While it is clear that we need to make some adjustments to protect Social Security for the long term, it is disingenuous to say that the trust fund is facing a crisis.

While Social Security faces some long-term challenges, the system is not in crisis.

The real sin with Social Security is that it's a long-term rip-off and a short-term scam.

I think it's very important not to confuse the importance of dealing with Social Security in the long term with these short-term deficit reduction challenges. They're different issues.

Social Security was intended to be a guarantee to American workers: it will be there, and it will be there for everyone. We have kept that promise for 70 years, and we can continue to do so if we take time once again to make thoughtful, bipartisan adjustments to the system. It is a pact worth keeping.

I do not believe that the Social Security system is in crisis.