LA TIMES: Blacks Courted on Social Security

(I am waiting to see what lie they tell the Native Americans in this country, who have an even shorter life expectancy rate.)

Private accounts would be more useful because of a life expectancy gap, Republicans say.

February 28, 2005

WASHINGTON — The White House and its allies who back overhauling Social Security are launching a highly targeted campaign to convince blacks that President Bush's plan to create private investment accounts would have special benefits for them.

The most provocative element of the GOP message to blacks: Their shorter life expectancy means that Social Security is not a favorable deal for them, a point contested by Bush's critics. The president's plan for private accounts, say Republicans, would particularly benefit blacks by allowing them to build wealth more rapidly and pass a portion of their Social Security contributions to their heirs.

In reaching out to blacks on Bush's top domestic priority, Republicans are courting a traditionally Democratic voting bloc, which could further pressure Democratic lawmakers to back the president's plan.

Some Republican strategists also believe the effort illustrates how Bush can reap political rewards from the Social Security issue even if he fails to win passage of his plan in Congress. These strategists believe that Bush's call for private accounts, and his broader claim to be building an "ownership society," have special appeal for black voters, many of whom live in economically troubled neighborhoods and have not been able to build their own savings.

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-social28feb28,0,536136.story?coll=la-home-headlines

They'll bring out the Alan Keyes Republicans and have them throw softballs at George W. Bush.

With her mouth in its usual position for screaming, biting the heads off of small children, or performing the Ritual of Oral Obedience on her corporate masters.

--p!

...and stinks of racism.

After the civil rights act was passed by LBJ the Dixiecrats were on the outside looking in and the Republicans gave these disgusting freaks a home.

When I first heard they were going to use this strategy, I thought it had to be a joke, just HAD to be. Not even they could be that blatantly idiotic with a reasoning for supporting this idiotic notion.

If anyone in this country has even the slightest bit of a brain left, this *will* backfire.

but I'm not sure how smart people are generally.

I should have added that I realize this is a huge "if."

And Welcome to DU!!!

:hi:

Thought they were shamed into dumping that tactic but nooooo
now they want to make it a centerpiece in their campaign.

Isn't there a HUD study around that confirms inadequate health care for African-American community?
Dems need to fight with that. We need to reach parity for life expectancy and health care.

Equal access to healthcare might do something to NARROW that life-expectancy gap.

they are using the shorter life spans of blacks as a marketing tool instead of actively promoting policies that would close that gap. I suspect black folk are way too savvy to not be insulted by this freaking horseshit.

how about restoring the budget cuts for health care?

agenda and doesn't support their SS killing agenda either. I am really hating these Repuke evildoers these days. Only rich white folks deserve to live long, rich and retire in fatcity.

what a disgrace

Oh, then they go to the churches where pastors have been bought off with FAITH BASED tax money...

you're going to die before we do, so believe the lie.

and his reply was that African Americans get fare more benefits then just the retirement part of SS. ex survivor benefits, and disability.



its not just the check you get after you turn 65 there is a lot more to SS then most are talking about.

This claim is based on a error - riddled "study" by the Heritage Foundation that's been thoroughly debunked - by Social Security's own actuaries! Even if it were true, the correct response should be to do something about the shorter average lifespan of blacks, not to assume that it's an unalterable fact of nature as Bush does. His strategy of ignoring the causes of the shorter lifespan to use it as a tool to push his SS dismantlement plan is arguably racist.