Obama's Deficit Commission Co-Chair Simpson: Social Security Is “A Milk Cow With 310 Million Tits"

[Better Believe It]

Obama Appointed Deficit Commission Co-Chair Alan Simpson: Social Security Is Like “A Milk Cow With 310 Million Tits”
By: Jane Hamsher
August 24, 2010

Nobody really thought Alan Simpson could top his video appearance with Alex Lawson where he talked about “the lesser people” on Social Security. But once again, President Obama’s hand-picked Co-Chair of the Catfood Commission tasked with “tweaking” Social Security has proven us all wrong.

Simpson has written a letter to Ashley Carson of the Older Women’s League (OWL) responding to a piece she wrote on the Huffington Post that is so offensive, sexist and ageist that…well, take it away, Alan Simpson:

From: Alan K. Simpson
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 6:52 PM
To: Owl
Subject: To Ashley Carson re 4/27/10 article

Ashley B. Carson Executive Director, OWL

Dear Ms. Carson,

Someone was good enough to forward me your column of “Enough with the Pink Panthers Bit” of April 27, 2010.

Some of what you say is true. Much is not – but that’s nothing new about public life for me! I have news for you too, my friend. There may be no group called the Pink Panthers working to protect Social Security but I sure as hell am! I’ve spent many years in public life trying to stabilize that system while people like you babble into the vapors about “disgusting attempts at ageism and sexism” and all the rest of that crap.

Now hold on tight, because you won’t like what I’m sending you. You may obviously be aware that the Social Security system is “in trouble.” If you don’t agree with that, then there is no need to read any further. But I wish to share with you the presentation by Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration on May 12, 2010 to the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. If you think the statistics on poverty for seniors are alarming – then you need to read this little pamphlet to know what is really alarming.

If we can’t get a handle on this system and make it sustainable and assure long term solvency, and make some changes that are “minor” at the present time and will become “major” as each year passes, then take a look at the chart on Page 6 which I hope you are able to discern if you are any good at reading graphs – or anything that might challenge your biases and prejudices.

Anyway, have a look at it and if you should choose, you might communicate with me. 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!

Al

.... is your verbal largesse something you reserve for the Older Women’s League, and those you think can’t hit back?

Well, they are hitting back. They’re calling for your resignation from the Catfood Commission. We’ll certainly be interested to see if the White House cares about the fact that the Commission’s Co-Chair, a former US Senator, goes out of his way to treat older women is such a patronizing, dismissive and bullying fashion.

Jackass.

http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/08/24/obama-appointed-deficit-commission-co-chair-alan-simpson-social-security-is-like-a-milk-cow-with-310-million-tits/


-------------------------------------------



I am appalled. This issue needs your attention.

In April, I wrote blog titled, "Enough with the Pink Panthers Bit" on Huffington Post. I was tired of Alan Simpson using the language "Pink Panthers" in reference to people and groups who care about protecting Social Security. I believe that he used this name to refer to women's organizations, without calling us by name.

This morning I received an email from Alan Simpson, Co-Chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. Please click here to read it.

I'm sure you are as outraged as I am. Among other things, he said, "We've reached a point now where it's like a milk cow with 310 million tits! Call me when you get honest work." Apparently Mr. Simpson thinks that defending the rights of women is not honest work.

We have set up a petition online calling for his resignation. The National Council of Women's Organizations is behind us and women's leaders are lining up in support.

Please click here to sign the petition:
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/removealansimpson

Call the White House and let them know we want Alan Simpson's resignation:
202-456-1111 or
E-mail them

Sincerely,
Ashley Carson,
Executive Director

http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001IP2wby2XJMJJDVoEnPo607v6b7jf259W8Xjm4WYYd8-VZsjdJ1imobZFZKkZ-BCxFdKfa-ISoovbzXi4HqJ2EXp1f_5lnPGsSEsZ7ARtH9hVt0IsL24sK4y1Fl2eAfYW876Q8m-f1wocVHTTU1X8_N2t8X6f5MB46Fh3ITamOyzchyZH9mgFv8CMvzd3s-sMHzVhriy_9fc%3D

