The Social Security Smear Campaign
As we
have seen over the past few years, there is a definite operating
procedure behind selling radical right-wing ideology: when you
fail to make your case to the public, find outside groups to start
running smear campaigns.
In this case, an astroturf seniors group called “USA Next” has brought on some advisors from Swift Boat fame.
Taking its cues from the success of last year's Swift boat veterans'
campaign in the presidential race, a conservative lobbying organization
has hired some of the same consultants to orchestrate attacks on one of
President Bush's toughest opponents in the battle to overhaul Social
Security.
The lobbying group, USA Next, which has poured millions of dollars
into Republican policy battles, now says it plans to spend as much as
$10 million on commercials and other tactics assailing AARP, the
powerhouse lobby opposing the private investment accounts at the center
of Mr. Bush's plan.
“They are the boulder in the middle of the highway to personal
savings accounts,” said Charlie Jarvis, president of USA Next and
former deputy under secretary of the interior in the Reagan and first
Bush administrations. “We will be the dynamite that removes them.”
How
do we become the 'dynamite'? By doing their best to discredit the
AARP on Fox News and right wing websites, apparently. There is a
big rundown (including the anti-AARP attack ads) on the website thereisnocrisis.com.
In the
meantime, just in case the smear campaign doesn't work, it's also time
to start confusing people. The oft-confused Senator Norm Coleman
(R-MN) stated his position very clearly:
Coleman said he was attacked during his 2002
campaign for favoring privatization. “I countered it by being very
clear that I supported personal accounts and opposed privatization,” he
said.
What?
However, Coleman has been very consistent on his use of doublespeak.
Why
can't we hear an honest debate on what the difference is between
“defined contribution” and “defined benefit” plans – which is what this
private account push is all about. It's not about the financial
shape of Social Security any more than its about 'supporting the
troops' or gay marriage.
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