Clark Campaign Slams Michele Bachmann on Medicare/Social Security

From the Tarryl Clark campaign:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 10, 2010

BACHMANN SAYS TIME TO ‘WEAN EVERYBODY OFF’ SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE; CLARK SAYS TIME TO BRING AN END TO THE BACHMANN AGENDA

Clark joined by seniors, workers to say no to Bachmann’s efforts to pull the plug on their retirements

State Senator Tarryl Clark, joined by Minnesotans who have spent a lifetime paying into Social Security and Medicare, today launched a grassroots effort to stop the Bachmann agenda to end Social Security and Medicare.

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, speaking to the conservative Constitutional Coalition’s annual conference in St. Louis, Missouri this weekend, called for an end to Medicare and Social Security, saying we must “wean everybody off.”

“What Congresswoman Bachmann is talking about, plain and simple, is bringing an end to Social Security and Medicare,” says Clark. “Michele Bachmann has decided to yank the proverbial retirement rug out from under her constituents – just when it’s needed the most.”

Millions of Americans have seen their retirement savings vanish during the economic downturn. The money they’ve paid into Social Security over a lifetime of work represents the last hope for retirement for many - but Bachmann’s suggestion that Americans be “weaned off” would bring many hard-working Americans dreams of a retirement to a screeching halt. More than 55 million Americans depend on Social Security, and 46 million depend on Medicare.

“We’re offended by the suggestion that Americans should be “weaned off” their own retirements,” continued Clark. “It’s your money. From the day you took that first job, you’ve been paying into Social Security and Medicare, but now Michele Bachmann wants to pull the plug on the retirement you’ve worked your whole life for.”

“Michele Bachmann has long been the enemy of retiring Americans,” said Clark, citing Bachmann’s opposition to Medicare’s prescription drug benefit, votes against Medicare, and support for privatizing Social Security. “Time and again, she has pursued her personal agenda at the expense of her constituents. But her latest plan to bring an end to Social Security and Medicare is just too extreme for Minnesotans.”

Clark announced a petition drive on her website, www.tarrylclark.com, inviting Minnesotans to join her efforts to “Stop the Bachmann agenda to end Social Security and Medicare.”

“We’re sending Congresswoman Bachmann a message: your personal agenda to kill Medicare and Social Security ends here,” concluded Clark.