Republicans Just Can't Play It Straight on Social Security

As the public continues to reject President Bush's reckless plan to privatize Social Security, the Republican leadership is instructing House Republicans heading home for the Fourth of July not to discuss with their constituents the trillions of dollars needed to finance Bush's scheme. Instead of focusing on the specifics of their privatization proposal, Republicans are being told to talk about "values" instead of "numbers and money."

"There they go again. Every time Republicans are confronted with unfavorable facts, they fall back on their well-worn strategy of deception, deflection and distraction," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Josh Earnest. "The American people, though, have some bad news for the Republican message mavens. Polls show the more Americans learn about President Bush's Social Security plan, the more they see it for what it really is: a blatant attempt to line the pockets of his Wall Street backers at the expense of ordinary American workers' retirement security. Americans have had enough hollow talk about values from Republicans; they're ready for leadership in Washington that actually values their future."

Republican Leadership Instructing House GOPers Not to Talk About High Costs of Privatization. "Polls show that the party is also struggling with how to sell any change to Social Security -- especially to those at or near retirement age, even though they would not be affected by the plans being discussed. At a conference meeting, House Republicans were given a one-page sheet of pointers about discussing Social Security over the Fourth of July recess, and were urged to talk about values, not 'numbers and money.' The sheet is titled 'Winning Social Security Reform -- Messages for Voters 55+.'" [Washington Post, 6/30/05]