[Longbow1969]

The survey also shows that 59 percent of tea party supporters disagree with Mr. Perry’s characterization.

Dunno about this particular survey, but Perry talking about Social Security this way could destroy his campaign. The public is not ready to hear things like this, calling SS a ponzi scheme and monsterous lie simply scares old people and they will not vote for someone saying such things. Talking dramatically about SS and Medicare or hinting at even changing them very much will send even Tea Party seasoned citizens into a tizzy.

[RockinRight]

I fear this too, yet, there is also a lot of contradicting evidence:

-Rubio and Johnson ran their Senate campaigns with a similar attitude towards SS and won

-Perry himself leads in the primary polls and is about even w/Obama

What he can do, IMHO, is explain WHY he used the term Ponzi Scheme. Then appeal to their sensible side, say “Look, we all agree it needs reform. Many of you are uncomfortable with the language I used, but, aren’t we past the point in this country where we need to tone down everything we say?”

What bothers me is that it’s not necessarily the idea of SS being broke that people have a problem with, it’s the words he used to say it. Grow a spine, people!

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>>>The public is not ready to hear things like this, calling SS a ponzi scheme and monsterous lie simply scares old people and they will not vote for someone saying such things.

Come on! Some of the public may not be ready to hear such rhetoric. Some of the public appreciates a straight shooter. Perry needs to drill home the fact that seniors 55 and above will not see ANY changes in their SocSec. Most younger Americans understand SocSec will not be there for them unless changes take place asap. Of course the liberal media will not go along with any substantive discussion on entitlement reform and the left will continue to demagogue the issue as they have been doing for the last 50 years!

[chris_bdba]

They better get ready quick because the whole house of cards is close to just falling.It begins to pay out more than it takes in in 2020 IIRC and that is only a few short years away.

[ilgipper]

except it doesn’t hurt him because the older voters and tea party voters are supporting him overwhelmingly.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Dunno about this particular survey, but Perry talking about Social Security this way could destroy his campaign.

Maybe, but as a major political figure forcing the nation and the MSM to confront and try to refute his statement, he's doing an enormous amount of good. Our nation's politicians on both sides of the aisle are gutless cowards who keep babbling that Social Security and Medicare just need some fixes instead of acknowledging reality. Perry's statement forces the public and the media to look seriously at these entitlements - no matter how much they'd like to argue, basic arithmetic isn't subject to argument or political BS.

I disagree strongly with what Perry has to say about illegal immigration and a border fence, but as far as I'm concerned he's already performed a good service for his country.