American seniors are concerned about essential retirement issues including Social Security and Medicare, and there is not nearly enough discussion of these topics in upcoming presidential debate, AARP said Friday.
The upcoming debate between candidates incumbent President Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney need far more focus on these issues, AARP said.
“We are dismayed that the outline for the October 3rd debate omits any mention of Social Security and Medicare,” AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said. “Any meaningful discussion of the economy and this year’s election has to include the future of these critical retirement security programs.”
Topics for the first debate were announced this week, including three segments on the economy and remaining segments on health care, the role of government, and governing.
“Our research shows that voters age 50-plus are driven by economic anxieties that extend well beyond the single issue of jobs. For these voters, ‘retirement security’ and ‘financial security’ are largely the same thing,” LeaMond said. “They overwhelmingly think the candidates have not done a good job of explaining their plans on Social Security and Medicare, and say that learning the candidates’ plans to strengthen these programs will help their presidential voting decision.”
Older Americans want more information about the candidates’ plans for strengthening retirement security, AARP says, and do not feel their concerns have been addressed.
The first debate will air on October 3.
Written by Elizabeth Ecker
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