Social Security Compromise Watch

First, I would like to thank everyone today for the work they did in contacting Senator Lieberman's office. Keeping our caucus in line when it comes to opposing Bush's plan is one of, if not the, key to success in this fight. Good work everyone, and a big thank you goes to user Teaser, who came up with the idea.

Second, I'd like to talk a little about the Santorum Social security event that I attended today. It was quite eventful and well attended, although I am pretty sure it was well attended because around six or seven different activist organizations had turned out in force. Outside the hall before the event, Philly DFA began chanting "Hey-hey, ho-ho, Riock Santorum has got to go!" Local college Republicans, who are just about the only Republicans in West Philly, responded with a chant that beautifully was captured live by CNN: "hey-hey, ho-ho, Social Security has got to go!" I love it when the other side does your campaigning for you!

Inside the hall, the biggest applause line of the event was generated early on when Santorum asked a rhetorical question about demographics and funding: "what happens in 2008?" Before he could answer his own question, someone shouted "Bush leaves office," and the room went wild. A little while later, less than two minutes apart, a couple of LaRouche people made some noise and comments about Pinochet, before they were forcibly removed. I think every Democratic activist in the room turned their eyes to the floor when this happened. Maybe we should fund a Republican LaRouche.

For a while, and especially during the question and answer session, the room was choked with facts and figures from both sides as many Democrats in attendance were given the microphone. I was actually able to ask the final question. Going into the event I had planned to ask Santorum about the slime attack on the AARP in the hopes it wold get some press coverage, but something he said during the presentation gave me an idea for an even better question. He claimed that some Senate Democrats agreed with Bush's proposal, so I went up and asked him to name names. He backed down and said that none of them support it now because it has become so politicized, which is a very hypocritical comment to make when you are on a campaign tour of your own.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/2/22/173612/540#readmore