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FRANKEN’S ATTACK AD ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY LABELED “DISINGENUOUS” BY PROFESSOR
By Michael B. Brodkorb | September 19, 2008
“Paula O’Laughlin, an associate professor of political science at the University of Minnesota-Morris, called the Franken ad ‘disingenuous’ because the word privatize suggests ‘a larger, wholesale structural change.’ Republicans were ‘not really talking about privatizing it completely. They would give some people some control over some small amount.’” Source: Star Tribune, September 18, 2008
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42 Responses to “FRANKEN’S ATTACK AD ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY LABELED “DISINGENUOUS” BY PROFESSOR”
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September 19th, 2008 at 9:13 AM
I love how republicans are trying to run as fast as possible from the plan they’ve been advocating for years.
Doesn’t the professor also think republicans were disingenuous everytime they claims we should privatize social security? It’s THEIR term! It’s not like the republicans once suggested all of it be dumped into the market.
Jesus you people are desperate.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:21 AM
This is not something the professors get to decide. Republicans used to like the idea of privatizing Social Security, but in light of recent events, not so much.
What is clear is that had Republican policies been adopted, the Social Security crisis would be substantially worse then it is today. And Al Franken is right, the pressure to restructure the system would have been enormous.
As for disingenuousness, I suggest a simple test. Ask Norm Coleman if he still thinks Americans should turn over their savings to Wall Street. See what he says.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:38 AM
I’d rather turn my savings over to Wall Street which has a long-term record of delivering solid returns on investment and through which I can pass on my savings to my children, than to the government which gives me back less than I put in, which has a track record of mis-management and failure, and which robs me of passing my savings on to my children.
Democrats are selling “more of the same” socialist bullshit as “change.” Speaking of putting lipstick on a pig.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:52 AM
I’d rather turn my savings over to Wall Street which has a long-term record of delivering solid returns on investment and through which I can pass on my savings to my children, than to the government which gives me back less than I put in, which has a track record of mis-management and failure, and which robs me of passing my savings on to my children.
BAWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Good that you feel that way because as of now you’ll be giving about 480 billion to Wall Street to save their asses. Social Security has been one of the most effective and efficient programs in the history of our country.
Why do you hate America?
How much government is necessary to keep our markets afloat?
If its good enough for corporations to have agovernment safety net, why can’t the American people have one (social security)?
Don’t bother trying to answer those questions, just go back to telling us howthe fundamentals are sound. Oh, can you watch your mouth and post one thing without it being laced with profane AND lies? I’m use to the lies, you can’t help it but, there are decent people that read this award winnning blog and probably cringe when you take the helm.
Again, why do you hate America and her citizens?
September 19th, 2008 at 10:15 AM
“Good that you feel that way because as of now you’ll be giving about 480 billion to Wall Street to save their asses.”
Try one trillion!
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13602.html
Is China still loaning money?
Thanks Republicans for pushing us to the brink of complete financial collapse.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:19 AM
DJZ
Republicans have supported giving people the OPTION to put SOME of their Social Security dollars into the stock market.
Why do YOU hate the people of this country so much that you will take away their right to choose?
Even with the current circumstances I would be better off today if every penny I have paid into SS had been invested in the stock market. I would be able to retire now instead of when the goverment says I can.
Again, why do you think people are so stupid and why do you hate eveyone so much?
September 19th, 2008 at 10:22 AM
“Social Security has been one of the most effective and efficient programs in the history of our country.”
Bwahahahahaa…heh, heh, heh.
I can’t wait to see these naive assnozzles squirting pretty tears down their grizzled old faces when they reach into FDR’s “magic money box” and find it’s empty.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:22 AM
PD, if the do nothing Democrat controlled congress would have done something, anything, in the last two years to prevent this (since they claim to be so smart) why din’t they? What did they even attempt to do? What did thy even try to do in a bi-partisan manner?
They were so interested in Bush bashing they FAILED in their oversite responsibilities and that is why they will NOT win a super majority this year.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Un-related Item Update: In Dist 20A Mike Bredeck lawn signs are starting to disappear from stratgic locations. Many from locations where the home owner requested they be put up – like me.
I guess Andrew Falk is getting desperate a little earlier in the campaign than Aaron Peterson used to.
At least there are several hundred more still up…
September 19th, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Mike Bredeck could have a sign in every lawn in that district, and he would still lose.
Maybe if he spent less time reading the script provided from St. Paul as to what he should believe, and more time actually meeting voters, he would have a chance.
