Evolving positions
Title: Dating
Sponsor: Too Extreme for Colorado
Message: Rick O’Donnell once wanted to eliminate Social Security and now wants to privatize Social Security.
Fact: In February 1995, O’Donnell wrote an essay advocating the elimination of Social Security.
In the article for American Citizen, a publication of Newt Gingrich’s Progress and Freedom Foundation, O’Donnell wrote: “As we bury the rest of the welfare state in preparation for the 21st century, it is time to slay the largest government ‘entitlement’ program of all, Social Security.”
O’Donnell, who was 24 at the time, says his views have matured and he now wants to fix – not abolish – Social Security. He also says he does not support privatizing Social Security. His campaign website states: “We must protect our retirement by putting our Social Security where workers can watch it grow – in their own personal Social Security lockbox – and Congress can’t spend it.”
Some equate personal accounts as a euphemism for privatization of Social Security. But O’Donnell said he does not support accounts that would allow workers to divert their payroll tax out of the Social Security system and into a privately owned and operated 401(k)-type fund.
– Christopher N. Osher
