Obama Interviews With AARP Prime Time Radio
Source: AARP Press Center
October 27, 2008
Contact: Drew Nannis 202-434-2560 anannis@aarp.org
Washington, DC – AARP Prime Time Radio today interviewed presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama. With just seven days left until Election Day, recent AARP/Divided We Fail polls show that 60 percent of swing voters say they are interested in learning more about the candidates’ positions on the issues that matter most to them. Prime Time Radio’s interview helped to spotlight these issues during these critical last days of the election cycle.
In his nearly 20 minute interview Prime Time Radio’s Mike Cuthbert asked Senator Obama questions about the nation’s top domestic issues such as how he plans to fix the economy and how he plans to address the rising costs of health care.
Senator Obama on health care:
“It’s very important that we go after the rising costs of health care and prescription drugs. It’s a huge outlay for [older Americans].
“Health care is the biggest drag on our economy. We’re consistently seeing increases of six, eight, ten percent in health care inflation. No one’s income and wages go up that fast. The fact is that unless we get a handle on health care inflation then there’s no way we’re going to be able to handle the increase burden of Medicare especially as the baby boomers begin to retire.”
Senator Obama on Social Security:
“Social Security, structurally, is much more sound that Medicare is. If we do nothing with Social Security then the system won’t go bankrupt or collapse. What will happen though is that you’ll have a hidden reduction of benefits over time…We’re going to have to make an adjustment. The way I think we should make that adjustment is by raising the cap on the payroll tax…The sooner we act on that the better we’re going to be.”
Senator Obama on sacrifice:
“Higher income Americans like myself who are making more than a quarter million dollars…can afford to go back to the Clinton tax rates…Energy is another example where we’re really going to have to take the steps to be more energy efficient as a nation…each of us individuals are going to have to be more mindful of how we use energy.”
To listen to the full interview visit www.aarp.org or www.shaarpsession.org, AARP’s blog.
AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50 + educators; and our website, www.aarp.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
