Likewise, a May 13 e-mail from the NRCC claimed that "[Rep.] Matsui continues to misleadingly employ the word 'privatization,' a word former Democrat Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.) characterized as a 'semantic infiltration' that was deliberately designed to contort the Social Security debate." Commenting on Matsui's use of the word, the e-mail continues by echoing Thomas' letter: "If Rep. Matsui and the Democrat Party cannot keep their rhetoric honest, we will do it for them. Retirement security is too important to be demagogued for partisan political gain."

Nonetheless, by having to redefine "privatization," Republicans are at a disadvantage. Democrats clearly understand this and have been describing the Republican position as "privatization" as often as possible, strategically excluding the modifier "partial" (or any other context about GOP proposals). In a press release late last month, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., used the word over and over again to describe Republican proposals: "We are introducing a rule today that will provide a full debate on all of the Republican proposals to privatize Social Security and cut Social Security benefits. We want people to understand the impact of privatization on their lives. We want them to understand that privatization will cause a cut in benefits; it will break our contract with the American people; it will fundamentally change the way Social Security operates." Democrats are also using the term as a campaign tool. Typical was South Dakota Democrat Tim Johnson's speech on May 30, reported in the Watertown South Dakota Public Opinion: "Even taking into account other sources, Social Security is the cornerstone of the retirement of virtually every American. We must say no to privatization." Like Republicans, Democrats are bending the word to their advantage.

Both sides are also pursuing legislative strategies essentially devoid of substance in order to shore up their positions for the upcoming campaigns. The Washington Post reported that House Republicans are considering bringing a bill to fully privatize the Social Security system to a vote specifically so that members can claim that they voted against "privatization" -- a straw man at best. On the other side, House Democrats have initiated a discharge petition to bring three partial privatization proposals to the floor and force the GOP's hand on the issue. The Democrats also have their own bill, the Rejection of Privatization of Social Security Act, which would preemptively vote down any and all such proposals.

It shows that both parties are manipulating the issue. But at least the Democrats aren't twisting the very terms of the debate. Republicans by and large do want to privatize Social Security, and should admit as much -- even if the word doesn't have the same ring it did four years ago.

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