But he won’t, so he doesn’t.
September 19th, 2008 at 10:45 AM
So Leroy, what is Mike Bredeck saying that is coming from some script in St Paul? And where did you hear him say it? What public forum or when did you have a discussion with Mike?
Or are you just talking out of your ass – again?
September 19th, 2008 at 11:02 AM
I know plenty of folks in that district who say that Bredek is resonating with the voters even less than he did last go round. And that is saying something.
At least last time, he was a new candidate. Now he is a known loser.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Leroy, as I thought. Talking out of your ass. No surprise there.
Having been out there talking to the voters and seeing what is going on out here maybe you can explain to me why so many Democrats and Independents are knocking his door down to get lawn signs? And contribute.
You may spew forth your BS but everyone knows it is BS. I doubt if you know anyone in the district other than maybe a few highly partisan Democrats who will tell you their boy Andrew has no chance of winning.
http://www.bredeck.com – check it out.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Whatever helps you pass out at night.
You would think for being a teacher and a coach, Bredeck would have gained more loyalty from the area, but as the campaign moves on, it is becoming apparent that this isn’t the case. Apparently the message of an old bored guy running for office once again, telling the voters exactly what Marty Siefert has told him to tell them is not too appealing. Contrast it with a young wind developer who wants to make it possible for more young people like him to live and find jobs in the district, and you don’t have much of a fight.
How many times will Bredeck have to run before he gets the point? Voters don’t like candidates who are unwilling to hold positions that are better for the district than the party.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Isn’t this thread about yet another example of Angry Al’s dishonesty?
Maybe we get off topic because Angry Al’s dishonesty is just so commonplace, it’s simply not news anymore.
Today’s Headlines:
Dog Bites Man.
Franken Lies
September 19th, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Leroy, I ask you again, what is it that Marty is supposedly telling Mike Bredeck to say? A quote or two would be nice. Maybe some actual facts rather than your BS.
If Mike was doing what you say why do you suppose Education Minnesota endorsed him? Yes, the union that represents 70,000+ teachers in Minnesota has endorsed Mike Bredeck for House Dist 20A.
If you did your research you would find out that Mike is much better than a young man whose only interest is in Wind Energy – something him and his family is heavily invested in. Not to mention his campaign chairman.
Thank God Independents, Democrats, and Republicans are joining together and supporting Mike Bredeck.
The people of this district do not want to elect another ineffective youngster who has no practical experience at anything. Andrew has done nothing in his life to improve the conditions of his fellow citizens of the district.
Not to mention that incident he had a few years ago – people out here frown on that type of irresponsible behavior.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Of course Ed MN endorsed him. He is a teacher, Andrew Falk is not. Also, Falk’s mom and uncle, who each had votes on the endorsement, abstained.It is hard to get endorsed when that big a percentage of the small group making the decision can’t vote.
And to suggest that Peterson was ineffective is laughable. He was the driving force behind the renewable energy standard. To say that the people of that district were not helped by that shows your biased inability to accept reality.
And as for the “incident”, I am quite certain Bredeck does not want to go down that road. Plenty of people have first hand stories about your guy that will make one isolated incident seem like what it was, one isolated incident.
September 19th, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Education Minnesota endorsed Aaron Peterson last time. Aaron was not a teacher. Two people supposedly abstaining (or so you say) had a minimum impact on the vote.
How many jobs did Peterson bring to the district? Or did his efforts result in him getting an executive position with a wind energy company.
I would love to hear anything truthful anyone has about Mike. Since Mike is director of Minnesota Boys State you would think anything that has any truth to it would have come out long ago.
You are a funny little man Leroy. You continue to support losers. Silly boy.
September 19th, 2008 at 12:40 PM
PD, if the do nothing Democrat controlled congress would have done something, anything, in the last two years to prevent this (since they claim to be so smart) why din’t they? What did they even attempt to do? What did thy even try to do in a bi-partisan manner?
No sir!
You don’t get to disown the last eight years in which your party has had control.
You don’t get to ignore the 95 times the Democrats in the Senate had to file to stop the Republican filibuster whenever anything that had to do with regulation came up.
You don’t get to ask about bi-partisanship after kicking the Democrats ass for 14 years with the most partisan congressional actions ever.
For the record, the Democrats attempted a helluva lot and the House passed a lot. Death by procedures.
Now, look at todays news. There is an average of one anti-trust violation going on a day, the Administration has been AWOL. That aged nitwit has fought any oversight and regulation for DECADES.
