DNC:Death of a Sales Pitch: Bush Is a Uniter After All...Soc. Sec.

[madfloridian]

http://www.democrats.org/news/200502240001.html

IN THE BLUE STATES – NO TO BUSH

"Saying they have yet to see a detailed plan, many members of Congress are withholding public comment on President Bush's drive for private Social Security accounts. But apparently the public isn't.

"Pennsylvania's congressional members have received 10,000 phone calls this week through an AARP advertisement that ran in newspapers across the country, an official with the group said."

"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."

IN RED STATES – NO TO BUSH
"Lawmakers uncommitted to the Bush plan make it clear this will not be easy…

"Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., said his constituents like the president, but they are quick to caution him: 'Now don't you go supporting him automatically just because you're a Republican and he's a Republican. Remember, you represent us.'"

"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 Gingrey.

"'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.'"

"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.

[Kikosexy2]

1. I guess...

people actually see a rip-off scam here--everybody finally woke up from the dead??

[reichstag911]

2. Nope,...

...it's just that when things are explicitly economic, and the repugs can't frame something as a "cultural" or "moral" issue, they're going to lose. Even the tax cuts had to be framed as "Don't you think you deserve to keep your own money?" That was irrespective of the fact that most people will ultimately suffer a decline in net worth due to GW's tax cuts.

[The_Casual_Observer]

3. Selling a bogeyman deal like Iraq is a lot easier than reaching

in to somebody's wallet while it is still in their pocket. chimp was way too overconfident or being pushed really hard by his controllers on this one.

[cthrumatrix]

4. I still think this is just a "decoy" for "tax raise"..... watch him!

[Guaranteed]

5. Yup, this issue is a WINNER for us, as long as we have the guts

to stand up against Bush.

[FreedomAngel82]

6. I agree

Bush probably thought people will automatically go with his plans just because he "won." And like someone else said, he can only go so far with "moral values" on this issue. Maybe people will wake up on other things as well. One can only hope.