[still_one]

1. Another inane move Obama made appointing simpson. Anyone who is familiar

with history knows his background, and I am becoming more convienced that Obama just doesn't get it

1. republicans will NOT work with him, unless your definition of "work with him", means "do whatever they want"
2. forget the bipartisanship Mr. President, they don't want it, and yes, you will not only lose progressives and liberals if you compromise on Social Security, but the whole Democratic party will take a bath if you screw this one up

[DJ13]

4. republicans will NOT work with him

unless your definition of "work with him", means "do whatever they want"




Obama is an intelligent man, so the only conclusion that is left is he wants to do whatever they (cons) want.

[TheKentuckian]

2. Simpson is just the most repulsive of a crappy bunch. The commission should be disbanded

[KoKo]

5. Absolutely...but memories are short in the American Psyche today.

Most of us are just getting along the best we can. There's so much dogging us and beating us down...a SS Commission with two people who want to get rid of it by mocking it or in Bowles case "tweaking" it is just one more thing being thrown at us.

[KoKo]

3. Alan Simpson...Loud Mouthed Bloviator who cares nothing about anyone but himself and his comedy

routine. Some DU'ers might not be old enough to remember this guy...but he was the worst of the RW..and his mouth was foul ...yet he supposedly represented the "people" of his state. He always joked and made mockery of anyone who got in his way.

That Obama appointed him on that commission was a disgrace. And, Erskine Bowles? I live in NC...I know all I need to know about Erskine.

A Google Search on either will show why they are the worst people Obama could have put on that Commish.


Well...I guess Henry Kissinger and Dick Cheney might have been worse choices...but imagine SS was too "low level" to entice them to head.

[Better Believe It]

6. Here's the text of the petition to President Obama:

Here's the text of the petition to President Obama:

Dear President Obama,

We call for the resignation of Alan K. Simpson as co-chair of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. We have given the former Senator several chances at redemption, but his email today to our sister member organization, the Older Women’s League, illustrates his clear disrespect for Social Security, women and the American people, highlighted by his degrading, sexist, ageist and profane language. In the closing few sentences of the e-mail he states, “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.”

The facts speak for themselves, but Mr. Simpson suggests that anyone supporting people who most need help and who deserve the benefits they paid for must be dishonest or stupid. (Greedy Geezers, Pink Panthers, People not caring a whit about their grandchildren, the lesser people) Such open contempt goes beyond the pale and cannot be tolerated from someone in such a position of authority.

The National Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO) works in coalition with many other campaigns to prevent misleading and false attacks on Social Security. Forty-five percent of women over age 65, who live alone, do so in poverty. Women, who earn less on average for the same work as men, are hit again upon taking Social Security benefits; due to lower lifetime earnings, women receive on average less than $12,000 per year in Social Security benefits, while men receive nearly $14,000.

Further, women are not living longer in retirement (low-income minority women have seen decreases in life expectancy), and cannot continue to work more years in physically difficult or demanding jobs. Social Security is not an overly generous program helping all seniors live out luxurious retirements. Social Security provides a base level of replacement income for older Americans who can no longer work, and any cuts to benefits, either in the form of smaller checks or by raising the retirement age, will hurt all generations, forcing more and more Americans back into poverty.

It may be good politics to have such an enemy to play off of heading into November, but Mr. President, it is time for you to stand up for the millions of American workers who have paid into Social Security on the promise of a secure retirement, and put them ahead of political sportsmanship. Mr. Simpson must be removed from this commission, either by his own will, or by yours. Show American workers you mean what you say about protecting Social Security. This is your chance.

