In Montana, Bush Faces a Tough Sell on Social Security

[ET Awful]

LLINGS, Montana, Feb. 4 - Nowhere is the challenge facing President Bush on Social Security more apparent than here, at an open meeting held by Senator Max Baucus on Friday, the day after the White House road show rolled through Montana.

Mr. Baucus, the senior Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, was sounding the alarm against Mr. Bush's core idea - allowing younger workers to divert part of their payroll taxes into private investment accounts. "All this talk you hear about private accounts," he told a standing-room-only audience of several hundred here, "it really has nothing to do with the solvency of the Social Security trust fund. In fact, it makes the solvency of the Social Security trust fund much worse. Much worse."

The anxiety and confusion were palpable in the crowd, which was composed mostly of retirees - the very group assured by Mr. Bush, again and again, that they would not be affected. Why change the program so fundamentally, several asked. Sylvia Stugelmeyer, a retired courthouse worker, declared: "I'm against the privatization of Social Security. It was put into a trust for us many years ago, and I hope to God it stays that way."

Doris Lundin, 77, asked, "How much money has the government spent from Social Security and put in i.o.u.'s?" As the audience applauded, she added, "And why can't they pay it back?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/06/politics/06baucus.html?hp&ex=1107666000&en=c3e212bccc9c0c09&ei=5094&partner=homepage

He sure has a way of pissing off the elderly don't he? :)

[blue neen]

1. The elderly should be pissed off.

They don't trust him on this, and why should they? He's LYING!

There is no reason to change the program so fundamentally.

[ET Awful]

2. I know, it's just nice to see the older generation tell him to get bent.

He understinmates their willingness to stand up for what's right.

[blue neen]

4. Agreed!

It's great to see him get his comeuppance with seniors. Many of those of them who voted for him are surely very sorry now! :)

[calimary]

7. I know one little old lady in my neighborhood who is.

She's fighting mad about it. Used to identify herself flatly as "I always vote a straight republi-CON ticket..." But yesterday when I drove her to her hair appointment, she started in on what a betrayal it is, and THEN she added "I don't know WHAT I am, Democrat or republi-CON or what..."

I see the faithful are wavering. If she is, you can BET others are. BIGTIME. But frankly, I'm surprised that so many elderly people allowed themselves to be fooled by this SOB. I mean, they're old enough to have been around the block a few times and seen more than a few snake-oil salesmen. They should know better.

[coloradodem2005]

3. A lot of the Elderly went to Bush.

What do they have to complain about? They wanted them. They can have him and all the baggage that goes with him.

[yellowcanine]

5. And how insulting was it for Bush to promise no cuts if you are over 55?

As if the seniors are only worried about themselves. Maybe they care about the next generations as well, chimpy.

[blue neen]

6. Good point.

My husband is 57, but he's still pissed off because I'm 49 and have been paying into this all of my working life! Now this Bozo comes along and wants to change the entire ball of wax. No way!