Television Ad Hits Bush Privatization Plan That Drastically Cuts Benefits

WASHINGTON — MoveOn.org today began airing a television ad calling on Members of Congress to oppose President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security. The ad is the first of many expected from groups involved in a coordinated campaign to fight the President's plan led by the Campaign for America's Future.

The television ad, called "Working Retirement," is airing in the districts of Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla., Rep. Chris Chocola, R-Ind., and Rep. Jim Gerlach, R-Penn., and other local markets. It is also airing on television in New York and Washington, D.C. A full-page advertisement in the New York Times will also run on Wednesday, the day President Bush plans to deliver his State of the Union address.

"Watch out, privatizers," said Roger Hickey, co-director of the Campaign for America's Future. "Opponents of President Bush's privatization plan are becoming very visible."

The television ads focus on drastic benefit cuts at the center of the President's proposal — cuts that some experts estimate could amount to 46 percent in real dollars over the long run. They will air first in the districts of Members of Congress who may support the President's proposal to privatize Social Security.

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SCRIPT
:60

VO: First, someone thought up the working lunch.

Then, we discovered the working vacation.

And now, thanks to George Bush's planned Social Security benefit cuts of up to 46% to pay for private accounts, it won't be long before America introduces the world to…

The working retirement.

FADE TO MOVEON LOGO.

Call Congressman [Allen Boyd/ Chris Chocola/ Jim Gerlach] today [local phone number] and tell him: no, George Bush can't cut Social Security.

**NOTE: Media representatives interested in viewing a copy of the ad, should visit http://cdn.moveon.org/content/video/SS_ad.wmv [1]**