[Honeycombe8]

7. I'm not sure I believe that. Do you have an objective news source cite?

It's all well and good to get the dander up to post something from a blog. I read them, watch Olberman and Rachel, etc., etc. But when choosing to get angry at individuals over quotes that are reported to have been made by them (example: "quotes" by the controversial mosque leader), I like to rely on objective news sources, like CNN and such. A blog isn't good enough. If it were, I'd be no better than those Repub sheeple who believe every silly e-mail they get about Obama being a secret muslim who was born in Kenya. (Example: You can actually watch a quote on TV where Obama says he's a muslim. For real. And then you can watch the expanded quote, where he corrects himself. He meant to say "Christian." It was a speech slip.)

[jeanpalmer]

8. Simpson was chosen precisely because

he wants to cut SS. He has been hostile to SS for a long time. Obama certainly was aware of the hostility when he picked him.

What Simpson doesn't tell people is he was in Congress when Congress raided the trust fund and he didn't raise an objection. They took $2.5 trillion out of SS and spent it on war and weapons and other pet projects. And now the money is gone. And he wants to impose higher taxes and cut benefits so they can raid it some more. Use it as a piggy bank to reduce the deficit. Obama has gone along with the plan. If he had any balls or principle, he would already have stood up and said "this is wrong." But he's going along with the con.

[suffragette]

13. OWL was founded in 1980

http://www.owl-national.org/Policy_Issues.html


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Older_Women%27s_League
Mission

As the only national grassroots membership organization to focus solely on issues unique to women as they age, the Older Women’s League (OWL) strives to improve the status and quality of life for midlife and older women. OWL is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that accomplishes its work through research, education, and advocacy activities conducted through a chapter network. Now in its 29th year, OWL provides a strong and effective voice for the more than 70 million women age 40 and over in America.



Ashley Carson is OWL's Executive Director.

Here's a link to a PDF of her testimony before the Fiscal Commission:
http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/meetings/public-forum/6/Ashley_Carson_6_30_2010.pdf

Here's a link with the information on what occured as well as a direct link to the email from Simpson:
http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001IP2wby2XJMJJDVoEnPo607v6b7jf259W8Xjm4WYYd8-VZsjdJ1imobZFZKkZ-BCxFdKfa-ISoovbzXi4HqJ2EXp1f_5lnPGsSEsZ7ARtH9hVt0IsL24sK4y1Fl2eAfYW876Q8m-f1wocVHTTU1X8_N2t8X6f5MB46Fh3ITamOyzchyZH9mgFv8CMvzd3s-sMHzVhriy_9fc%3D

Additional women's organizations such as NOW have joined with OWL in calling for Simpson to leave:
http://now.org/press/08-10/08-25b.html

And you can go to google news to see the reportage on this from news sources such as ABC.

I look forward to your reply acknowledging that you believe this happened now.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[enough]

9. This is so over the top, even for Simpson, that I'm wondering if it's real.

If it is, he has to go.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

10. You don't know Alan Simpson,. do you?

This is perfectly in line with the man, his attitude, and his politics. He has always had a sharp, ugly tongue.

[enough]

11. I guess you are right. I see that he has apologized for the remark, which means

that he did say it. How this guy can still be on the Commission is beyond me.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. How the hell did he get ON the Comission?

That is the real question. The man has a long-standing dislike of government programs and spent his career trying to dismantle as many as possible -- and Obama thought it was a good thing to appoint this fucker??? :crazy: :mad:

[Bluenorthwest]

12. Simpson draws a huge Pension as a former Senator

paid for, of course, by you and me, the taxpayer. And he has the gall to say this? Obama needs to fire him at once.

[denimgirly]

14. The Sad truth is many on DU will support the WH when Obama proposes SS cuts next Year.

We've seen this before. DU gets upset when we find something that preludes into a broken promise by the WH. When the WH comes clean and indeed wants to do evil them many on DU will begin to support the president. I still think Obama plans some SS cuts and possible raising the age on it and will only come out with it after the mid terms. Let's hope i am wrong but if not, please stay tuned and watch several DU members become new supporters for SS cuts.

[IndianaGreen]

17. Cat Food Commission should be disbanded outright

Unelected group of mostly opponents of Social Security and Medicare will stick their collective knives on seniors while keeping the 75 wars we are currently involved in one way or another humming along.