When Harry Met Nancy

Reid and Pelosi invite the President to a National Town Hall on Soc Sec dismant... er privatiz... er personal accounts... yeah, that's it, personal accounts (emphasis mine):

Dear President Bush:

We are writing today to discuss with you directly our views on the ongoing debate over Social Security and your continuing efforts to sell your plan to privatize the system.

As you may know, throughout this entire session of Congress including this most recent Congressional recess, we and the members of our Caucuses have traveled throughout our states and districts, talking directly to the American people about Social Security and our concerns about privatization. We have heard from our constituents and Americans from all across the country that they are concerned that the deep benefit cuts and massive new debt required by your privatization proposal will do more to dismantle the Social Security system than strengthen it.

As we have watched you and members of your administration travel throughout the country on your “60 Stops in 60 Days” Tour, we have seen and heard numerous accounts indicating that your events have been carefully staged and scripted to ensure that you will only hear from handpicked participants who support your privatization plan. Despite your statements that you welcome hearing all views on this important issue, it seems increasingly clear that the vast majority of Americans who oppose your privatization plan are excluded from participating in the conversation.

We believe it is critical to hear voices from all sides of the debate to ensure that the positions we take and the decisions we make truly reflect the national interest.

Therefore, as you reach the mid-point of this sixty day tour, we would like to invite you to participate in a National Town Hall on Social Security privatization. We would work with you and your staff to ensure that members of the general public would be invited so that you could hear first hand the concerns most Americans have about your privatization plan and its deep benefit cuts and massive debt increases.

We hope that you will join us for this conversation with the American people.

Sincerely,



NancyPelosi Harry Reid

House Democratic Leader Senate Democratic Leader