FactCheck.org Bush’s State of the Union: Social Security “Bankruptcy?”:
FactCheck.org MoveOn.org Social Security Ad
The folks at FactCheck.org are equally critical of Bush’s use of agressive projections and language as he pushed his plan to revamp Social Security in his State of the Union address and MoveOn.org’s use of false claims regarding cuts in benefit payments.
“In his State of the Union Address, President Bush said again that the Social Security system is headed for ‘bankruptcy,’ a term that could give the wrong idea. Actually, even if it goes ‘bankrupt’ a few decades from now, the system would still be able to pay about three-quarters of the benefits now promised.
Bush also made his proposed private Social Security accounts sound like a sure thing, which they are not. He said they ‘will’ grow fast enough to provide a better return than the present system. History suggests that will be so, but nobody can predict what stock and bond markets will do in the future.”
Moveon.org
“MoveOn.org launched a false TV ad in the districts of several House members, claiming through images and words that President Bush plans to cut Social Security benefits nearly in half. Showing white-haired workers lifting boxes, mopping floors, shoveling and laundering, the ad says ‘it won’t be long before America introduces the working retirement.’”