Santorum finds many minds made up on Social Security (Boos and Catcalls)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05053/461038.stm

Sen. Rick Santorum launched a 10-stop tour of Pennsylvania yesterday to advocate for changes to the Social Security system, but landed -- even at his very first stop -- at the center of an already-roiling debate about the proposals.

<snip>

But minutes into Santorum's first presentation at Duquesne University, jeers and skeptical questioning arose from a considerable segment of the crowd. Some of the most pointed questions came from older workers whose benefit payouts would not be altered under the president's plan.

A brighter spot for Santorum, though, was that a number of younger participants -- including college students -- said his presentation had sold them on the concept of personal retirement accounts.

<snip>

It was clear from some questions posed by the audience, and especially by the off-microphone mumbling within the crowd, that beneath the opposition to Bush's Social Security plan, anger is still smoldering about the mounting costs of the Iraq war, the $1.9 trillion in tax cuts that Bush aims to increase by making them permanent, and the president's 2003 Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Those concerns led to several outbursts while Santorum was talking yesterday. At one point, when he showed charts illustrating the causes of the nation's rising deficits and referred to discretionary spending on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan as one-time costs, audience members responded loudly with boos and catcalls.

[saltpoint]

1. Yes! This is the most encouraging news I've heard --

-- in a while.

Bush's deceitful plan touted by a vicious monster like Santorum booed and heckled.

Maybe there can be a mid-term pick-up for the Democrats on a few key seats in the Keystone State.

Go, Team.

[RamboLiberal]

3. I'm sitting here watching it on PCN now

and Ricky boy made the excuse when there were boos and catcalls on the war cost that "he forgot he was on a college campus" - the turd!

[ashmanonar]

12. why doesn't he come up here?

i'll give him something to make excuses about. hmm, must find my chain-mail gauntlet. should come in handy.

[radfringe]

15. scuttle-butt in PA

is the Dems are looking to put Bob Casey Jr. up against Santorum..
Official Bio: http://www.treasury.state.pa.us/2005OfficialBio.html


<b>Casey Jr. top candidate for PA Senate race; roundup
by kos
Thu Jan 13th, 2005 at 11:17:27 PST
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/1/13/141727/397</b>

A poll (DSCC, probably) pitting various Democrats against Rick Santorum has generated some buzz in DC political circles. The exact numbers are hazy, but hover in the 52-38 range. The candidates? Bob Casey Jr. at 52 percent, and Santorum at 38. In fact, according to the poll, Casey would beat Rendell in a primary battle. Thankfully, that won't happen as Rendell is firmly focused on reelection to a second term as governor.

Santorum is quite obviously Democratic target numero uno, and there's no doubt that Santorum is far too conservative for Pennsylvania. He belongs more in Oklahoma with Wacky Tom Coburn than in moderate PA.

[blondeatlast]

25. I know Casey is a bit bothersome, but look at the alternative.

Let me know when I can send a little check, willya? :hi:

Think of the psycological boost that would give the Dems, too!

[bluestateguy]

2. What I don't understand is this

if people want "personal accounts", then by all means, go ahead and set one up. Just keep it out of Social Security. Set one up with your own damn money.

[Erika]

4. Exactly

The government has never disallowed private retirement accounts. Go for it anytime. What they need to learn is that SS is a way for those who earn a lot to take care of those in need and in poverty.

[cthrumatrix]

23. see what happens when the crowd is not "hand picked"

[applepicker]

39. With Your Own Damn Money??

Excuse me. Just who's money is it that I'm paying in?

Let me clarify. I am 65 years of age and retired. I am also currently drawing SS which I paid into my entire working life. I also saved and invested my own money the entire time. The difference in what I have available in SS is vastly different to what I have available in my own private accounts. And you want to know the crime? I put far less into my private accounts over the years then I paid into SS. My private accounts will go to my grandchildren upon my death as well unlike my SS which will stay in the government hands. Since it is the money made by the workers of America they should be able to invest a portion as they see fit.

By the way, I am a Democrat, love being a Democrat, and have voted Democrat my entire life.

