Posted on 04/24/2002 8:45:57 AM PDT by Lance Romance
GOP Research Shows Republicans Are Vulnerable on Social Security Issues
Published: Apr 24, 2002
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Republicans also have "no effective direct rebuttal" to the expected Democratic charge that they want to spend Social Security trust funds on other programs, the research concludes.
Facing certain attacks over President Bush's call for changes in the program, GOP candidates were advised to focus on messages that reassure senior citizens their benefits will not be cut and that "nothing will change their Social Security."
The findings emerged from an intensive GOP effort - including the use of mock television commercials - to gauge the impact of expected Democratic campaign attacks as well as hypothetical Republican responses. The material was prepared for distribution to rank-and-file Republicans at a closed-door meeting Tuesday, a little more than six months before Election Day. A copy was obtained by The Associated Press.
Democrats have signaled their intention to attack vigorously on Social Security, particularly given Bush's support for allowing workers to invest a portion of their payroll taxes privately and have their future government benefits fall below current levels. Current benefits would be guaranteed for those already receiving monthly checks as well as their survivors.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., has already made it clear the issue will not be brought to the House floor for a formal debate before the elections, a move designed to shield GOP lawmakers from Democratic attacks.
The National Republican Congressional Committee prepared a series of hypothetical Democratic attack commercials - including one that said the GOP wanted to gamble Social Security funds in the stock market and made mention of the Enron collapse that robbed thousands of their retirement savings.
Response ads also were prepared, and the commercials shown in a series of eight focus groups in scattered locations in winter and early spring.
Democratic attacks rated as effective included the charge that Republicans will break the Social Security "lock box" designed to safeguard the trust funds; that their plan will benefit wealthy seniors at the expense of those less well off; and that the stock market is a risky investment.
Effective Republican rebuttals said the GOP opposes cuts in benefits and favors a prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients; and that the president is "credible, trustworthy, bipartisan."
Republicans were cautioned against arguing that Democrats don't have a plan of their own for Social Security, or that it takes courage to tackle the issue. Those responses - along with changing the subject - were found to be not as effective in parrying Democratic attacks directly.
Overall, though, the findings pointed to an uphill battle for Republicans on the issue, part of what officials said was an effort to impress on GOP lawmakers the importance of responding aggressively.
"Successful implementation of inoculation and response strategy serves only to limit erosion - not going to get any sort of clear win," the report said.
A Democratic attempt to "label (the) GOP position on Social Security as favoring 'privatization' presents serious threat."
Wink Wink. AP is letting Tommy D. know where to put in the extra hours.
What's he afraid of?
What the hell? Effective direct rebuttal? The Democrats have been doing this for years! And the Democrats agreed to do it this year! The GOP needs to get out in front and derail this silly notion of a 'lock box.' They should also point out that the Democrats do not have any plans at all for fixing Social Security, period.
This is the sort of conundrum you find yourself in when you're intellectually bankrupt.
Ron Paul seems the only Republican with the courage of his convictions. The rest are complete, yellow-bellied, socialist cowards.
"Expected"?? AP (i.e. Democrats) has already made the charge for them.
I can't wait for the future articles on Democrats being unable to defend against GOP criticism of Taxes, Gun Control, Foreign Policy.............
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