WTF??? At least that was my reaction when I first heard the phrase during tonight's "town hall" meeting hosted by Congressman John Shadegg. The event was held this evening in an elementary school auditorium in central Phoenix. I was attending thanks to some last minute e-mails circulated from a local progressive group. This get-together was not widely advertised, but obviously significant, and apparently part of broader initiative for Congressmen to float the Administration's proposal during the current recess. Well, if Representative Shadegg hoped to find out which way the wind blows; he got more than he bargained for.
It was not more than a minute into John Shadegg's PowerPoint presentation than a slide popped up quoting Bill Clinton in 1999 as advocating new revenues for Social Security, including investment options. The crowd visibly stirred. A few slides later and Congressman Shadegg announced that the best way to "save" Social Security was the creation of `Moynihan Personal Accounts.' The audience became audibly restive. The slide included a brief quote from Senator Moynihan regarding personal accounts (never mind that his proposal was "
in addition" to existing Social Security provisions). This slide was quickly followed by another, quoting FDR in a 1935 speech, saying that Social Security "should be supplanted by self-supporting annuity plans . . . ." The crowd audibly groaned and several people started shouting that this quote was taken "out of context."
Is it not telling that in order to push forward the dismantling of Social Security, the right must reach out to the most-trusted icons on the left? They must resort to twisting the words of these honored men, in order to attempt to cloak their agenda in righteousness and disenfranchise the very people these men were dedicated to helping? Well, this crowd was not going for it. They were incensed. One by one, the queue of questioners lined up on either side of the auditorium. Each one of them, Republicans and Democrats both, stood before the Congressman and voiced their disenchantment with his current proposal, the compounding of current deficits to pay for the ill-conceived plan, and their disgust with someone using only Democratic quotes to justify the plan. "Where are Bush's quotes," asked one incensed member of the audience. "You only have Democrats up there, where is Bush?" Where indeed?
Not a single person this evening was pro-privatization, despite a core group of Shadegg supporters which loudly applauded support for the Congressman. I came away from the experience thankful for the dedication and support of those who came tonight to defend our parents and children from the specter of poverty. I was renewed through their dedication and support and I know that this was a loud message to our Congressman on where we - the people - stand on this issue. To one and all - never give up, never say die, together we are strong . . .