« SpongeBob NoPants | Main | Do Not Extrapolate »

January 22, 2005
The Policy Formerly Known As Privatization

As noted a couple of days ago, the word "privatization" has been stricken from the approved Republican vocabulary in favor of the term "personal savings accounts." Republicans from the President on down have quickly moved to the preferred phrasing, denying that they ever used the other term.

Josh Marshall has started a contest to collect proof that this is virtually always a lie.

The first examples to come in are pretty clear.

Rep. Chris Chocola (R) of Indiana before word came down from party headquarters (Nov. 1, 2000)...

"Bush's plan of individual investment of 2 percent of the money is a start. Eventually, I'd like to see the entire system privatized. It's not a 'risky scheme.'"

Rep. Chris Chocola (R) of Indiana after word came down from party headquarters (Sept. 3rd, 2002)...

"I do not support the privatization of Social Security."

Bob Novak before the word came down from party headquarters (Capital Gang, Sept. 14th, 2002 where we find Mark Shields at mid-Outrage of the Week)...

Mark Shields: In an Orwellian abuse of the language, conservatives, including even the respected Cato Institute, insist that they're now for Social Security choice, not for dreaded 'privatization'. Yes, and war is peace.

Robert D. Novak.

NOVAK: I'm still for privatization.

Bob Novak after the word came down from party headquarters (Crossfire, Oct. 28th, 2002)...

[Democratic consultant] Steve McMahon: I thought they were accusing the Republicans of wanting to privatize Social Security which, after all, is what Republicans wanted.

NOVAK: That's a Democratic term.

Talking Points Memo

Comments

Previous Comments