‘REPEAL AND REPLACE’ SOCIAL SECURITY, TOO?…. CNN’s Larry King hosted a discussion this week with some leaders of the Tea Party “movement,” asking right-wing grassroots organizers Dana Loesch and Wayne Allyn Root about their ideologies. It led to an interesting exchange about Social Security.
KING: Would anyone turn away Social Security now? Would you do away with it?
LOESCH: I would, yes.
KING: You would?
LOESCH: Yes, absolutely.
KING: Would do you away with it, Wayne?
ROOT: I’d certainly like to….
Noting the exchange, Steve M. wrote, “There’s your attack ad, Democrats: ‘Call Congressman So-and-so and ask him if he agrees with these leaders of the tea party movement that Social Security should be abolished.’ How hard is that, Democrats? And if Congressman So-and-so stammers the usual defense of Social Security, make sure the teabaggers know he or she is just another dirty socialist.”
That strikes me as sound advice. It’s especially potent since Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) far-right “roadmap” effectively calls for the same thing, privatizing Social Security out of existence. Ryan, not incidentally, would be the House Budget Committee chairman if the Republicans retake the House majority.
This should put Congressman So-and-so in an even more awkward position. The Tea Party activists are demanding the elimination of Social Security, and the Republicans’ top budget guy wants the same thing. Does Congressman So-and-so think his party and its base are right or wrong on this issue?
If Democrats want to go on the offensive in the midterm cycle, they’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so.
