I'm not from here and I don't live here voluntarily.

But, I do plan on taking AZ for Obama in November. :evilgrin:

[blondeatlast]

9. We gave America Bruce Babbitt and my all-time hero Mo Udall. It's not our fault America didn't

join.

Don't sell yourself short! The Sonoran does wondrous things...

[blondeatlast]

6. Who represents Arizona Republicans better than John McCain? And vice-versa?

McCain needs to take ownership of this or repudiate it--there's no alternative to the two.

[billyoc]

10. Did they mention why McCain is polling behind Obama in his home state, btw?

:rofl: