'Talk about scaring seniors'

U.S. News ^ | 05/21/2002 | Paul Bedard

[Pokey78]

From Washington Whispers:

You've seen it dozens of times: A sensitive E-mail gets sent to the wrong person, causing titters and embarrassment around the office. Well, the Republican leadership says it's got the goods on a Democratic attempt to inaccurately bash President Bush on taxes and Social Security. Whispers was provided an E-mail of a Democratic leadership draft editorial done in late March in which Bush is accused of jeopardizing Social Security. That's nothing new: Bush's plan to let Americans invest a tiny amount of the Social Security payroll tax in stocks has been accused of being dangerous by most of the leadership. What caught the Republicans' attention was the language a congressional staffer used to describe the editorial in her E-mail. Notably, the staffer, who reviewed the item for legislative accuracy, wrote "not entirely accurate." Then she added: "Talk about scaring seniors–this may be a little over the top. But it is sooo fun to bash Republicans."

Under the rules agreed to by Whispers, the staffers or lawmaker they work for can't be immediately identified. But when contacted, the staffer said that while her office was writing editorial drafts on Social Security in March, the time of the E-mail, "it's highly unlikely" that she wrote the inflammatory language.

How did the Republicans get the March 26 E-mail? We're told it was accidentally sent to a GOP staffer with the same last name as one of the Democratic staffers.

[gov_bean_ counter]

What is it about Dems and e-mail. They can't archive it, they can't send it... all they can do is delete it.

[Clemenza]

This is how the Dems defeated Jeb Bush by a hair in 1994. On the weekend previous to the election, Florida Dems made calls to practically every Senior Citizen in the state claiming that Jeb was "going to take Social Security away" nevermind the fact that the Governor has NO CONTROL over a federal program. The old folks turned out in droves for Chiles and Jeb had to wait four years.

[toenail]

How's this for scary: what is going to happen when younger workers say, "Enough is enough," and simply refuse to work to pay for a bunch of freeloading moochers who continuously dump their debts on us and our families? You want to know what happens to people who are too expensive to take care of, or who are unwanted, or who cramp someone's lifestyle? Drop by your local abortion clinic for an answer.

[fuente]

You forgot to mention that the calls were also illegal

[Tennessee_Bob]

Well, when you consider that Al Gore invented the internet, the answer to your question is fairly obvious....

[Clemenza]

Yeah. Brings back why I HATED that DUMB CRACKER Lawton Chiles!

[Hacksaw]

You forgot to mention that the calls were also illegal

Yes - Chiles graciously proposed legislation to prevent it from happening again, after he was safely in office.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

practically every Senior Citizen in the state claiming that Jeb was "going to take Social Security away"

You mean get them off the dole.

[Isadora Duncan]

Wouldn't you love to see Republicans come out and just simply say, "You're going to be lied to. You're going to be told this and that. Don't believe it. It's just a lie. Call 555-5555 and we'll describe the lie to you in detail. Those telling the lies to you think you're stupid. WE know you're not. So call us and we'll tell you the truth. No problem."