Kerry Spot    [ jim geraghty reporting ]
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The most interesting paragraphs in the Washington Post’s story on its latest poll:

Those surveyed gave Bush negative marks — 38 percent approval vs. 55 percent disapproval — for his handling of the Social Security issue, and three in five said the system will not have enough money to pay benefits by the time they retire. But by 54 percent to 41 percent, the public supported a plan that would include a reduction in the rate of growth of guaranteed benefits and private savings accounts financed with a portion of payroll taxes. A proposal with those elements is under consideration by the Bush administration.

Other polls have shown sizable opposition when the Bush plan is described as cutting future benefits, and the varying results among surveys suggest that the communications battle to frame the problem and the solutions may prove crucial to the outcome, as was the case in the fight over Clinton's health care plan in 1993 and 1994 and the battle to reduce the rate of growth in Medicare spending, which cost Republicans after they won control of Congress in 1994.

Thank goodness the Post clarified that “other polls have shown sizable opposition”! Otherwise readers might have concluded that about 54 percent of respondents actually like President Bush’s Social Security proposals. Oddly, the Post folks didn’t feel the need to make this same qualification about Bush’s 52 percent approval rating.

[Posted 01/18 10:59 AM]