Moynihan wanted addon Sep Acct's - Yet Bush claims him as a backer?
Are the White House's somewhat selective citations of Sen. Moynihan a "lie" - or just a "partial truth lie" - or just misleading in an "all is fair in politics" world?
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/politics/26moynihan.h... Bush Finds a Backer in Moynihan, Who's Not Talking
By RICHARD W. STEVENSON
Published: January 26, 2005
ASHINGTON, Jan. 25 - As he pushes ahead with his proposal to remake Social Security by adding private investment accounts, President Bush has so far failed to attract any prominent Democratic supporters.
At least, no prominent Democrats who are still alive.
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In some ways, Mr. Moynihan was a perfect target for such treatment. He was an original and provocative thinker on all kinds of domestic issues, and his position on Social Security was nuanced. It shifted at times and was open to interpretation.
But when it comes to individual accounts, the centerpiece of Mr. Bush's approach to an overhaul, Mr. Moynihan's preference, as expressed in legislation he sponsored in Congress and in a chairmen's introduction he helped write for the Bush commission report, was for an approach different from what the White House is advocating.
The administration is pressing for accounts that would be financed out of the payroll tax levied on workers; the accounts would replace part of the benefit paid to retirees by the government. Mr. Moynihan favored accounts that would be layered on top of Social Security, paid for by taxes on top of those directed into Social Security, to supplement the government benefit payment.
To many Democrats, there is a gulf between Mr. Bush's approach and Mr. Moynihan's, one that is being obscured by the White House.