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Pure comedy.
Russert: Well, in 1995, when you were advocating that position, you were asked how would you balance the budget if we had a constitutional amendment...
Dean: Yeah.
Russert: ...calling for that, and this is what Howard Dean said. ?The way to balance the budget, [Gov. Howard] Dean said, is for Congress to cut Social Security, move the retirement age to 70, cut defense, Medicare and veterans pensions, while the states cut almost everything else. ?It would be tough but we could do it,? he said.?
Dean: Well, we fortunately don?t have to do that now.
Russert: We have a $500 billion deficit.
Dean: But you don?t have to cut Social Security to do that.
Russert: But why did you have to do it back then?
Dean: Well, because that was the middle of?I mean, I don?t recall saying that, but I?m sure I did, if you have it on your show, because I know your researchers are very good.
Russert: Well, Miles Benson is a very good reporter for the Newhouse News.
Dean: Yes, he is. No, no, no. I?m sure I did. I?m not denying I said that. I have...
Russert: But you would no longer cut Social Security?
Dean: But you don?t?no. I?m not ever going to cut Social Security benefits.
Russert: Would you raise retirement age to 70?
Dean: No. No.
Russert: Would you cut defense?
Dean: You don?t have to do that either. Here?s what you have to do. You got to get rid of the tax cuts, all of them, and then you have got to restrict spending.
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