Conservative radio host Howie Carr on Thursday grilled New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on his proposed cuts to the social security program, and the debate quickly devolved into a shouting match.
Carr began the interview by telling Christie that he’s concerned about “illegal aliens” getting social security benefits. Christie assured Carr that he would roll back President Obama’s executive actions on immigration if he were elected president.
The two then launched into a heated debate over Christie’s proposal, which would reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for individuals who exceed a certain threshold of retirement income. Christie also proposed raising the retirement age.
Carr lamented that when he began paying into the Social Security system, the rules were different.
“I’m older than you are. I’m 63. I started paying into this program when Lyndon Johnson was president, right? Nobody said anything about means-testing,” Carr told Christie, according to an audio clip highlighted by Business Insider. “You’re proposing what amounts to a bait-and-switch, aren’t you? I mean, what’s the difference between this and Bernie Madoff?”
“There’s a big difference, Howie. Because if what you want is to have a massive social security tax increase and you want to pay that, then vote for a Democrat,” Christie responded. “I don’t believe that’s what the American people need or want.”
After Carr quizzed Christie more about the specifics of his proposal, Christie said that he was merely delivering “hard truths.”
“These are hard truths, Howie. I’m sorry to have to bring hard truths onto your air. But the fact is that the Social Security system will go broke if we don’t make changes, or have massive tax increases,” he said.
Carr then lamented that “all the sacrifices are being asked of the people who played by the rules.”
Christie disagreed and said that “it’s a choice between sacrifices.”
“You are raising taxes on the American people. … You’re parsing words here,” Carr said, beginning to raise his voice.
“What’s your solution, Howie? What’s your solution? It’s going to go broke, what’s your solution?” Christie hit back.
After Carr and Christie yelled over each other a little bit, Carr complained that he was promised money from the Social Security system.
“Yeah, because nothing like that has ever happened before,” Christie responded.
“That’s your excuse?” Carr asked.
“No,” Christie answered. “I’m dealing responsibly with the problem. You’re complaining and putting forward no solution. That’s your right, you’re a radio talk show host, you don’t have to come forward with solutions. But your questions have to have some — some — degree of realism to them.”
Listen to the clip here.
