New calls arise for Simpson’s firing

Pressure on the White House increased Thursday as Democrats urged President Obama to sack former GOP senator Alan Simpson as co-chairman of the president’s fiscal commission over controversial comments Simpson had made to a critic. 

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and North Carolina Senate candidate Elaine Marshall (D) each voiced their support Thursday for Simpson’s firing in spite of a statement from the White House that he would remain in his position.

{mosads}Simpson has come under fire for comments he made Monday in an e-mail to a critic, which included comparing the Social Security system to “a milk cow with 310 million tits.”

He later apologized. The White House responded Thursday that “while we regret and do not condone his comments, we accept [Simpson’s] apology, and he will continue to serve.”

Later in the day, however, Nadler and Marshall fired back, arguing Simpson should be let go.

“Alan Simpson’s remarks were disrespectful to women and to Social Security recipients,” Marshall said in a speech Thursday in Charlotte, N.C. “He should resign or the president should fire him.”

Nadler released a statement Thursday afternoon.

“We cannot trust the integrity of any product or recommendations of the Commission as long as former Senator Simpson is the Chairman,” Nadler wrote, calling Simpson’s comments “insulting,” “outrageous,” “contemptuous,” “offensive,” “ignorant,” and “misleading.”

“He should be fired immediately,” the statement added.