Todd Akin Attacked For Social Security Views 'Far Out Of The Mainstream'

New Ad Accuses Republican Senate Candidate Of Gambling With Seniors' Retirement Plans
FILE - In this May 17, 2011 file photo, Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., announces his candidacy for U.S. Senate, in Creve Coeur, Mo. Democrats have their thumbs heavily on Republican scales in Senate primaries in Missouri and Wisconsin this summer, hoping to tip the balance and improve their own chances of maintaining a majority in November. The idea isn't as far-fetched as it might sound. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
FILE - In this May 17, 2011 file photo, Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., announces his candidacy for U.S. Senate, in Creve Coeur, Mo. Democrats have their thumbs heavily on Republican scales in Senate primaries in Missouri and Wisconsin this summer, hoping to tip the balance and improve their own chances of maintaining a majority in November. The idea isn't as far-fetched as it might sound. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

A new ad released Monday by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee accuses Missouri Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) of endangering seniors' retirement plans by supporting the privatization of Social Security.

"Congressman Todd Akin has a plan for your retirement: work longer," a narrator says as a hunched-over, elderly worker punches his timecard. "Akin would undermine Social Security."

The 30-second spot, which will run in Missouri, centers on comments that Akin made during a March 2011 appearance on CSPAN's "Washington Journal."

"I don't like it," Akin said on the TV show. "I didn't design Social Security. It actually came from Bismarck. FDR put it in place."

During a Senate debate earlier this year in Missouri, Akin agreed with his GOP primary opponents that younger employees should be able to move their Social Security payments to private investment accounts. In 2005, Akin co-sponsored a bill that would have established a similar system.

The DSCC ad claims that Akin's Social Security scheme would "benefit Wall Street" -- the same financial services industry that has given more than $400,000 to Akin, who is challenging Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) in November. Democrats allege that privatizing Social Security would lead to massive windfalls for Wall Street due to the management fees associated with private investment accounts.

In a news release Monday, DSCC spokesman Matt Canter called Akin's views on Social Security "far out of the mainstream," a charge echoed in the ad's closing screen.

Watch the ad below:

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