[wisteria]

5. Social Security

This is positive news, however we have got to reach this younger crowd with a message of our own. I think a lot of these college kids are buying into this plan because they feel they won't be receiving much out of the current plan due to the Baby Boomer's retirement numbers. We should be confronting their fears over SS and explain that SS works not only as a retirement account but also as an insurance policy. It actually offers twice the benefits at a lessor cost.

[cap]

28. young kids arent getting decent jobs out of school

so how will they be making enough to invest? They are living with mom and pop on a Starbuck's income because the Republicans cant get the job machine fired up!

[LibDemAlways]

30. My young adult cousins who grew up

in the Wilkes-Barre area of Northeastern PA have all gone elsewhere (mostly to Wash. DC) to find work. There are no good-paying jobs there, and the population is mostly senior. The local newspaper lists pages and pages of senior citizen clubs and organizations.

The chimp campaigned there repeatedly, and my uncle would send us e-mails about the GOP shills they had to bus in from elsewhere to provide an audience. People in that area know an idiot when they see one.

[Mist]

36. Is there a list somewhere on DU of Sens. and Congressmen

who are holding meetings on Soc. Sec.? Maybe we can e-mail them and remind them to concentrate on the younger people. Ideally, younger spokespersons (aides?) could hold the meetings on campuses.

[Straight Shooter]

6. Someone research those kids, see if they're members of Young Republicans

I just betcha.

[RamboLiberal]

8. Wouldn't surprise me

Duquesne University is an expensive Catholic University in Pittsburgh. Lot of upper class kids go there.

Audience shot showed a number of young white men in suits. Looked like young repukes.

How many kids do you know that go to class in suits on a Monday late morning?

[Divernan]

22. Duquesne has lots of first generation college students

whose grandparents made good living as steel workers thanks to the unions. These kids view turning Republican as upping their social status. It is a very conservative campus, which is hy Santorum would have chosen it. He wouldn't have dared go to Pitt or CMU. So I as pleasantly surprised to hear that Santorum got so much hassle there.

[Born Free]

16. keep the masses fighting now it's young against old

straight against gay, black against white, those with religeon against those that don't, it's all part of the process to keep the working people from working together because they know that if the working classes unite we have the power to straighten America out.

[blondeatlast]

26. Excellent point.

The RW seems to know that nothing is more unifying than a common enemy, so they make certain to pit us against each other.

But I think they bit off more than they could chew with SocSec.

[Desertrose]

34. my thoughts exactly! now they are pitting young against old...problem is

its the younger ones who will get screwed!

edited to add "screwed WORSE"!

[wabeewoman]

38. Exactly

My friends son is an arrogant young repug. When he was telling me about how great the economy is going (he and his wife are both employeed at well paying jobs), he arrogantly announced that his 10 years studying economics (????He is 27) and MBA showed he knew what he was talking about. He is for privitizing social security. And he mocks his parents who belong to unions and paid for this lovely education. His mom and I are old friends and can't figure out how he turned out like this. I think maybe its hard wired into some people. His brother is as liberal as he is conservative. I do not believe most young people are like him. I read before that bush's stragedy was to divide the generations on ss.

[AndyTiedye]

7. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

[lovuian]

9. Throws a Orange and Snoball!!! Lies & more Lies!!!

and young people don't be seduced by the dark side!!!

[GoldenOldie]

10. Young people have little if any knowledge of the SS Program

They really need to be educated as to the full history of it.

Whenever I speak to them, they have no understanding of why it came about and what it is intended to do. And as most young people they can never imagine themselves in a position of not having any income or being able to provide for themselves.

A National study is now being done to give more accurate information of individuals unable to receive life saving medical care due to lack of insurance and personal funds. They are finding that far to many people even though they were highly paid college professionals, with both partners holding high paying jobs, savings accounts, owning homes, cars, etc., and living out the American dream only to have lost everything because of illness which affected their ability to work. Severe illness's affects the ability to work thereby losing income. High costs of medical care depletes the savings and can require mortgaging their homes and utilizing credit cards to the limits.

I have a young nephew who will not take the time to learn and understand the need for the SS program and is adamant about investing his own money. This same nephew at one time made very good money but then came the downtturn of the computer/communication techs, which in turn he lost his home, his wife and paying child support payments for kids that he adores. He argues for private accounts and thinks that SS should be done away with, yet this young man has no scruples about borrowing money from his mother who lives on the Social Security which his father earned prior to his early death.

