Republican Congressional candidate Elise Stefanik walked off camera today during her own press conference after a reporter asked her to provide specific details about her record on Social Security and her plans to change the program. According to WNYT Stefanik “repeatedly offered talking points” and when “pressed for details, Stefanik abruptly ended the question and answer session.” The report shows Stefanik walking off camera and literally running away from reporters’ questions.
“Elise Stefanik is literally running away from her record on Social Security,” said Marc Brumer of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Elise Stefanik helped write the Republican platform that calls for privatizing Social Security, but now that she wants to be in Congress she’s so desperate to run away from her record on the issue that she’s walking off camera at her own press conference.”
BACKGROUND:
Served as Policy Director of the Republican National Convention Platform Committee. In July 2012, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus announced Elise Stefanik as the Policy Director of the 2012 Republican National Convention Committee on Resolutions, commonly known as the Platform Committee. Stefanik’s title is listed as the “Policy Director” in the “Platform Staff” section of the 2012 Republican Platform document. [PR Newswire, 7/02/12; 2012 Republican Platform, 09/12]
Platform Supported Privatization of Social Security. In 2012, the Republican Platform said younger workers should be given the option of “personal investment accounts as supplements to the system.” [New York Times, 9/04/12]