Talking Points Memo Gets It About Social Security Privatization And So Should You

The Democrats are missing a big weapon in this election season by not focusing on the Social Security ambitions of the President and the Republicans, namely they want to try and "save" the program in January 2007 by privatizing it.

Josh Marshall gets it though.

You may ask yourself how I know this and the answer is because I can read.

Interview with John Boehner (R-OH) in July:

Q: Where does Social Security reform stand?

A: I just met with Congressman [Frank R. Wolf, Virginia Republican], a few minutes ago with his SAFE Commission [formed to fix the entitlement programs]. In 1990 when I first ran for Congress, I talked about the need to reform these big entitlement programs because the sooner we began the process, the easier it would be to make the necessary changes so that these programs were sustainable for the long term. … If I’m around in a leadership role come January, we’re going to get serious about this.

President Bush, 6/27/06:

Now is the time for the Congress and the President to work together to reform Medicare and reform Social Security so we can leave behind a solvent balance sheet for our next generation of Americans. … If we can’t get it done this year, I’m going to try next year. And if we can’t get it done next year, I’m going to try the year after that, because it is the right thing to do.

White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, 6/17/06:

Looking ahead to next year, he is trying to lay the groundwork for a renewed effort to reform Social Security and Medicare, the federal health-care program for seniors. He suggests Mr. Bush and his aides may have learned from their failed attempt to push through Social Security reform in 2005.

Read more here.

Now I don't know about you but there is very little doubt in my mind what they want to do and have fantasized about doing since it's inception and that is to get rid of Social Security and Medicare.

Republicans despise social safety net programs.