Joe Biden for the first time on Saturday addressed criticism from Senator Bernie Sanders' campaign over the former vice president's record on Social Security. Biden criticized the Sanders campaign for pushing a video he describes as "doctored" that appears to show Biden agreeing with former Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan's stance on privatizing the program.
READ ALSO:
Ebonyi Killings: Senate Issues Directive To New IGP, Usman Baba
Speaking at a town hall in Indianola, Iowa, on Saturday, Biden fielded a question about his stance on Social Security from an audience member.
READ ALSO:
How Man Allegedly Rap-ed An Orphaned Salesgirl For Over 4 Hours In Abuja | READ DETAILS
"Let's get the record straight. I'm not gonna blame anybody, but, well let me just say the facts: There's a little doctored video going around ... put out by one of Bernie's people ... saying that I agreed with Paul Ryan, the former vice presidential candidate, about wanting to privatize Social Security," Biden said.
READ ALSO:
President Trump Unveils $1,000 Investment Account for All Babies Born Between 2025-2028
Biden noted that Politifact determined the video takes his comments out of context and said his campaign will show the full video.
READ ALSO:
OH NO! Ex-BBNaija Housemate, Sir Dee Loses Mom
"It is simply a lie, that video that is going around," Biden also said. "And ask anybody in the press. It's a flat lie. They've acknowledged that. This is a doctored tape. And I think it's beneath him, and I'm looking for his campaign to come forward and disown it."
READ ALSO:
Trump Speaks Out: Why U.S. May Join the Israel-Iran War | READ DETAILS
Watch: For the first time @JoeBiden criticizes @BernieSanders campaign for pushing video comparing Biden and Paul Ryan's stances on social security. Biden says its "beneath" Sanders' campaign and hopes that they'll "disown" it @cbsnews pic.twitter.com/SxOqE8VThd
READ ALSO:
Why Madagascar Soldiers Refused Orders to Shoot Protesters | WATCH VIDEO
At issue is a video of Biden speaking at the Brookings Institution in April 2018 that's been widely shard by Sanders supporters and campaign staffers. The 20-second-long clip shows Biden apparently saying Ryan was "correct" about Social Security.
READ ALSO:
How I Survived When Everyone Else DiedÔÇØ - Lone Survivor of Air India Crash Speaks
"Paul Ryan was correct. When he did the tax code, what's the first thing he decided we have to go after?" Social Security and Medicare," Biden says at the beginning of the clip. "Now, we need to do something about Social Security and Medicare. That's the only way you can find room to pay for it."
READ ALSO:
"Abia Saw Light in 2023, Not Ready to Return to EgyptÔÇØ - Ubani Declares Otti Unstoppable in 2027
Ever since Paul Ryan 1st proposed paying for Trump's tax breaks to the top 1% by cutting Social Security & Medicare, I've been proud to be by @BernieSanders side fighting against it.
READ ALSO:
EXCLUSIVE: Messi 'happy' leading Barca revival but PSG a reminder of what could await
To hear Biden say "Ryan was correct" to go after Social Security & Medicare is soul-wrenching. https://t.co/kfZz9qlqJd
READ ALSO:
WHY Police Arrested Akon in Georgia Revealed: Full Details Emerge
The Politifact article Biden cited on Saturday labeled the claim that he was agreeing with Ryan false. Biden's campaign said the former vice president was in fact mocking Ryan in those comments.
READ ALSO:
Dr. Chima Anyaso Hosts Namibian Governor, Strengthens Africa's Economic Partnerships
The article also points to what Biden said after that 20-second clip, when he stated, "We need a pro-growth, progressive tax code that treats workers as job creators, as well, not just investors; that gets rid of unprotective loopholes like stepped-up basis; and it raises enough revenue to make sure that the Social Security and Medicare can stay."
READ ALSO:
Security is Everything: Governor Otti Declares as He Hosts New GOC, 82 Division Nigerian Army
It is worth noting that despite Biden's repeated use of the words "doctored" and "fake," the video is neither of those things. While the former vice president's comments were taken completely out of context and the Sanders campaign's framing of his words is misleading, the 20-second-video itself is real and unaltered.
READ ALSO:
Ebonyi Killings: Senate Issues Directive To New IGP, Usman Baba
The Sanders campaign online for weeks now has been prodding Biden into this fight over his record on Social Security, as they point to numerous videos as evidence the former Delaware senator was open to making cuts to the program in order to balance the federal budget.
READ ALSO:
How Man Allegedly Rap-ed An Orphaned Salesgirl For Over 4 Hours In Abuja | READ DETAILS
"I tried with Senator Grassley back in the '80s to freeze all government spending, including Social Security — including everything!" Biden says dramatically on the Senate floor in a 1995 C-SPAN video.
READ ALSO:
President Trump Unveils $1,000 Investment Account for All Babies Born Between 2025-2028
Another video, shared recently by a Sanders campaign speechwriter, shows Biden on Meet the Press in 2008 while running for president saying he would "absolutely" look at ways to tinker with the costs of Social Security like raising the retirement age.
READ ALSO:
OH NO! Ex-BBNaija Housemate, Sir Dee Loses Mom
After Biden's campaign-trail response on Saturday, the Sanders campaign was quick to release a statement saying Biden should "stop trying to doctor his own public record of consistently and repeatedly trying to cut Social Security."
READ ALSO:
Trump Speaks Out: Why U.S. May Join the Israel-Iran War | READ DETAILS
"The facts are very clear: Biden not only pushed to cut Social Security — he is on tape proudly bragging about it on multiple occasions," Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir said in a statement.
READ ALSO:
Why Madagascar Soldiers Refused Orders to Shoot Protesters | WATCH VIDEO
The Sanders campaign has been making a concerted effort in the lead up to the Iowa caucuses to try to chip away at Biden's support among senior citizens. Nearly 40% of all Democratic voters over the age of 65 say Biden is their first choice, according to CBS News polling.
READ ALSO:
How I Survived When Everyone Else DiedÔÇØ - Lone Survivor of Air India Crash Speaks
Biden also took the opportunity on Saturday to lay out his proposal for Social Security.
READ ALSO:
"Abia Saw Light in 2023, Not Ready to Return to EgyptÔÇØ - Ubani Declares Otti Unstoppable in 2027
"I have been a gigantic supporter of Social Security from the beginning," Biden said before breaking down his plan.
READ ALSO:
EXCLUSIVE: Messi 'happy' leading Barca revival but PSG a reminder of what could await
"What I'm proposing, and we'll get it done, is that everybody making over $400,000 will have to pay the same percentage you're paying if you're making $60,000," Biden said. Doing so, according to Biden will allow for larger to payouts to the "super elderly," prevent massive drops in payouts to someone whose spouse has died and make Social Security solvent for younger generations.
READ ALSO:
WHY Police Arrested Akon in Georgia Revealed: Full Details Emerge
Cara Korte contributed to this report.
