CNN: Is Perry a 'Bomb Thrower' for Calling Social Security a Ponzi Scheme?
The day after the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, CNN asked if Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry was being a "bomb thrower" for vilifying Social Security as a Ponzi scheme.
After playing a clip of Perry calling the program a "monstrous lie" and a "Ponzi scheme," CNN's Kyra Phillips teed up Democratic strategist Maria Cardona with this question: "Bomb thrower or truth teller, Maria?" Cardona predictably replied that Perry was a "bomb thrower."
[Video below the break.]
The network zeroed in on Perry's remarks Monday morning, in anticipation of Monday night's CNN/Tea Party debate in Florida. CNN's Jim Acosta hyped that the event could be a "Social Security smackdown in a state where the program is crucial to seniors."
Kyra Phillips also asked if Perry could even remain popular in Florida after his remarks, and noted that former Bush senior advisor Karl Rove criticized his words.
"Well tonight eight presidential candidates square off in Florida, a key battleground state and one filled with millions of older Americans who depend on Social Security. So now the question is, how popular will Rick Perry remain after blasting it?" Phillips asked.
A transcript of the segments, which aired on September 12, are as follows:
CNN
NEWSROOM
9/12/11
9:01 a.m. EDT
JIM ACOSTA, CNN correspondent: With the rest of the field looking to play catch-up, the CNN Tea Party debate in Florida could be a Social Security smackdown in a state where the program is crucial to seniors.
(Video Clip)
RICK PERRY, Republican presidential candidate: It is a Ponzi scheme to tell our kids that are 25 or 30 years old today you paying into a program that's going to be there –
(End Video Clip)
(...)
[9:14]
KYRA PHILLIPS: Well tonight eight presidential candidates square off in Florida, a key battleground state and one filled with millions of older Americans who depend on Social Security. So now the question is, how popular will Rick Perry remain after blasting it?
(...)
PHILLIPS: Well even Republican strategist Karl Rove says those comments are out of line.
(Video Clip)
KARL ROVE, Republican strategist: They're toxic in a general election environment, and they're also toxic in a Republican primary. I mean if you say Social Security is a failure and ought to be replaced by a state-level program, then people are going to say what do you mean by that, and make a judgment based on your answer to it.
(End Video Clip)
(...)
[10:22]
KYRA PHILLIPS: Alright guys, Rick Perry on Social Security. Take a listen.
(Video Clip)
PERRY: It is a monstrous lie. It is a Ponzi scheme to tell our kids that are 25 or 30 years old today you paying into a program that's going to be there –
(End Video Clip)
PHILLIPS: Bomb thrower or truth teller, Maria?
MARIA CARDONA, Democratic political strategist: Definitely bomb thrower, Kyra.
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Comments
Bombthrower???
Submitted by Dave the mailman on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 12:56pm.
Well, then I guess Crissy Mathews is one too, since he called it a ponzi scheme....
wait, HE's always been a bomb thrower....
what tingles says matters
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 1:00pm.
LITTLE.
Oh, shoot~
Submitted by GG_NB on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 1:18pm.
I blabbed about the MSM spotlighting the Fonzi Ponzi issue on some other Perry blog...who knows where [and more importantly, probably nobody cares, GG]. ^_^
P.S. Hey, one person PM'd me that they did care...very sweet, even if not true. ;) So I hunted it down and copied the applicable section I wrote that is on another blog:
"As for the 'Ponzi' quote, it may not be a pretty thing say, but it is a fair (if colorful) comparison to use to get the point across. AND, for those fearful of losing Social Security, Perry never said he'd nuke the program. He thinks it needs change, and I think a lot of Americans agree with that. The MSM jumped on it because, well, we all know what their agenda is. Also, someone stating the ugly that others won't say but many are thinking has become a novel concept...so it made the news."
"If not us, who? If not now, when?"
~Ronald Reagan
More terrorism lingo attached to GOP
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 1:12pm.
For all the outcries and finger-pointing, I have yet to hear any liberal explain why SS is not a Ponzi scheme. Matthews conceded last week. Bob Herbert apparently dismissed the classification by saying the Ponzi schemes are to make quick money, and nobody gets rich on SS. The SEC has a more practical definition of Ponzi scheme.
It reminds me of a moment back in my college days when a heated discussion about Jane Fonda broke out.
ME: Well, one thing we can all agree on. Jane Fonda is a thespian.
(Momentary shock, jaw-dropping, & scowls)
RESPONSES: What does her sexual orientation have to do with her politics? Why are you personally attacking her? Yadda-yadda-yadda.
My point is that there is a standard urge to merely react regardless of the truth. The Leftist instinct to jump on virtually any statement made by a conservative is evident with Perry and Ponzi.
IOUs Can't Save Social Security
Submitted by Par for the Course on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 1:27pm.
A decent opinion piece.
Par~
Submitted by GG_NB on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 1:31pm.
Good piece. Thanks!
"If not us, who? If not now, when?"
~Ronald Reagan
Liberal Nobel Prize winner for Economics Paul
Submitted by bkeyser on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 2:50pm.
Samuelson said in Newsweek in 1967:
Someone at CNN might want to inform Ms. Phillips and Ms. Cardona that Perry was not the first, nor is the GOP solely responsible for noting the "chain-letter game" nature of Social Security.
Perry IS a bomb thrower!
Submitted by Newsbubba on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 4:14pm.
That's why I like him, and will end up voting for him unless something strange happens.
I hope he keeps throwing bombs right through the general election. I can't wait to see that big earred little plick standing there looking shocked and offended at what Perry says.
The truth is sometimes unpleasant, but it has to be told without sugar coating it.
As a seasoned citizen, I can say the following:
Fellow old pharts, if you can't stand the truth, or you just don't give a crap about anything but your own wrinkled asses and a Social Security check, vote for the Democrat. If you have an ounce of pride and a backbone, then stand up and do the right thing without getting your panties in a wad about someone telling you an inconvenient truth!
Oh yeah. Go out and tell that to others who are sitting around and sniveling about someone needing to look after them.
No sniveling!!
Perry is right.
Submitted by Scott Trent on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 5:21pm.
It`s a ponzi scheme.
It's definitely a Ponzi scheme
Submitted by Marcus Porcius on Mon, 09/12/2011 - 8:04pm.
And now Obama is helping short change it even more with his "payroll tax cut."
http://www.theconservativereview.com/2011/09/12/obama-jobs-bill-hurts-so...
"Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions." G.K. Chesterton
www.theconservativereview.com