The Social Security Political Game
A few items from the past two days regarding the “political game” surrounding the Social Security Phase-Out.
The Washington Post reports on the tactics we can expect to see in the coming weeks:
White
House allies are launching a market-research project to figure out how
to sell the plan in the most comprehensible and appealing way, and
Republican marketing and public-relations gurus are building teams of
consultants to promote it, the strategists said.
The
campaign will use Bush's campaign-honed techniques of mass repetition,
never deviating from the script and using the politics of fear to build
support — contending that a Social Security financial crisis is
imminent when even Republican figures show it is decades away.
Of
course, there are several Congressmen who are still not buying
it. Steve Soto of The Left Coaster points out that this debate
over Social Security could be the springboard the Democratic Party
needs:
By using Social Security as a springboard, Democrats can begin making
their case in each district for reform, fiscal sanity, and a smart and
efficient foreign and national security policy.
Soto points to a few sitting House Representatives who are particularly on the political hot seat in regards to Social Security:
Iowa 1-Jim Nussle, who is very strong but may run for Iowa
governor in 2006; a strong Democratic push on Social Security now in
his district may help him make up his mind. Nussle also has nearly 70,000 Social Security retirees in his district, making his district third out of state’s five districts.
Iowa 2-Jim Leach, who is levelheaded and moderate but
nonetheless votes with Bush way too much. Again, at the very least he
should be pressured to vote against Bush’s privatization plan through a
strong Democratic effort now.
In addition, Tom Latham and Steve King represent districts that are rapidly aging and have real concerns about the health of the Social Security system.
We
should also work to make it clear that supporting a Social Security
phase-out would be the end of Terrace Hill ambitions for Mr. Nussle.
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