Candidates’ reps woo senior citizens

By Bennie Scarton Jr.

Published: October 10, 2008

With less than four weeks until polls open Nov. 4, members of the Greater Manassas AARP, Chapter No. 4759 in Manassas were given the opportunity to learn what the two presidential candidates have in store for them.

Devon Gray, representing Republican John McCain, and Lori Hansen, Ethel Bungard and Curt Burgy, standing in for Democrat Barack Obama, each told the gathering of about 35 people that their party should be elected "to turn this country around."

From the war in Iraq to healthcare reform; from immigration problems to the housing crisis and the state of our economy, each party representative said their presidential candidates have the vision, the ability and the will to bring the change they thought was needed in Washington.

Sandy Novack served as the monitor of the session that took place at the Senior Center in Manassas. She quizzed the representatives on nine issues she said

concerned senior citizens. She asked about the economic bailout, whether Medicare and Social Security should be privatized, how the parties stand on off-shore drilling and how they feel about the war in Iraq.

The war drew the most response from the seniors.

Hansen said Obama wants to end the war and pull out of Iraq within 16 months.

"Obama feels we never should have gone into Iraq," she said.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton can be reached at 703-369-6707.