Brown-Waite targeted in Social Security phone campaign

[BrendaStarr]

Telemarketers seem a politically safe target for an official’s anger, but U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite has a special reason for her ire. The Brooksville Republican’s name is being cited in a round of automated messages left on her constituents’ answering machines this week.

The congresswoman’s office learned Tuesday of an automated message telling voters that Brown-Waite was in favor of “privatizing social security.”

“The Social Security trust fund should be in a lock box, not a Wall Street slot machine. Tell Congresswoman Waite that we want real Social Security reform, not a risky Wall Street gamble,” the message reportedly said. “Call her.”

And many did. Brown-Waite spokesman Charlie Keller said the congresswoman’s Washington Office was flooded with nearly 300 phone calls Tuesday and Wednesday and more in her district office.

It prompted Brown-Waite to issue a statement Wednesday outlining her position on Social Security. She is opposed to a mandatory privatization and filed a bill in Congress on Jan. 6 which would guarantee no reduction of existing payments forced upon people who now receive Social Security.

“It’s absolutely cruel,” Brown-Waite said. “They are targeting low-income seniors and telling them I want to reduce their only source of income by half.”

Brown-Waite’s district has the highest concentration of Social Security recipients in Florida, her office said.

http://www.mywebpal.com/news/partners/701/public/news606345.html

If you go to the site you will see that it seems to be a web site of a brick and mortar based local newspaper.

The Republicans are getting a taste of their own medicine and they don't like it. I'm sure Brown-Waite's bill against reductions for current recipients is not really needed as current recipients are the least likely to get the future cuts. It will be years down the line when the 47% reduction kicks in.

And "mandatory" privatization is a bit of double speak as Bush's proposal isn't for mandatory privatization either.

[WCGreen]

1. Who cares. If it works and we stop them from raiding the

"trust Fund" evryone wins...

I lived through the vicious lies and personal attacks levied at Clinton and the dem's in congress back in 1993 when the GOP pulled out all the stops to stop the "socialization" of the "greatest medical system" the world has ever seen.

Prior to that, Ruch was a minor nuseance. After that, when he relentlessly hammered the dem's and Clinton, especially "Hiiiiilaaaary", he shot to the top of the charts, got his own TV show and actually ventured out to speak to the public at large......

[BrendaStarr]

3. Amen!

I couldn't agree more.

BTW for anyone passing through here: Did you see the 5 Myths about Social Security article at MSN Money?

It has some pretty interesting facts for talking points http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Retirementandwills/Createaplan/P90016.asp

[WCGreen]

10. I gave it a ten...

As an accountant, and someone who has written a few articles about SS in my day, I find this a very useful, non-partisan view of the SS system.....

[Bozita]

2. Wasn't her husband convicted of stealing her opponent's lawn signs?

The family that steals together, ...

[Jim Lane]

4. No, he was arrested, but the Dem declined to press charges

<http://www.sptimes.com/2002/12/29/news_pf/Citrus/This_all_happened____.shtml>

In this roundup of 2002 news "highlights", it's near the bottom, in October:

"HE NEEDED MORE FOR HIS FRONT LAWN: Former state trooper Harvey Waite is stopped by police in Spring Hill and accused of stealing campaign signs for U.S. Rep. Karen Thurman, who is being challenged by Waite's wife, State Sen. Ginny Brown-Waite. Thurman declines to press charges."

[katmondoo]

5. She sent cards to everyone supporting the Medicare fraud

and urging seniors to join. I sent her reports of the Medicare prescription fraud and did suggest she refrain from supporting the Bush stand on reforming Social Security. I do not find it surprising that she is receiving hate feedback. I am not part of it but do find some pleasure in hearing this. Makes me think I am not alone. She spent taxpayers money to promote the Medicare fraud.

[tsuki]

6. What is her Republican voting record like? Is she a moderate?

Sounds more like a Republican tactic than a Democratic one?

[annabanana]

7. this is a legitimate question.........

How bad a repug is she? If she's a bushbot then she's just getting a bit of her own back. If not, there's a Rovian throwing a jiujitsu move to discredit Dems.......

[Ian David]

8. Is there a 527 we can contribute to so they can make more phonecalls?

It appears to be working.

[tlcandie]

9. She needs to be OUSTED ASAP!

n/t BUSHBOT indeed! She's voted FOR War and more! She just lines up and votes the line more than not!