I’ve got a bi-partisan solution for you, vote the rest of the Republicans out and let Obama fix the government.
Oh and thanks to your crooked buddies I’ll be OK without Social Security.
September 19th, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Thanks Republicans for pushing us to the brink of complete financial collapse.
Remind me again who owns both houses of Congress? I forget.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:04 PM
DJZ, actually I do get to say what I want. This isn’t one of the liberal blogs that deletes posts from people who speak the truth.
The Democrats were elected two years ago on a reform agenda. They failed. You can lie and claim that the Republicans prevented them from passing their radical left legislation for partisan purposes but you would be wrong (getting to be habit with you don’t you think?).
The Republicans were more than willing to work with the Democrats on these issues but were rejected out of hand by the Democrats EVEN THOUGH THE DEMOCRATS KNEW THEY WOULD FAIL BECAUSE OF IT!
The Democrats failed miserably to do what they had promised to do – execpt for raising the price of gas. The Democrats have been wanting to raise the price of gas for many years now. The only difference is they wanted to tax the hell out of it. Instead the Democrat policies caused the price of oil to increase dramatically since they took over Congress – now there is no room for tax increases. Such a foolish bunch of children in the Democrat leadership.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:18 PM
Sounds like Angry Al’s ad is about as ludicrous as Angry Al’s embedded blogger at MNPublius calling Ed Kohler a non-political blogger. Uh-huh. Look at the guy’s Twitter feed, he’s as liberal and political as anyone.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:43 PM
“The Democrats were elected two years ago on a reform agenda. They failed.”
Please. You can’t reform Congress with barely over 50 senators and a president that will veto anything that gets through. Especially when the Republicans were committed to (and succeeded at) setting a record for filibusters. Have you even taken high school civics?
September 19th, 2008 at 1:58 PM
Please. When you own 50 plus one you control the agenda, the committees, the timing of bills coming to a vote (if ever).
Be honest for a change. You guys ripped Republicans when the control the House and Senate – the Senate without 60 votes – but want to run away now that you’re in control. You can’t have it both ways.
And yes, got an “A” in “civics”.
September 19th, 2008 at 2:03 PM
PD, why didn’t you tell the Democrats that two years ago when they were saying they could? Do you live in the real world or in the dark world of the DFL? You should be talking to your buddies and asking them why they made promises they could not keep.
The Democrats did nothing but try to pass legislation that they KNEW would not make it just so party hacks like you could complain about the Republicans blocking their legislation.
The Democrats never have and never will work in a non-partisan manner. The good news is that most voters are looking for that now and they know from the Democrat failure that the Democrats will not do that.
You liberal left wing hacks are in for a hugh surprise in November. This is way to much fun!
September 19th, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Has this woman donated to Al Franken?:
http://media.newsbusters.org/stories/sandra-bernhard-palin-would-be-gang-raped-blacks-manhattan.html
September 19th, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Ziggy dog shit says: “Social Security has been one of the most effective and efficient programs in the history of our country.”
Yeah, it’s so effective that it will be BANKRUPT in the next 20 years. As compared to the stock market, which even during a slow economy has is 17% FOR PAST 5 YEARS, AND UP 43% PAST 10 YEARS…
Yeah, that social security’s constant 3.5 percent investment return is a real winner.
You’re so f’n stupid Ziggy, it’s beyond even you.
September 19th, 2008 at 2:52 PM
On the other hand, maybe “Social Security has been one of the most effective and efficient programs in the history of our country.”
BECAUSE ALL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS ARE SUCH COLOSSAL FAILURES AND WASTES OF TIME.
September 19th, 2008 at 2:53 PM
“Mike Bredeck could have a sign in every lawn in that district, and he would still lose.”
How’s that Roy? You shipping in a few dozen busloads of illegal voters?
September 19th, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Chestnut hits it on the head, in spite of everything else going on, the market is up. Again, the stock market has NEVER had a 10 year period where it has lost money. Never. Please privatize social security! I trust capitalism far more than I trust government.
Also, not only does social security have an anemic 3.5% return rate (I have seen 6 month CD’s that can kick SSI’s ass), but that money goes away the day you die. I think I should decide who gets the accumulation of my life’s work when I tip over.
September 19th, 2008 at 3:52 PM
Consider this fact about social security. The system is racist.
Blacks are more likely to die before their social security benefits kick in, or shortly thereafter, so they never receive back what they paid in. Moreover, social security is also usually the only savings blacks have.
For blacks, social security not only robs them of their income, it robs them of one of the only vehicles they have to build and pass on wealth… sending their hard earned money to elderly white people.
