Social Security opponent Ron Paul admits he receives benefits (VIDEO)

GlobalPost

Texas Rep. Ron Paul admitted he collects Social Security benefits despite declaring the federal program "unconstitutional" and urging younger generations to opt out of it.

Appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Paul was asked by Huffington Post’s Sam Stein whether he should set an example and opt out himself.

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Paul refused that notion and compared the program to other common goods such as the post office, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“Just as I use the post office, I use government highways, I use the banks, I use the federal reserve system, but that doesn’t mean you can’t work to remove this in the same way on Social Security,” he said. “In the same way with Social Security, I am trying to make a transition."

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Just minutes earlier, Paul said: "I want young people to opt out of Social Security, but my goal isn't to cut."

Later on in the show he revisited the topic again, saying, "I would preserve Social Security as best I can, but we want to get off," according to the International Business Times.

Paul is an outspoken opponent of government programs like the Federal Reserve and the departments of energy and education. But he has said he would not eliminate programs like Medicare and Social Security, even though he believes they are unconstitutional, The Huffington Post reported.

The congressman remains in the GOP presidential race but is no longer actively campaigning. If elected, he has said he planned to allow citizens under age 25 to opt out of Social Security in order to save their own money for retirement, according to The Huffington Post.

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