Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
When he endorsed Mitt Romney today, Tim Pawlenty said that he did it in part because Rick Perry wants to "abolish" Social Security. I could be wrong, but I don't think that Perry has said that. Here's how he puts it in an op-ed for USA Today:
By 2037, retirees will only get roughly 76 cents back for every dollar that is put into Social Security unless reforms are implemented. Imagine how long a traditional retirement or investment plan could survive if it projected investors would lose 24% of their money?
I am going to be honest with the American people. Our elected leaders must have the strength to speak frankly about entitlement reform if we are to right our nation's financial course and get the USA working again.
For too long, politicians have been afraid to speak honestly about Social Security. We must have the guts to talk about its financial condition if we are to fix Social Security and make it financially viable for generations to come.
Over at The Examiner, Conn Carroll compares Perry's words with Ronald Reagan's. Not dissimilar.
National Journal writes:
Despite his controversial rhetoric on the popular government program, the Texas Republican continues to lead among his fellow Republicans.
Why "despite"? Why not "because of"? I recognize the political gambit here but I find myself much less drawn to people who equate Perry's comments on Social Security with a call to abolish the program. I also don't cotton to folks who act like Social Security and similar entitlement programs are healthy and to be commended.
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May '10
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
Social Security is neither social nor security. It's a scam that needs to be shut down with finality.
This has nothing to do with your topic, Molly, but I noticed you put up a very flattering photo of Gov. Perry, wrinkles and all. Holy mother of babies! It seems the GOP presidential field will be made up of models what with Romney and Perry being the front runners. Just add Gov. Palin to the mix, and it has become a presidential race of beautiful people.
Dec '10
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.
I also don't cotton to folks who act like Social Security and similar entitlement programs are healthy and to be commended. ·
Indeed. Will the conversation ever move to first principles on these programs? I am tempted to think that making these programs solvent will undermine the positive effects of their conflagration. By positive effects I mean people asking the question of what is the right relationship between the individual citizen and the state. My perpsective is that the state should be dependent on the people, not the other way around.
Dec '10
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
I am extremely annoyed by all the talking heads on TV asking the question "Are Rick Perry's views on Social Security hurting his campaign" as oppose to "Are Rick Perry's view on Social Security correct?"
Personally I was weary of Rick Perry until this. The fact that he is not only unapologetically speaking the truth about SS but also %110 sticking to his guns on the issue is very impressive to me. Even more so with all the "experts" saying that his getting the Republican Nomination would be a shoe in if he would just keep his mouth shut about the issue.
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
Nyadnar17:
Personally I was weary of Rick Perry until this. The fact that he is not only unapologetically speaking the truth about SS but also %110 sticking to his guns on the issue is very impressive to me. Even more so with all the "experts" saying that his getting the Republican Nomination would be a shoe in if he would just keep his mouth shut about the issue. · Sep 12 at 8:03am
I agree. I still have certain misgivings about Rick Perry (e.g. his tendency toward crony capitalism), but the one thing I find refreshing and really love about him is the tenacity with which he speaks the truth about Social Security.
Jul '11
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
Personally, I find the straight talk to be a breath of fresh air. It's one of the two big reasons that I favor Perry (Texas economy is the other).
It may be that Perry is just a savvy politician who knows that this is the right time to play the gambit of taking on the 3rd rail; a Shyster, in Katievs words. Even so, if he makes this an issue, he owns it, and his success as president will be tied to it.
FeliciaB, maybe once Perry has completely 2 wildly successful terms as president, Matt Damon will play Perry in the exciting portrayal of his political career ;)
-E
Edited on September 12, 2011 at 5:14pmJun '10
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
Saying that the present Social Security system can't last, and implying that crooks and incompetents (Congress) designed it that way for political reasons, is like implying that Death Valley has poor snow skiing. I don't see how that hurts him. Most of the public believes it's a ponzi scheme too. They don't all say it. They just want to be on the front end, and not on the back end. Perry is the one that's listening. He's the one that admits his mistakes, and corrects.
Dec '10
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
Perry's big challenge is not his position, but his phrasing. He whiffed this one, as well as the capitol punishment issue a bit in the last debate. He's got to anticipate this will come up again in the next debate, and have more polish to his denunciation of a failed program. Bonus points if he has a clear and precise idea of what will replace it.
Jun '11
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
Diane Ellis, Ed.
Nyadnar17:
Personally I was weary of Rick Perry until this. The fact that he is not only unapologetically speaking the truth about SS but also %110 sticking to his guns on the issue is very impressive to me. Even more so with all the "experts" saying that his getting the Republican Nomination would be a shoe in if he would just keep his mouth shut about the issue. · Sep 12 at 8:03am
I agree. I still have certain misgivings about Rick Perry (e.g. his tendency toward crony capitalism), but the one thing I find refreshing and really love about him is the tenacity with which he speaks the truth about Social Security. · Sep 12 at 8:11am
As a card-carrying entitlement whinger, I must admit to getting a Chris Matthews like "thrill up my leg" hearing Perry utter the "Ponzi" word.