Next time Al Franken tells you he’ll do everything to sustain the status quo for social security, ask him why he supports slavery.
September 19th, 2008 at 4:49 PM
The Republicans are corrupt – morally and intellectually: If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you’re ʼexotic, different.’ Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers and skinning and gutting moose, a quintessential American story. If your name is Barack you’re a radical, unpatriotic Muslim. Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you’re a maverick. Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable. Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you’re well-grounded. If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, became the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, became chairman of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, spend 2 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environmental and Public Works and Veteran’s Affairs committees, you don’t have any real leadership experience. If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you’re qualified to become the country’s second highest ranking executive. If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 daughters, all within Protestant churches, you’re not a real Christian. If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your broken and disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you’re a Christian. If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society. If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state’s school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you’re very responsible. If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family’s values don’t represent America’s. If you’re husband is nicknamed ‘First Dude’, with at least one DUI conviction and no college education, who didn’t register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.
September 19th, 2008 at 5:22 PM
Say, Ziegler?
Do you play the banjo?
September 19th, 2008 at 7:03 PM
At the risk of interjecting reality into the discussion, I would point out that Angry Al is vowing to vote for making Social Security bankrupt, so that it FAILS to provide promised benefits. And that will be less than ten years from now. How is that better than privatization?
The math has all been done. People can retire earlier, with higher incomes, and the economy can get a huge boost in the meantime. Complete privatization has been done in Chile and was a runaway success. The only obstacle to this is Democrat doofuses like Al Franken that think socialist dreams can become reality if you shout loud enough.
September 19th, 2008 at 8:31 PM
The Democrats are corrupt – morally and intellectually: If you grow up in an ordinary family, work hard, provide honest leadership, and live a clean life consistent with your beliefs, you’re a “religious nutcase.” Grow up in Hawaii, ingratiate yourself with the Chicago hate machine, do the bidding of crooks and cheats, lie about your resume, and write two autobiographies about yourself despite having never done anything remarkable, and you’re a here… but only if you’re black.
If your name is Sarah or John, you’re a whitebread nutcase. If your name is Barak, oooo you must be special.
Work your way through college, there must be something wrong with you. Become an EEOC candidate and you’re “accomplished.”
If you spend 3 years as a mediocre community organizer who can’t point to one thing he accomplished, get the token seat on the Harvard Law Review and drive it’s quality through the floor, work with voter registration organizations renowned for fraud, lie about your career as a law professor, spend 8 years as a state Senator and lie about your accomplishments… what few there are were handed to you because you’re an EEOC candidate, spend 100 days in the United States Senate before breaking your word to fulfill your term to run for President despite your astonishing lack of accomplishment, poor judgment and inability to get even simple things done, somehow Democrats acclaim you for your amazing feats . .. but only because you’re black.
If you’re a working mother who joined the PTA, ran for Mayor and beat the incumbent Republican cleaned house, threw out the former mayor’s friends and family members, cleaned up government, turned your city around, then ran for Governor, defeated the Republican incumbent and in just two years installed critical infrastructure, renegotiated multi-million dollar deals which brought new revenue to your state budget, cleaned up corruption, reduced earmarks to a fraction of what they once were, killed an embarrassing bridge project and achieve fully 86 percent approval rating and attained remarkable executive leadership experience… in other words, if you are a strong, capable, intelligent, independent minded woman, you’re a whore if you don’t tow the socialist line.
If you’ve sat for 20 years in a church led by your “spiritual mentor” who happens to be a racist, anti-American con-artist who married you, and baptized your children you’re the next best leader of the country… but only because you’re black.
If you advocate teaching kindergartners how to have sex, you’re a good Democrat.
If you want sex ed programs to be targeted to more appropriate age levels and to include education on THE ONLY way to prevent unwanted pregnancies, you’re a nutcase.
If you’re wife, who once was a militant socialist race-baiting queen and who now works to push the uninsured out of her hospital gets a $200,000 raise for no good reason after you secure a $1 million earmark, you’re a reformer… but only because you’re black.
If you and your husband live an honest, clean life and raise a beautiful family on the love you have, you’re a religious freak.
Go to hell Ziggy dog shit.
September 19th, 2008 at 8:35 PM
What’s the matter DJZ, you worried about your candidate losing? Of all 4 people involved in the Presidential race he is the least qualified. He has the least experience in managing. He has never been “tried” – he is a hugh risk.
