NEWARK, N.J. — Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama criticized Republican John McCain’s approach to Social Security on Saturday, saying it would undermine the government program aimed mainly at retirees. McCain said he would preserve Social Security.
Both candidates spoke via satellite to a gathering of the AARP, the nation’s largest group of older Americans.
Obama said McCain’s campaign has suggested trimming Social Security benefits, raising the eligibility age and privatizing a portion of the program.
“Privatizing Social Security was a bad idea when George Bush proposed it, and it’s a bad idea today,” Obama said.
McCain said repeatedly that he did not favor privatization of Social Security.
“I’m committed to protecting and preserving Social Security,” he said. “I will protect and preserve it. I won’t hand it off to an unluckier generation — a system that is broken.”
