September 12, 2012

News Release

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare will launch one of the largest grassroots educational campaigns in its long history of defending programs vital to millions of Americans. Beginning on Friday, September 14th with a National Pledge Day, National Committee Representatives in cities and towns across the country will stage rallies and activities to encourage voters to sign pledges promising to vote only for candidates who will preserve Social Security and Medicare benefits for current and future generations. As the pledge drive continues throughout September and October, the campaign will also include voter education sessions led by local and nationally recognized experts, a six-figure paid media campaign including radio, on-line and mobile billboard advertising, door-to-door canvassing, new national polling, tele-town halls, social media outreach and an expanded grassroots field operation.Pledge Day events will be held in 14 cities gathering signatures nationwide.

The Truth Tour Campaign will utilize many of the strategies from the National Committee’s Fall 2011 “Hands Off – No Cuts” campaign which is credited with helping stop the Congressional Super-Committee from including cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid in any debt/deficit reduction proposals.The Truth Tour will launch in the key battleground states of Ohio and Virginia on Friday, September 14th.

Ohio, September 14-15: Entertainer Jon Bauman, best know as “Bowzer” of the group Sha Na Na, turns 65 on September 14th. He’ll mark his birthday by enrolling in Medicare and urging Ohioans to get the truth about candidates’ plans for the future of vital programs serving millions of American retirees. The Truth Tour mobile billboard truck will also be on hand as Bauman visits Ohio events in Marietta and Canton on September 14th with additional stops in Cincinnati, Dayton, and Toledo on September 15th.

The full schedule is available at TheTruthNow.org.

Virginia, September 14: NCPSSM President/CEO, Max Richtman, will join Virginia seniors at a National Pledge Day event in Richmond urging Virginians to make it clear to candidates that Medicare and Social Security benefits are vital to the future of generations of Americans.

“This election will likely define the future of the nation’s social insurance safety net. The differences between most candidates in races from the White House to Congress on the future of Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid are stark. However, those policy differences are often hidden behind poll-tested language in which “save” means slash and “protect” means privatize. It’s no wonder so many Americans, especially seniors, aren’t sure what to believe. This national Truth Tour is designed to provide all voters with the facts. There are differing plans for the future of these programs — which serve virtually every American family. Explaining how these plans could impact the middle-class is key to our voter education strategy.”…Max Richtman, NCPSSM President/CEO 

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The National Committee, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization acts in the interests of its membership through advocacy, education, services, grassroots efforts and the leadership of the Board of Directors and professional staff. The work of the National Committee is directed toward developing better-informed citizens and voters. 

Media Inquiries to:
Pamela Causey 202-216-8378/202-236-2123
Kim Wright 202-216-8414