You need to learn to accept and live with failure DJZ. The world is changing and the Democrats are going to be left behind. Democrats keep pushing more and more liberal candidates.
I can’t wait for Nov. 4.
September 19th, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Here’s the bottom line on why Franken’s Social Seurity ad is disingenuous.
Norm Coleman, at no time, advocated or voted for a complete privatization of Social Security.
Franken’s ad is disingenuous because he makes it sound as though Coleman advocated or voted for a complete privatization of Social Security.
Coleman has stated that he’s never been opposed to the idea of some people being allowed to privatize part of their Social Security. For those individuals who don’t want to risk the ups and downs of the stock market, they DO NOT have to participate in any investment nor will they be expected to pay the tab for those who experimented with investing and failed.
Franken was disingenuous in his ad. That IS the bottom line, folks.
September 20th, 2008 at 7:59 AM
And more than that: If everyone who paid into Social Security were simply given the US Treasury bonds that constitute the trust fund, they would have a real investment, paying 3 times the return of Social Security itself, and just as secure. The obvious question: why NOT privatize Social Security? It cannot be done immediately, but it MUST be phased in over the next 30-40 years, or the system WILL FAIL.
And if we cannot sensibly address something as simple and straightforwardly wrong as Social Security, how will we ever address something like Medicare, with a debt three times the size and certain bankruptcy imminent?
September 20th, 2008 at 12:04 PM
I’m not worried at all. Never have been.
The Republicans have served this election up to us on a nice silver platter (paid for by us of course.)
Its a foregone conclusion that we will make gains in Congress. No one is arguing against that.
With all of the Chestnuts- I mean, shit thrown at Obama, he still sails on through and has only been down once this entire general. The polls of registered voters show a close race with Obama leading. That doesn’t include the hundreds of thousands registered this year by democrats versus the eleven thousand by Republicans (go ahead and start your whining about cheating).
The economy is falling apart with most Republicans saying it was fine just earlier this week on this board. Its failing due to direct changes in regulation and practice supported by McCain over the last 17 years. Some of the very lobbyists who pushed for these changes are now running his campaign. We also see that Palin has a record, as a local and statewide executive of squandering surpluses and running up debt.
Those are the facts.
No matter what you throw, you can’t run from that and the American people aren’t stupid enough to give the Republicans four more years to finish the job.
All Democrats should be pleased. We are moving toward the Left more and more as a country and that word of ‘socialism’ is exactly where we’re moving when the government is allowed to interfere with the free market to manipulate results so that the collective can benefit. A capitalist country that the government controls the financial institutions, mortgage industry and now moving into the insurance industry. The auto industry is around the corner and health care will be next.
Ironic it took republican practices to force us into this direction. Its nice to see that the republicans understand that government has a role in society and that isn’t to be small and tax-free.
Hey, Chestnut, go back in your trailer until you can communicate without sounding like you’re and inbred.
September 20th, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Hey, Ziggy, go back in your trailer until you can communicate without sounding like you’re and inbred.
…. besides, your mother is calling you back to bed.
September 21st, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Well, look who can pop off a funny one without cursing. Now that didn’t hurt one bit, did it?
You get a point for that one. Substituting sister or cousin or uncle would have been acceptable too.
Back to my main point:
Now that we have a socialist country (a country where the government controls and/or owns the main market), are you going to stay or leave for China?
September 21st, 2008 at 2:48 PM
Flew in from Miami Beach BOAC
Didn’t get to bed last night
Oh, the way the paper bag was on my knee
Man, I had a dreadful flight
I’m back in the USSR
You don’t know how lucky you are, boy
Back in the USSR, yeah
Been away so long I hardly knew the place
Gee, it’s good to be back home
Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case
Honey disconnect the phone
I’m back in the USSR
You don’t know how lucky you are, boy
Back in the US
Back in the US
Back in the USSR
Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out
They leave the west behind
And Moscow girls make me sing and shout
They Georgia’s always on my my my my my my my my my mind
Oh, come on
Hu Hey Hu, hey, ah, yeah
yeah, yeah, yeah
I’m back in the USSR
You don’t know how lucky you are, boys
Back in the USSR
Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out
They leave the west behind
And Moscow girls make me sing and shout
They Georgia’s always on my my my my my my my my my mind
Oh, show me round your snow peaked
mountain way down south
Take me to you daddy’s farm
Let me hear you balalaika’s ringing out
Come and keep your comrade warm
I’m back in the USSR
Hey, You don’t know how lucky you are, boy
Back in the USSR
Oh, let me tell you honey