That said, I'm far from sold: Diane notes the state capitalist tendencies. I also worry about his laziness (his debate prep was lackluster) and defensiveness (HPV). Man, I don't know if I can stand another president that mails it in half the time, then gets all prickly when called on it.
Mar '11
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
I've said before on Ricochet that I am all for a Jim Manzi-esque decoupling of social security--essentially privatizing accounts for those who can afford it and keeping a safety net program in place to prevent poverty in old age.
Which is to say, my position is to the right of Perry's: I do want to see the program "ended as we know it".
But here's the challenge to those who would argue that Perry is popular "because of" his Social Security position:
1) What is his plan to reform the system? Haven't heard of or seen his detailed plan. Not on his website. Paul Ryan's plan--which actually is more moderate than the scheme I want adopted, was not so popular with the folks.
2) Let's presume that Rick is 100% correct and that Social Security is nothing but a Ponzi scheme. Why isn't he making the argument that he'll end this immoral transfer of wealth on day 1 of his administration? Is it perhaps because rhetoric scores high with primary voters, but he'd be absolutely doomed in the general if he argued to abolish Social Security?
Apr '11
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
I like Perry's willingness to gamble on this. If he sticks to his guns and wins the narrative, he'll get a huge boost. I'm not so sure he wins the spin game, however. He'll need help.
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
So, this is the reason Tim Pawlenty gave? My, my. It shows that he is a RINO and that he thinks that Romney is as well.
Dec '10
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
If you’re not paying attention, not a political wonk, only have a cursory view, Romney looks like a blond, Perry a brunette. Romney gives the impression he goes to Hollywood, Perry a rodeo. Romney knows Wall Street, Perry Main Street. Romney is a city slicker, Perry a country folk. Romney changes with the circumstances, Perry is who he is. Romney says what you want to hear, Perry what he means.
There’s nothing wrong with Hollywood blond, Wall Street city slicker, changing with the circumstances and saying what others want to hear. Nor with rodeo brunette, Main Street country folk, being who you are and saying what you mean.
Perceptions are starting to form, their character being displayed. Now they’re reaching the stage of who are their friends, their enemies, and would you want their friends and enemies to be yours. Policies will come later. But who gives the impression that he knows what his policies are and who will wait and see what they need to be?
Apr '11
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
Well, Perry is mostly right and is winning the war here. Even the Lefties are coming around to the fact that SS is massively broken. I think they knew it all along, but played politics with it in hopes of buying votes and making the GOP look evil (once again).
Republicans are right on many issues, but bow when pressure in put on them or they are asked leading questions that are many times irrelevant. Perry has just shown that you need to weather the initial storm to get through the defense mechanisms built into the entitlement state.
Sep '10
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
Sorry, my friends... if you think a presidential campaign, primary or general, is the time and place to have an honest and forthright discussion about the shortcomings of the most popular Federal program ever, then I hope you enjoy your time in opposition. It is certainly time to begin moving the conversation, but an "end it, don't mend it" approach is a quick ticket to Mondaleville.
Aug '10
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
The most popular federal program ever? Not in my house.
Sep '10
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
Ooops. Guess I just exiled myself to Murphytown, or Longistan.
So let's look at Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball analysis: "That's why seven super-swing states with 85 electors will determine which party gets to the magic number of 270 electoral votes: Colorado (9), Florida (29), Iowa (6), Nevada (6), New Hampshire (4), Ohio (18) and Virginia (13)." Two of those states (Florida and Iowa) are in the top ten oldest states (as a percentage of population). According to Sabato's analysis (which is certainly better than most), add Florida and Iowa to his solid and likely Obama states, and the game is over. And it doesn't matter whose house it is or is not popular in.
Apr '11
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
Did Perry say he would get rid of SS? I don't think he did. He said it was sold as a fraud and is a Ponzi scheme. The next question to him would be what he's going to do about it. My guess is that his answer will not be to trash it, but to raise the retirement age, etc. And nobody has said that the current 55+ year old recipients won't get grandfathered in. Let's calm down a little here and let this play out a bit more.
Sep '10
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
Diego, you are exactly right... sort of (and I didn't claim Gov. Perry said he would end it). The tactical challenge is that if you are going to criticize Social Security, you have to have a positive solution as part of the same conversation. If you don't your opponents steal the initiative and paint you as a heartless opponent of seniors. Even if you do come out with a positive solution, they will still try to condemn you (cf. Rep. Paul Ryan's plan). Perry would have had the liberty of waiting to put out his plan if this were still an early stage in the race--but it is no longer early stage, and he is the frontrunner by nearly every measure. Man, I hate it when I start to agree with Murph...
May '10
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
It's a monstrous lie and a Ponzi scheme and a failure!! ..... which must be preserved at all cost by "making it more financially sound and sustainable in the long term."
Perry's come back to the Republican mainstream in just five short days. Complete capitulation. He's learning very quickly how to be a controlled, cunning national candidate.
I'm impressed.
Re: Is Perry Popular "Despite" Social Security Position? Or Because of It?
Who has argued, "end it, don't mend it?"