Obama "quite hopeless" in reciting "RNC cant" on Social Security.

[Karmadillo]

The Daily Howler has a good analysis of Russert's pathetic performance during the debate the other night. Obama comes in for some harsh criticism. No wonder he skpped AARP.

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But Russert thoroughly bungled this discussion Wednesday night; indeed, he had created a pointless discussion as soon as he turned a segment about “Social Security and Medicare” into a discussion of Social Security alone. Beyond that, a thoroughly jumbled discussion ensued—so jumbled that it was basically useless even as a debate about SS alone. Basic question: How many viewers knew what the candidates meant when they kept talking, without explanation, about “raising the cap” and “lifting the ceiling?” Very, very few, we would guess. And Russert made no attempt to clarify any of this as the long discussion unfolded. He was too busy looking for ways to spring his “gotchas,” to recite his irrelevant data.

Honesty forces us to note that some of the candidates were quite hopeless too. Most hopelessly, here is Obama, joining Russert in reciting a piece of pure RNC cant:

OBAMA (9/23/07): My personal view is that lifting the cap is much preferable than the other options that are available. But what’s critical is to recognize that there is a potential problem.

As I travel around Iowa and New Hampshire I meet young people who don’t think Social Security is going to be there for them. They don’t believe it’s going to be there for them.

And I think it’s important for us, in addition to getting our fiscal house in order, to acknowledge as Democrats that there may be a problem that we’ve got to take on.

There are no words for how awful that was. For the most part, young people “don’t think Social Security is going to be there for them” because they’ve been deceived, for year after year, by an army of pseudo-conservative dissemblers who are given free rein by our sad, hapless press corps. But there was Obama reinforcing this framework—and Edwards quickly jumped in to support what Obama had said. (Three cheers for Richardson, who noted the very conservative growth estimates which produce Social Security’s small projected shortfalls.)

Greenspan explained it to Russert on Sunday. Social Security is easy to solve; Medicare is the real future problem. But so what? Russert has become a pure buffoon in the years since he was air-lifted off to Nantucket. He now presents the eternal image of the pompous, uninformed, self-righteous burgher. He knows that Dems should be more godly. And he knows what to pay for a haircut.

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[DURHAM D]

1. This was not "hopeless" on Obama's part.

It is very deliberate. It furthers the generational divide he is creating in order to gain support among younger voters. It is a risky plan.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. Obama was just fine. He is open to looking at the problem but, rejects privitazation. good

You can't have things just drift as they are but, privatizing is stupid and wrong.
obama answered just right.

[durrrty libby]

5. He cooked his goose. Deal with reality

[terisan]

3. Agreed. The social security fear card-too bad Obama & Edwards are on the fear side. nt

[sandnsea]

4. So give that point up to the right??

Young people believe that and if we don't talk about it, then they'll go listen to the people who are. It's good Obama is bringing it up, we'll keep a lot of young people by getting in front of this issue.

[durrrty libby]

6. Young people don't think about SS. They are invincible and will never grow old

This is a dog for Obama

[killbotfactory]

7. No, they don't think SS will be there.

Partially because they are told by wiser and more experienced older people that they cannot rely on SS being there for them and to invest in 401k's.

[sandnsea]

8. My kids too

You think about it when you see a big chunk of money coming out of your check and a big chunk of baby boomers who are living longer and longer, especially when they're the ones who you're waiting on all day, in one way or another.

[Karmadillo]

9. kick