Democrats Use Bush Tactics in Social Security Debate(hold townhall meeting

April 1 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush began his battle for private Social Security accounts by targeting vulnerable Democrats. Now Democrats are turning the tables, using similar tactics to pressure Republican lawmakers. House Democrats are holding town-hall meetings on Social Security in the districts of Republicans, including Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania and Jon Porter of Nevada, who face potentially tight races next year. At least three events next week will focus on opposition to Bush's plan.

. . .

As the Democrats turn up heat on Republicans, Bush has switched from pressuring Democrats up for re-election in Republican-leaning states, such as Senators Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Kent Conrad of North Dakota, to shoring up support among members of his own party and traditional allies from states such as Alabama, Iowa and Kentucky.

``There's a lot of wariness on behalf of Republicans,'' said Dick Armey, the former House Republican leader who is now chairman of FreedomWorks, a Washington group favoring limited government. ``The president hasn't sold this notion even within his own party,'' said Representative Earl Pomeroy, a North Dakota Democrat who held a town-hall meeting in Minnesota Republican Gil Gutknecht's district on March 24.

``Voters in those congressional districts think like voters in the district I represent,'' Pomeroy said in a phone interview from North Dakota. ``Social Security means a lot to these people, and they don't want their member running off to privatize the thing just because the president tells them to.''

Democrats plan at least three town-hall sessions in districts represented by Republicans next week, beginning with one on April 3 in Republican Chris Chocola's district in South Bend, Indiana, that will feature Democrat Jan Schakowsky of Illinois.

much more . . .
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=a9N0Eun6oYnU&refer=us

Finally, Democrats seem to have started taking advantage of slipups by the Rove Administration.

Dems a few weeks ago.

And I agree, AirAmFan, it is "brilliant"...and ballsy, to. :)

Republicans have been doing this for decades, and look what it's gotten them:

control of media
control of judiciary
control of house
control of senate
white house


IN YOUR FACE politics is what wins elections, and controls issues. We are uncomfortable with it because we have always had logic and intelligence on our side, but the rest of the country seems to have put those things aside, in favor of strength. We must show that we are stroong too in our search of decency and fairness to all.

party came up with it. Democrats have rarely had a national strategy on any issue in the last 20 years.

And they've been a hell of a lot more unscripted than George would ever be able to handle.

Heh...

too. We just know too much on DU:)

ruled out "ringer-only" town meetings. The new strategy appears to reflect attention to details like that, well ahead of time. I'm sure every town meeting will begin with a dig at Dubya's pre-screened crowds, like this one:

From http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/3103789

"March 26, 2005, 12:55PM

Text of Rep. Sandy Levin's Democratic response

From Chronicle wire reports Good morning. I'm Congressman Sandy Levin of Michigan.

The president has asked Congress and the American people to support ... the dismantling of Social Security as we know it. Maybe that's why the president is now trying to sell privatization through staged gatherings where the audience is hand-selected and the discussion is scripted. The president is out of touch, hearing what he wants to hear not what the public is saying.

Congressional Democrats are taking a different approach. We're holding hundreds of town hall meetings, open to the public, giving everyone an opportunity to be heard. I have found the more people hear the facts about the president's privatization proposals, the less they like them."

And according to Josh Marshall, many in the choir don't show up and of those that do many are not convinced to go with privatization.

I say let Bush keep his townhalls to GOP toadies only. But I do reserve the right to protest ALL taxpayers paying for GOP only events.

something useful, I love it! I hope to get to see one, gotta find a schedule for them. I think we have got the right man on the job, is this is Dean's doing?

CARA SOCIAL SECURITY TOWN HALL MEETING SCHEDULE

You must rsvp to reserve a seat and lunch (no lunch in San Diego).

Transportation available for groups or 10 or more in Northern CA only.



NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TOWN HALL MEETINGS

REGION
DATE
LOCATION
RSVP TO:

Central Valley

(Stockton-Fresno)
Friday,

April 1st

9:30am –12:30pm
IAM Local #653

544 W. Olive

FRESNO
Gene Roza

559-905-3521

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Sacramento
Saturday,

April 2nd,

9:30am – 12:30pm
Teamsters Local 150

7120 E. Parkway

SACRAMENTO
Carolyn Negrete

916-424-5316
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Alameda County
Saturday,

April 9th

9:30am-12:30pm
SEIU Local 250 – UHW

560 Thomas Berkeley Way (20th St)

OAKLAND
Jacki Fox Ruby

510-549-3908
---------------------------------------------------------------------

San Francisco/San Mateo
Thursday,

April 14th

9:30am – 12:30pm
St. Mary’s Cathedral

1111 Gough @ Geary

SAN FRANCISCO
Senior Action Network

415-546-1333

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Santa Clara/San Benito/Santa Cruz
Saturday,

April 23rd

9:30am – 2:00pm
IAMAW #725

655 Vaqueros Ave

SUNNYVALE
Phyllis Ward

408-265-1554
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Contra Costa/ Solano
Saturday,

April 30th

9:30am –12:30pm
Teamsters Local #315

2727 Alhambra Ave

MARTINEZ
Juanita Barabin

510-235-9484

----------------------------------------------------------------------


SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TOWN HALL MEETINGS

REGION
DATE
LOCATION
RSVP TO:

Orange County
Saturday,

March 12th

10am – 1pm
Teamsters Local #952

140 S. Marks Way

ORANGE
Karen Connor

626-915-4044
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Riverside/San Bernardino
Saturday,

March 19th

10:00am – 12:00pm
Teamster Local 166

18597 Valley Blvd.

BLOOMINGTON
Carol Jacquez

760-242-0259
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ventura County


Tuesday,

March 29th

1:00pm – 3:00pm
Wilson Senior Center

350 n. “C” St.

OXNARD
Valerie Martinez

805-483-3843
---------------------------------------------------------------------

San Diego

Saturday,

April 2nd

10:00am – 12:00pm
San Diego City Council Chambers

202 C. Street – 12th floor

SAN DIEGO (no lunch service)
Guy Cargulia

858-485-5774
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles Area
Saturday,

April 2nd

9:30am-12:30pm
SEIU 660

500 S. Virgil

LOS ANGELES
Dawn Bronsema

562-862-4797

Rosario Holguin

626-794-8691
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Southeast L.A. County

Saturday,

April 9th

1:00pm-3:00pm
Ramada Inn North

12500 Firestone Blvd.

NORWALK
Maureen & Floyd Allen

562-651-9264


---------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information, call CARA at 415-550-0828 (NORTH) or 760-554-2356 (SOUTH)

sucks (*ushco country big time - blech!) so I don't see much chance of them coming here. I do wish they wouldn't give up on the red areas, there are a few Dem's here ... backs to the wall! But maybe they have something in the works close enough for my clunker to make it.

a little optimism around here?

I just happened to have a relevant link (to Levin's Democratic response) and decided to counter sarcasm with friendly facts.

Me rikey! Me rikey rots!

I will kill. Because it sounds like such a smart idea, such an intelligent idea:

To glaringly promote the un-Bush town hall, one wherein the whole town is allowed to come to the meeting (what an _insane_ idea! What, you think this is a democracy or something?)

All we need now are a couple Scary Scaif Family Millionaires to buy some media out-lets and along with AAR, maybe we can re-instate some rational discussion.

God, it's like breathing fresh air!

the Dems have been having town halls for months...it isn't a new idea. Senator Wyden has town meetings all the time.

Like KFalls. Although I can't imagine Wyden not going there all along, I would hope he has. Although with SS, DeFazio would be a better bet.

But I pretty much think the same as you, what's new about town halls? :shrug:

...and it's obvious that he thought he could get away with these staged, scripted events in which he preaches to audiences packed with his mind-numbed robots.

Bush relies heavily on the local media to carry the message. He figures, if he can stage a smooth-running event that the media will cover it the way he has scripted it.

These aren't town-hall meetings. That's an insult to town-hall meetings. Bush is organizing manufactured, publicity stunts.

Awesome news...that the Democrats are fighting back with genuine, democracy-in-action, town-hall meetings. I hope these are large, open, free-flowing, fun, raucous events--so everyone can see what a farce and a fake Bush is.

Bush can take his "town-hall meetings" and shove them up his butt.