The flamboyant (some would say plain nutty) co-chair of President Obama's Fiscal Commission, Former Republican Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming, who became an instant You-Tube star earlier this summer with a rant against senior citizens, is at it again big-time.
Evidently smarting mightily -- and mighty belatedly -- from an April 27th Huffington Post blog by Ashley Carson, Executive Director of the Older Women's League (OWL), Simpson fired off an email Monday. He accused Carson of lying and "babbling into the vapors about disgusting attempts at ageism and sexism and all the rest of that crap." Piling on the sexist rhetoric, he then instructed her to read a graph which "I hope you are able to discern if you are any good at reading graphs."
Declining to address whether or not he accepts his own Social Security benefit (he's pushing 80), Simpson saves the best for last: "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!" Signed incongruously "Al."
Wow.
After verifying that the email did indeed come from Simpson, Susan Scanlan, Chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations (representing over 200 women's groups), along with Carson and OWL President Donna Wagner, returned the fire with their own missive -- to President Obama.
Even though they acknowledge that he may indeed serve as a good foil in an election year, the groups are calling for Simpson's removal, either by his own actions or the President's. Correctly pointing out that women are the main recipients of Social Security and that cuts would sink more of them into poverty, the letter flatly tells Obama that this is his chance to show American workers that he means what he says about protecting Social Security.
And the women are right. The facts do speak for themselves when it comes to older women, the largest group of elderly who live in poverty. Not to mention that older women in low wage jobs which are often physically demanding, have actually seen a decrease in life expectancy. These are the folks who would find it hardest to continue working more years if the retirement age is raised.
In closing the groups tell the President that "Mr. Simpson suggests that anyone supporting people who most need help and who deserve benefits they paid for must be dishonest or stupid. Such open contempt . . . goes beyond the pale and cannot be tolerated from someone in such a position of authority."
Will Obama listen? Who knows -- after all, those women's groups who advocate for progressive policies might be considered part of the"professional left."
But Obama also knows that women are -- and will continue to be -- the lion's share of voters. The gender gap is here to stay. It's up to the President to prove he stands with the majority that elected him.
Richard (RJ) Eskow: "310 Million Tits" -- If Simpson Doesn't Resign, the President Must Fire Him
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/allison-kilkenny/alan-simpson-totally-luck_b_700293.html
I hate to say it but...Told you so. Math really is indisputable.
Hey, sorry to break it to ya, WE'RE ALREADY LIVING THAT RIGHT NOW.
pshaw..'boomers'. One would think the sun rises & sets just for you.
Mr. Simpson's remarks shows just how out of touch most politicians are. And, he's made his bundle of dough, living off the dole of our tax dollars. Hypocracy, thy name is Republican.
Older women that jump off buildings have a lower life expectancy, too.
Physically demanding jobs lower life expectancy in humans. You don't need to cherry pick to make the point.
He was a mean spirited hack then, and still is today. He deserves no place on any commission, and his mere presence is an affront.
Fanned.
This was a crude remark, no doubt. But calling for the resignation of this guy sounds so much like the performance officer Obama was to put in place as a campaign promise and then reneged on it.
Unless someone is in there to police the thieves in the beltway, we are sunk as a nation.
Some women’s rights activists are apoplectic about this comment, but do not publically denounce the ground zero Mosque. Wow.
I have personally seen the elderly buying pet food...and I know they don't have a pet.
I have also seen them standing in line for their prescriptions...and only buying 1/2 of one, because they can't afford the full one.
Barack Obama needs to do two things today: (1) fire this clown; and (2) make a recess appointment of Elizabeth Warren.
President Obama should fire anyone in his cabinet who has ever worked for Goldman Sachs! Now!!
As to #2, if Obama (actually Geithner, from what I understand) was going to appoint Warren, he would have done so already. You can expect that the announced appointee will be someone beholden to the financial sector and not consumers.
They are waiting for the pro-Warren heat to die down, thinking no one will notice.