Harry Reid warns reporter not to fall into Frank Luntz's trap

[Cocoa]

Reid is being polite here. As Reid knows, the reporter isn't falling into the trap, the reporter is helping Luntz trap Reid in it...

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1033728,...

<snip>

Asked by a reporter on Tuesday about President Bush's plan for Social Security "private accounts," Arizona Republican Sen. John Kyl snapped "personal accounts." The surprised reporter corrected herself, saying "personal accounts,” and only then did Kyl answer the question. Later that day, Democratic Senator Harry Reid, asked about Bush's plan for "personal accounts," riffed about how the reporter had fallen into a trap laid by Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster who reportedly advises the party on word choice, and then ripped Bush's plan for "private accounts."

[vi5]

1. Good for Reid for being quick and calling him out on it...

Seriously. Even if the reporter knew what he/she was doing, good for Reid for calling them on it.

[Stand and Fight]

2. These guys are dangerous!

I hope that Senator Reid continues to fight these thuggish bastards tooth and nail. They cannot be allowed to continue their wholesale war against the very programs and ideas that have served to make this country great.

[mattclearing]

3. Yeah, people really need to be aware of the GOP's use of language.

It has played a massive role in their resurgence...their media machine and word choice were major factors in 2000, and have served them well ever since.

[last1standing]

4. I'm really warming up to this guy.

I think I may have been very wrong about Sen. Reid.

[Stand and Fight]

9. And you're alright to have the honesty to admit that...

Now I only wish you could pass some of your wisdom to Bush-boy in regards to... well, everything.

[rockymountaindem]

11. You're far ahead of many on this board.

Plenty can never admit they might be wrong. You have my respect for that.

[MissB]

14. I guess I'm going to have to say the same thing.

I wasn't terribly impressed with his delivery after the last State of the Union speech, but he says the right thing.

[kentuck]

5. The difference between "private" and "personal" accounts...

"Personal" accounts denote an ownership - personal means they belong to you personally. So personal accounts would hardly be the right definition for Bush's "private" accounts, I don't think. Perhaps "private" is not the correct term either??

[cally]

7. I'm sure you know this but it's all about the polling

Private accounts gets bad poll numbers and personal accounts does better.

[kentuck]

10. Yes..I was attempting to add another reason why not to refer to

them as "personal accounts"...

[cestpaspossible]

8. They are Wall Street Accounts

that's where the money would go, and that's who stands to profit the most from Bush's scheme.

[AirAmFan]

12. 'EMBEZZLEMENT accounts' would be an even better term. We need stronger,

more evocative words than 'private accounts' to alert Americans about what the Rethugs are trying to do.

Their strategy is to siphon FICA money away from Baby Boomers' retirement checks, so that a social insurance system currently solvent for decades will go bankrupt. Former Rethug leader Dick Armey says the idea behind so-called 'Social Security reform' is to PHASE OUT Social Security, not 'save' it. See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1634126

[fob]

15. Pirate Accounts! The Piratization of SS will shiver ye grandma's timber!

[Alizaryn]

6. I was apathetic about Reid to begin with I have to admit but

he had really proved me wrong and I'm glad! He is showing a real street-smartness in his position.

[RobertSeattle]

13. Perhaps we should "accidentally" say Luntz's last name incorrectly..

:evilgrin:

[ClassWarrior]

16. Love it! But the link's broken...

NGU.