We’ve mentioned this before and certainly we’re not the only ones. But it bears watching and repeating.
It is not just that Social Security phase-out is proving unpopular in some states where President Bush is popular. It’s turning out to be most unpopular in some of the reddest parts of the country. Alabama is a good example. Montana is another. Or Rep. Virgil Goode (R) in Southside Virginia. And they’re not the only ones.
This isn’t particularly surprising when you think about it. These are areas are often older, more rural and have more voters with lower incomes. These are states where President Bush has campaigned on a pseudo-populism which is belied by his own economic policies.
Phase-out is bringing the contradiction to the surface.