From the Washington Examiner:
Now, another Republican rival, Michele Bachmann, is preparing to hit Perry on the same issue.
“Bernie Madoff deals with Ponzi schemes, not the grandparents of America,” says a Bachmann adviser. “Clearly she feels differently about the value of Social Security than Gov. Perry does. She believes Social Security needs to be saved, that it’s an important safety net for Americans who have paid into it all their lives.”
On whether Michele Bachmann shares Rick Perry’s views about Social Security:
“Certainly not,” the adviser says. “She strongly disagrees with his position on that, and it’s clearly not something that’s going to sit well with the people of Florida and Iowa and South Carolina and many of the early states, where there is a large population of seniors who rely heavily on Social Security. For [Perry] to scare them is wrong.”
Full piece here.
The Huntsman campaign, meanwhile, is taking a different tack, accusing Mitt Romney of sharing Perry’s views on Social Security “Despite what Governor Romney’s campaign wants you to believe, when it comes to out-of-the-mainstream attacks on social security, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney are two peas in a pod,” said Huntsman campaign manager Matt David in a statement released tonight.
Desperate pandering is such a sad thing to watch.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseShe's taking lessons from Mitt.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThanks Michelle. If I had a scintilla of doubt about supporting Perry, you've just erased it. You've also revealed that your big tough talk about being a tea party patriot is just that - talk. You're as phony as any other politico, because when rubber hits the road, you're as willing to pander as any of the lot.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe only thing that scares seniors are politicians who lie to them telling then "Hey, Social Security is fine. We just need to tweek it a bit, like billing your grandkids."
Michelle Bachmann needs to understand that seniors are adults. They can handle the truth. Obviously, they are not going to get it from her.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOh, were we still paying attention to Michele Bachmann? I didn't realize.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMichelle Bachman - the flashiest flash in the pan since donald trump's 15 minutes of shame.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse...in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate.
These clowns do know about this newfangled Internet thingie right? That we can go back and hear what Perry really said?
The question really is whether the Republican Party drones really understand that things are different now.
That 2010 was not a fluke.
It would seem not.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou're pretty far off the wall when Bachmann can point to your comments and, WITH REASON, say that you're fulla shinola.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThat's kind of disappointing really. I mean, as a tax lawyer, she should know better and in more detail what a statistical failure Social Security is. I guess all of her supposed Tea Party talk was just political glad-handing.
If Huntsman is against you, it's a good indication that you're on the right track.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBye bye Bachmann, that sound you hear is the end of your campaign...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGood grief. One year ago, Bachmann said this about SS: "...basically what we have to do is wean everybody else off."
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First time I heard SS referred to as a Ponzi scheme was three decades ago - not by a politician, just some regular guy who would be long retired by now. Surely he wasn't the first. Perry's no Winston Churchill, and I would like him to elaborate to voters more than he has, but is anyone seeing evidence of a Perry backlash? Maybe it's impossible to see until it pounces on him in the primaries or Nov. 2012.
But it bothers me when allegedly smart people knock him for saying what he has, while agreeing with the gist of his charge. This WSJ op-ed does the same thing:
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"But it bothers me when allegedly smart people knock him for saying what he has, while agreeing with the gist of his charge."
Colonel, I think the word you're looking for is "coward".
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBachmann is in desperation mode. She needs to win Iowa or her campaign ends, and Perry is whoopin her backside in recent polling there. Too bad. If she had wisdom, she'd have gone into this race knowing she might not win, and would have a plan to support the eventual winner and build on her campaign to propel her into the Senate or Governor's office. This indicates to me she lacks wisdom, and has probably advanced as far as she ever will.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBachmann has revealed herself as another coward who talks a big Tea Party game until her electoral prospects are on the line. Now it seems her and Romney are trying to run to the left on this issue as fast as they can.
Perry is going to wipe the floor with these candidates.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRick Perry is telling the truth! SS is a Ponzi scheme, except its worse because it isn't voluntary! If you don't pay, the government puts you in jail. It's also a very bad deal for younger people (newest "investors") and it is unsustainable. It may be a great program for the people currently receiving their benefits, but for those of us who are working to PAY for those leeches, it stinks! Make it voluntary. I'm willing to give up all my earned benefits so far right now to avoid all future SS taxes.
None of these politicians like Huntsman, Romney or Bachmann are willing to tell the truth! Perry is. That makes better, imo, than those phonies. America needs more honest politicians. Not fakes.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSS plans are not only a Ponzi scheme worthy of Madoff, but they take a disportionate toll on groups where workers pay in but don't live to retirement age. Unlike a bank account, those assets can't just be allocated via a will.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo if you were part of a demos with shorter life expectancy you might be scratching your head.
15 years ago I let our financial counselor convince me to count SS in our retirement planning. I doubt we'll see much of it.
She ran on being a "real conservative", and now has totally trashed that reputation. She sounds just like another pandering politician with no courage here.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI had been favorably disposed to Michelle before she went all "politician" on us. Perry did not say that our grandparents are running a Ponzi scheme. The SSA does that. Nor did he suggest that the entire system be scrapped without any attempt at reform. And an analogy does not have to be (and never is) absolutely perfect in every detail to be apt. Soc Sec, in its current form, is close enough to a Ponzi scheme to deserve being compared to one. I'll go with the coarse straight talker over the slick mush mouth every time.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe founder of the House Tea-Party caucus defends the existence of a federal entitlement program against a fellow conservative, despite the fact that the Constitution doesnt grant the federal government the authority to create it.
I think Bachmann might have ended more than just her presidential campaign...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHer "leadership" of the Tea Party congressional caucus effectively ended when she lost over 50% of its members on the most singular signature vote of her leadership.
51% of her caucus voted against her position.
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