The out-of-context social security quotes Al Franken mentioned today

[wyldwolf]

On Thursday, privatization-pushers released a deceptive “research briefing” with excerpts from news stories on recent Social Security town-hall meetings. The article snippets give the impression that President Bush’s privatization plan enjoys nationwide backing; indeed, the document’s bold, italicized headline reads, “More Americans Support Call To Strengthen Social Security.”

Just one problem – several of the individuals quoted in the press release explain in the excerpted articles that they actually oppose privatization:

The pull-quote: Clif Smith, A Retiree From Joplin: “I Believe Needs Improved .”

The full quote:

“I believe it needs improved,” said Clif Smith, a retiree from Joplin, at the AARP gathering. “But nothing of the nature of what is being talked about in Washington.”

Smith said he opposes private accounts because he thinks they would drain money from the trust fund, but he said the fund itself should own stock.

+++

The pull-quote: “ Holloway Sees Advantages In Personal Accounts In That It Would Encourage More Savings And Financial Responsibility …”

The full quote:

Holloway sees advantages in personal accounts in that it would encourage more savings and financial responsibility, she said.

But she’s wary that this proposal feeds into the Bush administration’s trend to encourage self-centered thinking away from considering the welfare of the general society, she said.

“We all should care because you don’t know what (misfortune) will happen,” Holloway said. “Don’t fiddle with the social safety net.”

more...

http://thinkprogress.org/index.php?p=522

[rodeodance]

1. jackasses--they have to decieve people to get them ot listen!!

[eaprez]

2. It would be insanity to think they WOULDN'T use deception....

...they know the press isn't going to call them on it....so why not? The ends justify the means...thats the creed they live by.

[BeFree]

3. Smith has a point

"Smith said he opposes private accounts because he thinks they would drain money from the trust fund, but he said the fund itself should own stock."

Did you know the trillions of dollars that we payed as SS taxes have been turned into plain paper IOU's? We have in a sense given a credit card to the government which draws upon our SS taxes. There is no money left there, only faith.

Now comes the boy-king waging war on the faith government has promised. 'Twould be better that the money goes to a place far less speculative, like the stock market. <g>

[OzarkDem]

4. I'm glad my party

is fighting back and calling Bush out as a liar on these deceptions, while talking about their own strategy.

Oh wait, they haven't. Nevermind.