Exploiting a Misconception

Bush: "Interesting, isn't it? They took a survey amongst youngsters. Somebody explained to me, I didn't actually watch -- see the survey, but I heard what the person said. He said, more people are -- that are Christy's age think they're more likely to see a UFO than get a Social Security check. (Laughter.) Pretty funny when you think about the fact that a lot of young people are going to be putting a lot of money into a system that may not be around. So we're sitting here with a senior in college saying, I don't think the system is going to be around."

Is it just a coincidence that so many of the young people sharing the stage with the president are laboring under this particular misconception?

No. As Warren Vieth writes in a break-out Los Angeles Times story today, the White House is specifically looking for such people.

Vieth got a hold of a memo circulated this week by one of the outside organizations that helps provide Bush's supporting cast. For an event next week, the White House turned to Women Impacting Public Policy.

" 'President Bush will be in Rochester, N.Y., for an upcoming event and has called on WIPP for help,' the memo to members stated.

"It went on to describe several types of workers the White House wanted to appear on stage with Bush, starting with a young wage-earner 'who knows that SS could run out before they retire.' . . .

"White House spokesman Trent Duffy declined to discuss WIPP's e-mail to prospective participants in the Rochester forum, which has not been announced. But he said it was not unusual for the White House to work with groups such as WIPP to identify people who can help Bush make the case for restructuring."

Writes Vieth: "Although it is common for advocacy groups and political organizations to spotlight supportive views at public events, the WIPP memo suggests that the White House has provided outside organizations with explicit instructions on the kind of participants it has in mind."

Is Anyone Listening?

Peter Baker writes in The Washington Post: "The obligatory campaign-style signs were hung behind the stage, the familiar hand-selected 'conversation participants' seated next to him. The friendly, invitation-only audience cheered with appropriate enthusiasm. And when President Bush took the microphone, he spun out more or less the same speech he has given dozens of times before.

"On the 78th day of a 60-day roadshow, the president's nationwide Social Security tour, even to some of his own aides, has the feel of a past-its-prime Broadway production that has been held over while other, newer shows steal the spotlight.

"On Capitol Hill, they are talking about filibusters, on Embassy Row about the civilian massacre in Uzbekistan, at the Pentagon about the latest surge in violence in Iraq. But Bush keeps plugging on, pounding home a practiced message on Social Security that polls show so far has not sold the country."

Baker relates a telling fact: a half-empty press charter. "None of the networks sent its regular White House correspondent. USA Today, the Washington Times and other papers that usually cover presidential trips saw no reason to cover this one. Even some White House aides weary of the barnstorming privately roll their eyes and groan at the notion of yet another Social Security trip."