Simpson's Social Security Outburst May Upend Fiscal Commission

Getting a size 15 shoe out of his mouth is proving difficult for Alan Simpson, the head of President Obama's deficit commission.

Advocates for older people and Social Security benefits continue to call for Simpson's ouster because of derogatory remarks about the retirement program.

"It absolutely craters the credibility of the commission," said National Organization for Women (NOW) President Terry O'Neill, who calls for his immediate firing. "And it shoots the credibility of Barack Obama."

Simpson, a Republican senator from 1979 to 1997, made his disparaging remarks in an e-mail to National Older Women's League head Ashley Carson, a strong supporter of Social Security benefits. "... [Y]es, 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!" Then he added, "Call when you get honest work!"

The e-mail from the outspoken Simpson has provoked petitions, letters and other calls for his dismissal from the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. President Obama appointed him co-chairman of the panel, which is expected to make recommendations to Congress in December about how to tackle the looming deficit crisis.

Edward Coyle, head of the Alliance for Retired Americans, on Tuesday joined the chorus opposing Simpson.

"There is not a judge in this country that would allow Alan Simpson to serve on a jury if Social Security were on trial," Coyle said in a release. "Co-chairing a presidential panel is serious business. Much like serving on a jury, it requires a fair, balanced and honest evaluation of the evidence. By this reasonable yardstick, Alan Simpson has disqualified himself from serving on this commission."

David Blank, spokesman for the Alliance for Retired Americans, says a public backlash just might get the White House to fire Simpson.

But the White House and the fiscal commission both have said Simpson will stay on the job. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said they regret that he sent the e-mail. "We don't condone those comments. But Senator Simpson has and will continue to serve on the commission."

Fred Baldassaro, spokesman for the commission, echoed those remarks and said, "Commission members care deeply about strengthening Social Security, and the commission's work continues."

Simpson interrupted a vacation visit to Yellowstone National Park to offer an apology to Carson. He admitted his mistake was a "doozy" and invited her to talk in person. "I know you care deeply about strengthening Social Security, and so do I, just as deeply," he said in an e-mailed letter to her.

But Carson is skeptical. "Mr. Simpson has a consistent, decades-long pattern of degrading language to and about women and seniors, and his contempt for Social Security is well known. Given that the deliberations are taking place behind closed doors and being led by a man who continues to demonstrate he lacks both the judgment and temperament to lead, it is more clear every day that any recommendations will not be taken seriously by Congress or the American people," she said.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., also wrote to President Obama to question the commission's effectiveness under Simpson. They wrote that "in order for your commission's recommendations to have credibility with Congress, we respectfully urge you to remove Senator Simpson from the commission."

Social Security is likely to figure into the discussions of the commission as they search for ways to put the nation's budget back into balance. Some conservatives point out that Social Security is financially unbalanced over the long-term as boomers retire and fewer workers pay into the system. Advocates for Social Security say it's a benefit that people have paid for with payroll taxes and shouldn't be used to fix budget woes caused by other programs.

Before retiring as a senator in 1997, Simpson chaired the Social Security subcommittee. He also served on a previous panel on entitlement reform. "He's well known as a person who would just as soon dismantle the Social Security system," said O'Neill of NOW.

NOW plans to get its point across to the White House by delivering loads of baby bottle nipples along with a petition asking that he be removed as commission chairman. They call it their "Tits for an Ass" campaign.

Tamara Lytle is a veteran Capitol Hill reporter.