Schakowsky: GOP goal remains cutting Social Security

“I think it would be hard for Cantor and Ryan to deny that they aren’t planning to cut Social Security in order to satisfy their base,” she said, referring to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.). “I think this was clearly a signal sent to [the base], that we are not going to leave Social Security unscathed.”

Schakowsky continued to press a liberal attack on comments Cantor made this week that Social Security “cannot exist” in the future. Cantor’s office has said he misspoke.

Asked about this, Schakowsky said “it might be some sort of Freudian slip where Cantor revealed what he really thinks.”

“People are entitled to their own opinions, but not to their own facts,” Cantor spokesman Brad Dayspring said. “With all due respect, what the congresswoman is saying is simply untrue — Eric has made clear for months that he is committed to ensuring the long-term viability of these programs by addressing their solvency issues now.”

“What’s indisputable is that doing nothing — which seems to be the position of the president, his party’s leaders, and Congresswoman Schakowsky — will ensure these programs remain on a path to bankruptcy, resulting in a debt-fueled economic crisis,” he added. “We should be able to debate different solutions for preserving Social Security and Medicare for future generations based on intellectual honesty, not demagoguery and fear campaigns. If the congresswoman and Democrats wants to hold press events about linguistics or syntax, that’s her prerogative, but outside of Washington, Americans want to hear the truth about our fiscal situation and what their elected leaders are doing about it.”

Dayspring also pointed to another Cantor statement that clarifies that he does think changes to entitlements need to be made.

“Republicans in the House are going to look to the budget coming out of Paul Ryan’s Budget Committee that will deal with entitlements. We’re going to put it out there,” Cantor said.

“We’re going to say we’re protecting today’s seniors and those nearing retirement. But for those of us 54 and under, we’re going to insist to go and deal with the fact that if these programs are going to be around, they’re going to have to look a lot different. That’s the plain and simple fact of it,” he added.