Wednesday 21 September 2011

Perry and the Elderly

Is Rick Perry anti-old people? His book “Fed Up!” has come under fire for some less than appealing remarks concerning pillar issues for senior citizens. He described Social Security as an “illegal ponzi scheme” (hello Bernie Madoff!) and that Medicare was unconstitutional. An American Dream without a safety net for the most disadvantaged and hard-done by? Surely not…


Recently the Perry campaign has sought to put some distance between the candidate and his book. Communications Director Ray Sullivan made clear that the book “is a look back, not a path forward” and that it should be read “as a review and critique of 50 years of federal excesses, not in any way as a 2012 campaign blueprint or manifesto.”

 However, it surely can’t help when the candidate responds to an Iowan voter by saying: “Have you read my book, 'Fed Up!'? Get a copy and read it.” Another problem is that the book was published in the Autumn of 2010 so it’s unlikely that Perry has made any genuine departures, from what his campaign team believes, are vote-losing opinions. Looks like Perry won’t be getting many votes in the nation’s largest retirement home then. Not good since Florida is ‘wot one it’ the last time a Republican reached the White House.