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Privateers whine about the truth

Florida is home to more retirees on Social Security than any other state. Our elected representatives are starting to feel some heat regarding their support of W’s plans to destroy the system in favor of privatized accounts. Oh, and they’re whining about it.

Gladys Van Otteren, a West Palm Beach Republican and mother of six, said she was outraged when she got the phone call Thursday and wondered why whoever is paying for the calls is hiding their identity.

"Somebody should do something about this," she said. "This is going to freak out a lot of older people."

According to a transcript provided by Shaw's office, the automated message starts with "Hi" and continues: "I am calling to alert you that your congressman, Clay Shaw, supports privatizing Social Security. This plan would cost taxpayers $2 trillion. It would also decrease future benefits to retirees by 47 percent. The Social Security Trust Fund should be in a lock box, not a Wall Street slot machine. Tell Congressman Shaw that we want real Social Security reform, not a risky Wall Street gamble."

Sounds about right to me.

Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall is the place to go for up to the minute updates on who is supporting the President’s plan to thrust the elderly into poverty.