Perhaps, like me, you’ve seen the recent spate of ads attacking Democratic candidates for wanting to destroy Social Security. They are quite clever in an outrageously deceitful way.
Each one claims that [insert Dem Candidate’s Name] wants to lower benefits, raise the age to receive benefits, and raise social security taxes. The implicit thrust of the adis that only Republicans will protect Social Security from the hordes of barbarian Democrats at the gate. The ads, by the way are paid for by the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC). They have been running these ads in some districts since mid-October.
Here’s the one they’re running against Eric Massa in New York’s 29th District. Notice the use of a sniper rifle motif:
This scurrilous claim is a complete reversal of the truth about which party wants to eliminate Social Security as we know it is a classic Rovian tactic of projecting your weakness on your opponent, and attacking his or her strength. No mention is made in those ads that it was the Republicans who tried (and failed thanks to Democratic and public opposition) to privatize Social Security and place its massive trust fund in the hands of Wall Street investment houses. Nor is any mention made in the ads that, after the election, the Republicans plan to take another run at privatizing social security, exposing our retirement income to the risks and vicissitudes of the stock and bond markets.
These ads are just another example of how low Republicans will go to retain power. No lie is beneath them, no slander is left unsaid. Can’t you just smell the desperation?
