Can you say "Flop"? Sure you can!
The Republican's peddling of Social Security Deform is meeting with less-than-stellar responses. The DNC has been kind enough to collect stories from papers throughout the country, demonstrating, well ... demonstrations, disagreement, and disgust. Darn!
This is a post of a complete press release, without a whit of analysis. It's a tiny bright light of hope in an otherwise depressing news day, and I thought it was worth sharing.
Death of a Sales Pitch: Bush Is a Uniter After All
During the President's Day recess, the Washington GOP leadership coordinated a nationwide blitz to build local support for Bush's plan to privatize social security. But Republican Congressional members were told again and again in these local meetings that Bush's proposal is a mistake. Some GOP members, fearing a backlash, have refused to hold any meetings at all.
"Republican leaders in Congress, faced with the political reality that there is little grass-roots momentum behind President Bush's plan to overhaul Social Security, are planning to spread out across the country next week to try to build a constituency for change - and to take a watchful measure of voters' response. GOP leaders are encouraging rank-and-file members to hold town hall meetings in their home states and districts during next week's congressional recess, arming them with briefing books, PowerPoint presentations and a video of Bush making the case for major changes in Social Security." [LA Times, 2/19/05]
GOP Senators Went Home to Angry Constituents
Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA): Encounters Skepticism and Hostility Across the State. "At two stops*the Pennsylvania Republican [Rick Santorum] encountered skepticism and hostility as he voiced his support for the White House plan* He was heckled by protesters, called a liar, and told that his views were unconscionable. Those sentiments ranged across the age spectrum." According to the Harrisburg Patriot-News, Santorum "is having trouble convincing the people who he says would gain the most: Young adults." [Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/23/05; Harrisburg Patriot-News, 2/24/05]
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA): Admits GOP Plan Will Do Nothing to Save Social Security. "'How is the privatization of Social Security going to cure the problem?' Donna McCoy of Newton asked Grassley, the Republican who leads the Senate Finance Committee and will be among those crafting legislation. 'It isn't going to, is the short answer,' said Grassley. But, responded McCoy, 'If it's not going to save Social Security, why are we doing it?'" [Reuters, 2/23/05]
Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO): Allard Prescreened Questions at a Public Event in Fort Collins. At a public event at Fort Collins High School featuring Senator Allard, questions were pre-screened. "'I was very disappointed that they screened the questions,' senior Chris Linas said, noting he was frustrated that the Young Republicans chose to select specific questions rather than allowing an open discussion." [Fort Collins Coloradoan, 2/24/05]
Republican House Members Faced the Same Wrath
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN): Pence Faces Criticism; Says He Might Need "Flack Jacket." "Fred Davis, 63, lost a pension when the company where he worked for 30 years filed bankruptcy. He invested in a 401(k), but lost thousands of dollars when the stock market dropped three years ago. 'I disagree with what is going down here,' said Davis, about President Bush's proposal to reform Social Security. Congressman Mike Pence acknowledged he might need a 'flack jacket' to protect against criticism over possible changes in Social Security benefits. * Davis got applause when he told Pence that there would be more workers paying into Social Security if trade policies had not sent so many jobs overseas." [The Star-Press (East Central Indiana), 2/24/05]
Rep. Chris Chocola (R-IN): Provokes Hostile Response In Discussing Social Security Deficit. "A roomful of people listened politely as U.S. Rep. Chris Chocola, R-Indiana, spoke Tuesday about his recent visits to Afghanistan and Pakistan. But when the topic turned to Social Security, the gloves came off. 'By 2018, Social Security will pay out more than it takes in,' he told the packed administration building in Beverly Shores. 'The Social Security fund needs $10.4 trillion to achieve solvency.' Hands shot up and questions erupted along with accusations about how the fund ended up with such a deficit. [The Northwest Times, 2/23/05]
Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA): Interrupted, Staff Booed At Town Hall Event. As Rep. Jack Kingston, the Republican congressman from Savannah, "swung through the area to continue a series of nine town-hall-style meetings on Social Security," he faced tough audiences. "At Armstrong Atlantic State University, the subject caused a crowd of 200 to become rowdy. Questions were shouted out. The congressman was interrupted. And one of Kingston's assistants was booed when she announced an end to the hourlong discussion." [Savannah Morning News, 2/22/05]
Rep. Rob Portman (R-OH): Bush's Friend: The President Should Provide Specific Plan on Social Security. "'The Bush administration doesn't have a specific plan yet,' said Portman. 'I'm starting to think it would be better if he gives us a specific proposal, although usually I like more running room.'" [Cincinnati Post. 2/24/05]
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV): Capito Refuses to Show Bush Social Security Video, Not Pushing Constituents to Support Bush Plan. "'I'm looking at it but I'm not sold on it,' [Capito] tells an audience at the Randolph County Senior Center. 'I'm listening but I'm not pushing.'* Capito remains noncommittal throughout the meeting, to the point of deciding not to use the videotape of Bush discussing Social Security provided to her by the White House. 'If I'd had the video it would have seemed a little campaigny,' she said." [AP, 2/22/05]
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas): Most of Brady's Constituents Oppose Privatization. "[Brady's] two trips in Montgomery County Tuesday encountered many people who aren't in favor of significantly altering the program, especially when it comes to diverting a portion of the current payroll taxes into private accounts." [The Montgomery County Courier, 2/23/05]
Rep. Phil Gingery (R-GA): Gingery's Constituents Leave Meetings with Doubts. "In Smyrna, Ga., C.W. Driskell, 74, declared himself 'not completely sold' on private accounts after a town hall meeting with his congressman, Republican Phil Gingery. 'Bush is basing the amount of money they'll earn on what investors made in the '90s,' Driskell said. 'Those were the good years. I've made nothing in stocks in the last five years.'" [LA Times, 2/24/05]
Fearing Backlash, Some GOPers Wouldn't Even Hold Meetings
Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-MI): Schwarz and Other Michigan Republicans Avoiding Town Meetings, Admit Most Michiganders Oppose Bush's Plan. "And Michigan's congressional Republicans are nowhere in sight. They are sitting this one out for now, even though they got marching orders from the administration and GOP leadership to talk up the president's plan while they are home with Congress in recess this week. They've seen the numbers suggesting their constituents aren't thrilled about overhauling the popular program. 'From all the polling data I've seen, a majority of people don't favor the private accounts,' said freshman U.S. Rep. John (Joe) Schwarz, a Battle Creek Republican." [Detroit Free Press, 2/24/05]
Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC): Refuses to Hold Town Meetings on Social Security. "Such wariness appears widespread. Rep. Walter B. Jones Jr. (R-N.C.) is home with constituents this week but is not holding meetings on Social Security 'because we've been getting a steady inflow of opinions' -- mostly opposing the president's plan -- said his spokeswoman, Kristen Quigley." [Washington Post, 2/24/05]
So what's a blogger to do?
- Capture the momentum by writing letters to the editor - Today!
- Go to one of the Social Security town Hall Meetings being held by the Representative from your state.
- Keep talking.
- Keep blogging.
- Street theater.
- Artwork.
- Music.
- Arrange a gathering in your neighborhood, town, or city.
- Get creative and get active.