toledoblade.com --

COLUMBUS - Returning to battleground Ohio for the first time since losing the state's March 4 primary, likely Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama yesterday used a retirement home as the backdrop for his call for higher Social Security taxes on wealthier Americans.

At the same time, he promised there would be no cut in Social Security benefits, no increase in the retirement age, and no income taxes on the first $50,000 collected in Social Security benefits.

He attacked Republican opponent John McCain for supporting private individual retirement accounts that could be invested outside the Social Security system, an idea that failed to gain momentum when President Bush proposed it several years ago.

"Privatizing Social Security was a bad idea when George Bush proposed it. It's a bad idea today,'' Mr. Obama told an invitation-only, mostly white group of 40 senior citizens at Oakleaf Village in north Columbus.

"It would eventually cut guaranteed benefits by up to 50 percent,'' he said.

"It would cost $1 trillion that we don't have to implement on the front end, permanently elevating our national debt," he said. "And most of all, it would gamble the retirement plans of millions of Americans on the stock market.

"Imagine if your Social Security right now were tied up in Dow Jones,'' he said.

The event was Mr. Obama's first campaign appearance with Gov. Ted Strickland, formerly a supporter of Hillary Clinton. Mr. Obama's wife, Michelle, later headlined a Cincinnati fund-raiser on behalf of her husband when his campaign took him to Philadelphia.

Mr. McCain has been back to Ohio three times since the state helped put him over the top in GOP delegates on March 4.

Mr. Obama has proposed subjecting all income over $250,000 to Social Security payroll taxes. Currently, Social Security taxes are applied only to the first $102,000 of income.

"Most middle-class families pay this tax on every dime they make, while millionaires and billionaires are only paying on a very small percentage of their income," he said.

Rob Portman, a former White House budget director and Cincinnati congressman, called Mr. Obama's plan to subject wealthier Americans to higher payroll taxes "a dangerous course."

"This will not provide the needed stimulus to the economy or create the jobs needed," the Republican said. "It will seriously risk further weakening our economy."

To date, Mr. McCain has provided few specifics on how he would ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security as retiring Baby Boomers task the system at a greater rate than younger workers pay into it. He has, however, generally endorsed the concept of private retirement accounts.

"His personal belief is that it is not necessary to raise taxes to [ensure Social Security's solvency],'' said Doug Holtz-Eakin, Mr. McCain's senior economic policy advisor. "He sees a role for private investment accounts as part of Social Security, but not as a substitute for taking on the fundamental challenges of the system.''

The intimate retirement home setting, in which audience members were outnumbered by members of the media, was a departure from the massive rallies Mr. Obama held on Ohio college campuses before the March primary election. Mr. McCain has challenged Mr. Obama to a series of small town-hall meetings, and Mr. Obama said he is looking forward to debates.

"When it comes to Social Security, he may want to finish the debate with himself first," said Mr. Obama.

The first time that Republican Bob Hinebaugh, 75, voted in a presidential election, he cast his ballot for Dwight Eisenhower. He has never voted for a Democrat, but he said he believes a change may be necessary this year.

"I'm not saying I'll vote for [Mr. Obama], but I do think he has some very good ideas," he said. "We've got to weigh this out very carefully, but he was very impressive. He said a lot of things I like."

The Republican, who lives near Oakleaf Village, did not commit to voting for him, but that didn't stop Mr. Obama from declaring him to be an "Obamacan."

Contact Jim Provance at:
jprovance@theblade.com
or 614-221-0496.

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