WSJ: Bush Lines Up Unlikely Allies

Bush Lines Up Unlikely Allies

Private Accounts Resonate With Voters Beyond Republican Base

By CHRISTOPHER COOPER
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
March 24, 2005; Page A4

SHREVEPORT, La. -- A self-described Democrat, the Rev. Larry Brandon didn't endorse George W. Bush in the 2004 election. But after a local newspaper published his letter to the editor, in which he said he prayed "continuously" for the president, Mr. Brandon was recruited to join Mr. Bush on the dais for a public "conversation" on Social Security. The 39-year-old Baptist minister liked what he heard about personal accounts for Social Security. He also is impressed by a White House initiative providing federal grants to faith-based organizations, and plans to seek one. He approves of the fact that the president is "a praying man," adding, "After meeting him, I felt in my heart that he was legit."


While pressing the case for changes in Social Security's structure, Mr. Bush and his aides have been reaching out to a range of constituencies Republicans have targeted in their effort to cement their national majority for the long term. For African-Americans such as Mr. Brandon, they argue that personal accounts offer a better deal; blacks' shorter life expectancy, the argument goes, means they collect traditional Social Security benefits for a shorter period and thus would help their families more with personal accounts they could leave to heirs.

They argue that Hispanics would benefit for the same reason, and from the fact that their earlier entry into the work force means more time to accrue a personal-account nest egg. They say women would do better from their ability to inherit the accounts of their late husbands. Most broadly, they argue that young voters would benefit from Mr. Bush's approach because it would assure the preservation of a retirement program that otherwise would go bust by the time they reach their golden years.

(snip)

Democrats hardly seem worried, given their party's united front against Mr. Bush's approach and the reluctance of even Republicans to embrace it. The Journal/NBC poll shows that Mr. Bush's improved standing among younger voters is offset by a decline among men 50 and over, who typically turn out at higher rates on Election Day.

(snip)

Many of Mr. Bush's events take place on college campuses or urban areas -- hardly his centers of political strength during the 2004 campaign. At many such events, Mr. Bush makes at least a reference to his faith-based initiative, which directs federal social-service grants to religious groups and is one of the tools with which the president seeks to win over socially conservative African-Americans.

(snip)

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB111162904195288357,00.html

Cheney's event in Bakersfield was at a college campus but the students are on Easter break. Also, only local Repubs were invited. The article makes it sound like Bush is going to college campuses to talk to the students. All Bushit

Hitler was pretty "legit" too... but whatever............

Like anyone is going to believe this guy was ever a Democrat.

Bush's events are INVITATION ONLY. He is AFRAID to stand up in front of a true cross section of America and answer questions.

This whole article reminds me of the scene in Animal House when Delta House was standing in front of Dean Wormer listening to his bullshit, and they stared "coughing" something that sounded a lot like "BLOWJOB"

The wall Street Journal is the king of news whores.

of the minority communities that would mean things like universal healthcare or is it "legit" just to screw over the whole SS instead of tackling the real underlying issue that makes SS "unfair to blacks"?

Also I see where Mr Brandon seems to link his fondness for bush*s "plan" to that of seeking a FBI grant of his own. I wonder if his "application" may get on the fast track?

.

have for the most part, get what they want!!

Plenty of good seats available.