[Erika]

11. A true unlit bulb

of the conservatives. My sympathy is with you.

[depakid]

13. Ah, to be young, invincible and math impaired

Young people are always more easily duped, due in large part to these qualities coupled with their inexperience and egocetricism.

You would think that college students would have at least some level of skepticim that would lead them to look at the numbers objectively- you'd think they wouldn't like being conned and lied to... but then again, one has to realize that these Reagan babies who've been lied to and had "greed is good" reinforced constatntly throughout their lives.

I see little hope for them- very little- until they suffer personally and have to own up to their mistakes. Even then, as one poster above noted, some still won't get it (although it has to be wondered whther that's not part and parcel to larger character flaws and personality disorders that are prevalent among Republicans in general).

[napi21]

14. Big part of the problem is that no details have been released!

The story sounds good to the youth, but the devil is in the details! Most of the propaganda being promoted is simply not true. SS doesn't earn 1%. It has historicaly earned 6%. Where this 1% crap came from, I have no idea! No one is mentioning the fees associated with these private accounts that will significantly reduce accumulated interest. The SS program is still a great deal for all reciepients, and if you wish to put some $$ in an IRA, 401K, or any of the other tax sheltered options, that's great! There's no reason to screw up SS.

[MSgt213]

17. Ohh, he had pretty colored charts. Now I believe too.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. How Encouraging That Selfish Young People Have Jumped Aboard

So, young people have bought the notion. That's because they're young, don't know anything yet, and aren't examining the long term implications.

Wonder how many young Republicans were surveyed for this question, compared to truly smart students?

Selfish little wankers.
The Professor

[against all enemies]

19. Perhaps they should look at how successful privatization has been in

England. Young people there are taking a beating in their retirement accounts. Do college students research anything anymore?

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Not Young Republicans!

Research is not necessary. They already have EVERYTHING figured out.

That little punk on Saturday's Washington Journal needed the stuffing beaten out of him.

If he's representative of YR's, and i think he is, we should put them all in a big rocket and launch them to a different star system.

There are bad, bad people, looking to run the world in a bad, bad way.
The Professor

[Mandate My Ass]

27. I tend to doubt the veracity of this article

IIRC, that crackerjack piece of journalism was printed in a Scaife rag and they're trying to make it sound like the only people carping are those that wouldn't be affected by the change, but those that would simply love the idea. Propaganda, pure and simple.

Of course anything in possible in this state. In the Alabama section of PA they came out in droves to vote for that dolt.

[RamboLiberal]

35. For the umpteenth time here on DU - this not the Scaife rag

This is the Pittsburgh Post Gazette - the Scaife rag is the Tribune Review!

[wildwww2]

31. I wonder how much they were paid? Where did Santorum ship them in from?

Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[No Mandate Here.]

21. Similar response in Johnstown, too. EOM

[blondeatlast]

24. The Repub PR machine didn't warn them not to piss off Granny?

You go after the old folks and they fight back hard.

Go, granny, GO!

[bleedingheart]

29. I wonder if the younger folks would like to have to live with their kids

when they get older too...

[Viva_La_Revolution]

32. Why does this poor man think...

that his SS would be safer in the stock market than where it is now? Obviously losing two pension plans would be emotionally scarring, but this plan risks the last hope he has of not living on cat food. WTF??!
<snip>
Leo Fitzpatrick, 76, a retired steel worker, who has lost two pensions plans during his lifetime after companies he worked for went bankrupt, said he liked the idea of a personal account that would be in a worker's name and couldn't be taken away. He said the plan could encourage the next generation to save.
<snip>


People are UNEDUCATED! BE THE MEDIA!!

[Neecy]

33. ah, the real world

While the media plays 'scorecard' with Social Security, musing whether or not reform will pass without educating anyone about what these reforms entail, the *real people* of this country respond with boos and catcalls.

Could the repigs be more out of touch than they are now?

[Carl Lloyd]

37. Terrorists and Social Security

Some people say that the terrorists want us to put all of our retirement money into the stock market.

That way, a strike from them can bring down both our present and future financial hopes!

Don't let the governement do this.

We should be furious that they have mismanaged the money and come up short!