McCain and Obama Discuss Social Security to AARP

September 6 - Today, both candidates for President discussed Social Security at AARP's Life@50 conference.

Obama said:

"I believe it is the wrong approach if we are increasing the retirement age... if we want to cut benefits... [or] raise the payroll tax on all workers because people are already struggling.. [but] folks [making over $250,000] can afford to pay a little bit more. It will not close the entire gap, but it goes a long way to closing the gap and then we can work with the Republicans and other members of Congress who have good ideas to close the gap entirely. But my commitment and my pledge is that anybody who is investing in social security - they are going to get their full benefit."

"I'm committed to protecting and preserving Social Security... and I won't hand off to an unluckier generation a system that is broken, I promise you that... [I] have my own principles that say we shouldn't be raising taxes on people... retirees and those close to retirement ought not be affected... there ought to be a role for private investment accounts for workers as long as they are not a substitute for ensuring the solvency of the system... we must be committed to having a government that solves the problems Americans face, and I will do so with willing partners on both sides of the aisle."