At a press event in Omaha, GW Bush spoke to people about Social Security reform. This is a portion of the transcript where he displays utter ignorance about what it means to be an overworked, undepaid, single mother. This is our President -- someone who doesn't understand personal economics.
Mary's with us, Mary Mornan (ph). How are you, Mary?
MARY MORNAN (sp) (single mother): Hello. I'm fine.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Good. Okay, Mary, tell us about yourself.
MS. MORNAN (sp): Okay. I'm a divorced single mother with three grown adult children. I have one child, Robbie, who is mentally challenged, and I have two daughters.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Fantastic.
First of all, you've got the hardest job in America, being a single mom.
MS. MORNAN (sp): Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) It is.
PRESIDENT BUSH: You and I are Baby Boomers.
MS. MORNAN (sp): Yes. And I am concerned about -- that the system stays the same for me.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Right.
MS. MORNAN (sp): But I do want to see change and reform for my children because I realize that we will be in trouble down the road.
PRESIDENT BUSH: An interesting point, and I hear this a lot, you know. You just heard her say, will the system be the same for me? And the answer is absolutely. One of the things we have to continue to clarify to people who have retired or are near retirement -- you fall in the near retirement.
MS. MORNAN (sp): Retirement, yeah. Unfortunately, yeah.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, I don't know. I mean, you know, I'm not going to tell your age, but you're one year younger than me, and I'm just getting started. (Laughter.)
MS. MORNAN (sp): (Laughs.) Okay. Okay. (Applause.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: Huh? I feel great, don't you?
MS. MORNAN (sp): Yeah, I do.
PRESIDENT BUSH: I mean, when I turned 50, I used to think 50 was really old. Now I think it's young and getting ready to turn 60 here in a couple of years and I still feel young. I mean, we are living longer and people are working longer, and the truth of the matter is, elderly Baby Boomers have got a lot to offer to our society and we shouldn't think about giving up our responsibilities in society. (Cheers, applause.)
Isn't that right.
MS. MORNAN (sp): That's right.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yeah. But nevertheless, there's a certain comfort to know that the promises made will be kept by the government.
MS. MORNAN (sp): Yes.
PRESIDENT BUSH: And so thank you for asking that. You don't have to worry.
MS. MORNAN (sp): That's good because I work three jobs and I feel like I contribute.
PRESIDENT BUSH: You work three jobs?
MS. MORNAN (sp): Three jobs, yes.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that. (Applause.)
MS. MORNAN (sp): Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Get any sleep?
MS. MORNAN (sp): Not much.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yeah?
MS. MORNAN (sp): Not much.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well hopefully this will help you get your sleep to know that when we talk about Social Security, nothing changes.
MS. MORNAN (sp): Okay.
PRESIDENT BUSH: (Laughs.) Yeah, that's great.
MS. MORNAN (sp): Thank you.
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