IL-06: Roskam Distorting Duckworth's Social Security Position
Most of you readers well know that GOP House candidate Peter Roskam, who's running against Dem Tammy Duckworth, is one of TPM's award-winning Social Security bamboozlers. Last year as a state senator, he ducked out of a vote on whether or not to back Bush's phase-out privatization plan. More recently, he told AARP that he opposed privatization -- even though he replied "yes" on the National Tax Payers Union's survey on whether he backed privatization. Given this record, it's kind of surprising to see that Roskam is now hammering Duckworth for wanting to take away Social Security in a new ad. In it, he says: "Tammy Duckworth says she'll cut Social Security benefits or even raise the retirement age. I never will."
But here's the rub: The basis for Roskam's attack is this line from an Oct. 6th Daily Herald article: "Duckworth has said she’d consider raising the retirement age." Guess what? Turns out the paper misquoted her. The next day, as the Duckworth campaign notes, the Herald ran a correction, saying she'd only consider raising it for workers who are not yet paying into the system. No correction on Roskam's ad yet, needless to say. Also note that Roskam's ad says Duckworth will raise the retirment age, while Duckworth actually said she'd only consider raising it, only on workers not yet paying in.
Whoever did this ad is an idiot. First, Roskam repeats some of the criticisms leveled against him -- but before he gets to the bamboozling denials and distortions of Duckworth's record, there's that wildly irrelevant, utterly distracting spousal schtick with the Speedo photo. (They even provide an audio cue -- the chime -- to highlight the photo.)
I gotta think most viewers will have one of two reactions: 1) "Hey, Marge, this clown just paid to televise a picture of himself in a Speedo!" or 2) "What the hell ... ?" The attempt at cutesy-pie, family-guy schmalz winds up, IMHO, drawing attention away from the points Roskam thinks he is making.
October 27, 2006 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah he's just trying to show he's a regular guy. Ya know not some nut who would endorse ethnic cleansing 12 million Mexicans, banning Harry Potter books, or outlawing abortion even in the case of rape or incest.
Of course the really dishonest thing about this ad is everybody knows he's talking out of both sides of his mouth on SS here. He's told the National Taxpayer's Umion and Richard Viguerie's astorturf outfit, the 60 Plus Association, that he's for privatization.
Maybe he plans on giving back the money to campaign contributors he shafts again like he did on tort reform.
October 27, 2006 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Roskam's ads are so repulsive that I've just about stopped watching the TV (so I guess I can thank him for something). Even the far-right Chicago Tribune editorial board has called him on his lying ads and endorsed Duckworth. He is against stem-cell research as it's usually defined -- like almost everyone else on the planet he supports ADULT stemcell research. In his ads he tries to shuffle the deck to pretend he's taken an honest position about fetal stem cells. Plus, of course, all the out-and-out lies about Duckworth's positions on social security, taxes, and so on. I like to think I'm reasonably cynical about politics, but the sliminess of this guy's campaign manages to drop me to new levels of despair. Rewarding him with a congressional seat would poison the American political system beyond repair.
If you're reading this, send Duckworth some money today. It's the only antidote.
October 27, 2006 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good Goddess! Aliens have landed!!! Aliens have landed!!! Quick send donations to Duckworth!
October 27, 2006 9:36 PM | Reply | Permalink