For Immediate Release   

Retirees Launch TV Ads on McCain Social Security "Disgrace" Comments

Wilkes-Barre Ad, Wednesday Protest to Coincide with McCain Visit

Washington DC - The Alliance for Retired Americans today launched a television advertising campaign to respond to a recent statement by Senator John McCain that Social Security is "a disgrace." 

The issue ads will run this week in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Clarks Summit PA, coinciding with a McCain visit to Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.
 
The Alliance, working with area seniors and community groups, plans a protest event on Wednesday to spotlight Senator McCain's position on Social Security.

Who:   Alliance for Retired Americans and Labor 2008
What:   Seniors and Working Families telling John McCain is WRONG about Social Security
Where:  Public Square in Wilkes-Barre (where Main St. and Market St. meet)
When:  Wednesday, July 23rd at 10:30am
Contact:  Adam Swope at 202-341-7821

Click here to view the advertisements.  The three-day heavy ad buy will run during shows popular with older audiences.  The Alliance hopes to run similar ads in other cities in the coming weeks. 

"Forty Two million Americans receive Social Security benefits - these are our nation's elderly, our widows and widowers, and our young children who have seen a parent die.  Helping them is not a disgrace.  Social Security has kept millions out of poverty, and is one our nation's greatest success stories," said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans.

Speaking at a July 7 town hall meeting, Senator McCain said, "Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today.  And that's a disgrace. It's an absolute disgrace, and it's got to be fixed."

According to Jean Friday, President of Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans,  "Senator McCain's disparaging remarks toward Social Security - as well as his support for throwing a privatized Social Security system on the roulette wheel of Wall Street - show a lack of understanding of the challenges facing retirees in Pennsylvania and across the country."

Last week media accounts revealed that despite Senator McCain's views toward Social Security, he received $23,157 in Social Security benefits in 2007, an average of $1,929.75 each month.

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Contact:  Marcie Kohenak

For Immediate Release                 

Alliance for Retired Americans to Continue Airing Ads Until Senator Apologizes;
Western Pennsylvania Buy Coincides with McCain Visit Saturday

Washington, DC - The Alliance for Retired Americans is bolstering its television advertising campaign responding to Senator John McCain's statement that Social Security is "a disgrace" with a three-day heavy ad buy beginning tomorrow in Western Pennsylvania.

The issue ads will run tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday in Altoona, Johnstown, and Washington, PA, coinciding with McCain's visit to Washington on Saturday.
 
Click here to view the advertisements, which will run during shows popular with older audiences. The Alliance plans to run similar ads as Senator McCain visits other cities in the coming weeks. 

"The forty-two million Social Security recipients are our nation's elderly, our widows and widowers, and our young children who have seen a parent die - helping them is not a disgrace," said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans. "Since Senator McCain has so far refused to apologize for his comments, we will continue to tell Americans how he really feels about Social Security until he does."

Speaking at a July 7 town hall meeting, Senator McCain said, "Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today.  And that's a disgrace. It's an absolute disgrace, and it's got to be fixed."

The Senator previously advocated for Social Security privatization in an interview appearing in the March 3 edition on The Wall Street Journal, where he said, "As part of Social Security reform, I believe that private savings accounts are a part of it -- along the lines that President Bush proposed."

Yet, media accounts have revealed that despite Senator McCain's views toward the program, he received $23,157 in Social Security benefits in 2007, an average of $1,929.75 each month.

According to Jean Friday, President of Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans, "Senator McCain's disparaging comment toward Social Security - and his support for throwing a privatized system to the whims of the stock market while the costs of gas, groceries and health care are already out of reach for many Keystone State retirees - shows a lack of understanding of the challenges faced by seniors in Pennsylvania and across the country."

For digital copies of the advertisement suitable for broadcast or for complete transcripts, please contact Marcie Kohenak at (202) 637-5178 or mkohenak@retiredamericans.org.