Palin Defends Perry on Social Security

Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry has taken a lot of heat for his critical comments toward Social Security. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says that Social Security shouldn’t just be jettisoned but that the Texas governor is right to call for reform.

"Well there's no need to frighten or throw under the bus our esteemed elders who have paid all of their working lives into the Social Security system. And the question should be asked of the politicians, where the heck is their money?" Palin said on Fox News.

"What Rick Perry was trying to say I believe is that there needs to be reform. Status quo is not acceptable because these programs are insolvent . . . So he's saying reform is necessary, and we either reform these entitlement programs ourselves or the world capital markets will reform them for us."

Perry’s main competition for the presidential nomination, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, cuts him no such slack. His campaign is passing out a flier in Florida ripping Perry as "reckless and wrong on Social Security."

The flier includes picture of a smiling Romney and one of Perry frowning. "Two candidates. Only one will protect what's important to you," the flier reads. “Rick Perry believes Social Security is a 'failure.' Rick Perry believes Social Security is unconstitutional . . . Rick Perry does not believe Social Security should exist . . . How can we trust anyone who wants to kill Social Security?"