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Candidate Positions on Social Security

The following positions reflect those used for each candidate in the Select A Candidate survey. They come from the candidates; public statements, Web sites, and responses to Minnesota Public Radio questionnaires. In some cases, candidiates have failed to respond to inquiries, and their position is noted as "No known opinion."

Question: Do you favor the concept of privatization of Social Security to any degree?
Bob BarrBob Barr ANSWER OPTION: Yes
 CANDIDATE'S POSITION: Barr voted in 1999 to allowing private retirement accounts within social security, and for reducing the tax payments on social security benefits. [Source:On the Issues] (More Info)

John McCainJohn McCain ANSWER OPTION: Yes
 CANDIDATE'S POSITION: According to the Wall Street Journal, McCain supports "'supplementing' the existing full Social Security system with personally managed accounts. Such accounts wouldn't substitute for guaranteed payments, and they wouldn't be financed by diverting a portion of Social Security payroll taxes." (More Info)

Ralph NaderRalph Nader ANSWER OPTION: No
 CANDIDATE'S POSITION: Nader said in a 2004 interview that "it's a solvent system until 2052, and with very minor variations can be good for another century..." (More Info)

Barack ObamaBarack Obama ANSWER OPTION: No
 CANDIDATE'S POSITION: While saying "everything is on the table" when asked about keeping Social Security solvent, Barack told ABC's George Stephanopoulos on 5/12/07 that "privatization is not something I'm interested in.

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