Rep. Gohmert says Obama using Social Security 'scare tactic' in debt-ceiling debate

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) on Wednesday charged President Obama with using a "scare tactic strategy" by saying he "cannot guarantee" that Social Security checks would go out if no debt-ceiling agreement is reached by Aug. 2.

"Any claim that Social Security checks may not be paid in August has to be from someone who is either very ignorant or very dishonest and trying to scare senior citizens for political gain," Gohmert said. "The Treasury secretary has more than enough money to make the payments.

"[B]y threatening to withhold Social Security checks from Americans, unless he gets permission by Aug. 2 to continue increasing the debt ceiling, President Obama is once again deploying a scare tactic strategy based on a falsehood," he added.

Obama said on CBS News that Social Security payments are at risk without a debt-ceiling agreement. But Gohmert said Social Security's ability to make payments on time in August would be "completely unaffected" by the status of the debt-ceiling talks. He said payments from the Social Security Trust Fund make payments possible for "many months."

"Unless the president and his Treasury secretary willfully withhold Social Security checks to make a political statement, seniors have nothing to worry about," he said. "Instead of being a statesman leader and saying something like, 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,' this president tries to create fear and panic in the American public at every turn."