ABC and AP Support Democrat’s Disinformation Campaign On Social Security Reform

ABC online headline via the AP: Bush Helping Two Vulnerable Republicans - Bush Helping Two Vulnerable Republicans Who've Become Targets on Social Security.

The ABC headline and the entire AP article that follows is an exercise in news distortion. Here is one of the best examples:

“Bush was traveling later Friday to South Bend, Ind., and both stops were meant to shore up the electoral prospects of Republican lawmakers Mike Ferguson of New Jersey and Chris Chocola of Indiana who are getting heat over the issue.”

The article leaves you with the impression that the two Republican Congressman called on President Bush to come to their rescue to help bolster their popularity within their districts. Somehow a visit by the President was ”meant to shore up the electoral prospects” of two men that were just sworn into office two months ago.

Rep. Ferguson has yet to take a position on Social Security reform, although he has been the target of an AARP and an American Federation of Teacher’s telephone smear campaign that has been going on for over a month.

What the AP should have reported was that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is running a disinformation campaign against President Bush’s plans to reform Social Security. As part of the Democrat’s campaign, the DNC runs hit ads against Republican Congressman to coincide with the President’s visit to their state.

Here’s a transcript of the radio ad the DNC began running as President Bush came to Westfield New Jersey today:

This week President Bush brought his risky plan for Social Security to New Jersey — a plan that would end Social Security's guaranteed benefits and tie our retirement savings to the ups and downs of the stock market.

How does President Bush plan to pay for this risky scheme you ask. First, he'll borrow $4.5 trillion from foreign countries. Then he'll cut benefits by up to 40%.Cutting benefits and borrowing trillions from foreign nations won't solve Social Security problems - it WILL make them worse.

Call New Jersey Congressman Mike Ferguson at 908-757-7835 and tell him you do not want your benefits cut.

Call Congressman Ferguson and tell him to oppose President Bush's risky scheme that would put in jeopardy our social security benefits here in New Jersey.We cannot afford to be silent.

Paid for by Democratic National Committee. This communication not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. The DNC is responsible for the content of this advertising.

We suggest you email, call or write ABC News, the Associated Press and the Democratic National Committee and tell them what you think of about their campaign of distortion and out right lies about Social Security reform.

ABC News – email: support@abcnews.go.com, Address: 7 WEST 66th Street, New York, NY 10023, Phone number: (212) 456-7777

Associated Press: - email: info@ap.org, Address:450 W 33rd St, New York, NY 10001-2603, Phone: (212) 621-1500

DNC – Form for email: http://www.democrats.org/contact/, Address: 430 S. Capitol St. SE,:, Washington DC 20003, Phone Number: 202-863-8000