Dean, Buchanan offer some shared concerns at fund-raiser

AP ^ | 3-3-05

[Dan from Michigan]

Dean, Buchanan offer some shared concerns at fund-raiser
3/3/2005, 9:39 p.m. ET
By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN
The Associated Press

LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) — Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean and conservative commentator Pat Buchanan said Thursday that they are concerned about the growing federal deficit and the movement of American jobs overseas.

The pair spoke to nearly 1,000 people at a $125-per-plate fund-raising dinner for Michigan State University's 2005 Michigan Political Leadership Program at Laurel Manor. They disagreed on many issues, but reached agreement on more than a few.

Buchanan said the nation must do something to stem its growing federal deficit. The White House projects that this year's deficit will hit $427 billion, a record partly driven by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I think we are on an inexorable and very, very dangerous path," he said.

Buchanan also said something must be done to deal with federal programs such as Social Security and Medicare. Without changes, the Social Security trustees project that by 2042, the program won't have enough to pay promised benefits fully.

"Social Security and Medicare are Thelma and Louise, and they're headed for the cliff and we're in the back seat," Buchanan said.

Dean agreed that Social Security has problems, but said the Bush administration is more interested in pushing its ideology than in solving shortfalls.

Bush proposes allowing younger workers to divert a portion of their payroll taxes into personal accounts that could be invested in stocks and bonds. In return, they would forgo some of the traditional Social Security benefit.

"Unfortunately, the president chose to do something that does everything for his ideology and nothing for the problem," Dean said.

Buchanan repeated his ongoing criticism of trade agreements, saying they are costing American jobs.

"What is taking place is a betrayal of the American worker. ... NAFTA and GATT are sending your factories all over the world," Buchanan said of the North American Free Trade Agreement and General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Buchanan noted that 2.7 million manufacturing jobs have disappeared since Bush took office.

Dean, a former Vermont governor, was an early front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination last year before his campaign faded after early primaries. He was elected DNC chairman last month and is on a "red, white and blue" tour of states with long records of voting Republican.

Buchanan ran three times for the Republican presidential nomination and was the Reform Party's presidential nominee in 2000.

Dean and Buchanan were scheduled to hold a similar event Thursday morning in Grand Rapids. The money will be used to support 24 fellowships awarded to aspiring political leaders who go through the leadership program

[SunkenCiv]

What you said. :')

[connectthedots]

Buchanan is a socialist. Has been one for years.

[onyx]

He's a narcissistic isolationist.

What are his socialst credentials?

I have missed those, save for his union pandering.

[Iscool]

Bush is trying to save SS, you moron

If Bush was trying to save Social Security, seems like he'd keep his hands out of the Social Security jar...