Rick Perry's Social Security attacks: Do elderly voters approve?
The GOP's presidential frontrunner brands Social Security a "Ponzi scheme," but he's still trouncing his rivals in the polls — even among the 65+ set
During Monday night's GOP presidential debate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry's rivals kept hitting him over his description of Social Security as a "Ponzi scheme." And over the weekend, Mitt Romney sent Florida voters a flyer calling Perry "reckless and wrong on Social Security," and warning that the Texan wants to "kill" the program. But if this is an effort to hobble Perry among older voters, it doesn't seem to be working, according to a new CNN poll. Not only is Perry beating Romney among all GOP voters — 32 percent to 21 percent — but Perry is also crushing Romney among the 65+ set by an impressive 52 percent to 21 percent. Is questioning the viability of Social Security actually helping Perry among seniors?
Social Security certainly isn't hurting Perry: The CNN polls is a pretty unambiguous endorsement of Perry's Social Security politics, says Byron York at The Washington Examiner. If the "voters most affected by the issue" don't care, Perry should either "stick with his 'Ponzi scheme' critique," or keep the same it's-broken message while toning down "those incindiary words" — essentially what he did in a new USA Today op-ed. It's Romney and Co. who need a Plan B.
"Despite Social Security, older voters like Perry"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
And Republicans can't attack Perry from the left: "A fair chunk of the GOP's hardcore base actually agrees with the basic sentiment Perry expressed" on Social Security, says Steve Kornacki at Salon. But even those who don't agree find it galling that Romney is hitting Perry by using "the same scare tactics that Democrats are so fond of" on entitlements. That's a problematic primary strategy for a moderate ex-governor of Massachusetts trying to woo conservative activists.
"Was Rick Perry's real Achilles' heel just exposed?"
Hold on. Perry's rhetoric is toxic: Don't be fooled, says Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo. Perry's fierce attacks on Social Security in his book Fed Up! — published only last year — are still clearly haunting him. The book "is just a massive obstacle to Perry's run." Obviously, he didn't plan on running for president when he wrote it. "Now he's stuck with it." Social Security "is becoming for Perry what [health insurance] mandates have been for Romney. Just can't thread the needle, [and] trying to walk it back just becomes a muddle."
Give Perry credit — he knows exactly what he's doing: Perry's "wholesale attack on the Social Security system" is a lot like his much-discussed nod in 2010 to a possible Texas secession, says Matthew Dowd at National Journal. Pundits interpreted that remark as a huge misstep, but Perry knew better. By courting controversy on Social Security, Perry not only taps into a GOP belief that the federal government is broken and dishonest, but also scores points for looking "authentic and true."
"Is Rick Perry the Br'er Rabbit of the Republican field?"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What is cloud seeding and did it cause Dubai's severe rainfall?
The Explainer The future is flooded
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
American Airlines pilots are warning of a 'significant spike' in safety issues
In the Spotlight The pilot's union listed 'problematic trends' they say are affecting the airline's fleet
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
6 star-spangled presidential libraries to visit
The Week Recommends These institutions provide insight into American leaders
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published