Not sure how Perry’s remarks might play during the Republican primaries, but anyone who says they will not be harmful among some independent voters in a general election is simply kidding themselves.
Candidates can and should talk about SS (and Medicare and Medicaid) reform in a sensible way, but candidates who take it too far will pay a price at the voting booth in a general election.
It may harm him among some indies, but it also may help him among other demographics, like the Tea Party and objective indies.
A lot more people are wise to the SS PONZI SCHEME. Anyone who is informed and honest knows that it's nothing less than a PONZI SCHEME.
At last, a politician running for office has the balls to call it exactly what it is, and then not back away from it when pressed.
This isn't the good ol days 20 years ago when any pol who mentioned touching SS was finished. Times have changed and people are beginning to realize that everyone can't have a nice retirement that costs exponentially what the retiree put into it.