Ron Wyden: “Thank you. What Senator Brown has illustrated again is the differences between the two parties on Social Security and…”

“Thank you. What Senator Brown has illustrated again is the differences between the two parties on Social Security and Medicare, and my colleague was kind enough to go back to my past as codirector of the Oregon Gray Panthers. Ever since those days, the difference between the two parties has been that on our side of the aisle, we are very blunt when we get asked about Social Security and Medicare. As Senator Brown just said, on our side, we make it clear that Social Security and Medicare are a guarantee. They are not a voucher. They are not something that is going to be thrown to the private market. They are a guarantee. What we hear from our colleagues on the other side is sort of a word salad, but it nearly always involves a statement about how much they want to protect Social Security, but then we hear a lot about privatization, about portability, about investment. It is anything but what you just heard Senator Brown say; that Medicare and Social Security are not something to be privatized; they are about a guarantee. And we should make no mistake about it, seniors, others who are eligible for the programs have earned these benefits. They have earned these benefits. And yet, somehow, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle and candidates don't get what the programs are really all about.…”