Romney/Ryan claim to “preserve and protect Medicare for future generations” does not mean maintaining the status quo. Ditto SS.
A program can be changed i.e. improved without being terminated. Notice the libs don't claim Ryan will do away with Medicare, only that he would “do away with Medicare AS WE KNOW IT”
Ryan's plan would save Medicare for many future generations as would the privatization of SS.
That is the argument Ryan is going to have to make — that the reforms he wants to put in place will actually preserve and save programs like SS and Medicare.
It is a VERY tough sale. Historically, Republicans have been obliterated when they have tried to make it.
Hopefully, we can pull it off this time, but I don’t have a lot of confidence in an American electorate that voted in a Kenyan Socialist by a large margin last time, and have him ahead in most polls today.