Candidates differ on Social Security - Cornyn for Bush plan; Kirk cites risks to scare Seniors

AUSTIN - Senate candidates Ron Kirk and John Cornyn clashed from afar Tuesday over Social Security.

Mr. Kirk, a Democrat, appeared in Austin with two elderly residents and a young woman who said she's already worried about her retirement. Mr. Kirk said Congress needs to end "partisan bickering" and work on health care and prescription drug benefits, education and pension reform.

A bipartisan coalition, such as the one President Bush is working toward with regard to Iraq, needs to come together on domestic issues, said Mr. Kirk, the former Dallas mayor.

Mr. Cornyn, the Republican attorney general, campaigned in Houston and pledged to about 100 people at the Belmont Village assisted living community that he would not vote to cut Social Security benefits for retirees.

"Don't let anybody confuse you or scare you," Mr. Cornyn said. "We will never, ever, as long as I serve in the United States Senate, cut the benefits of retirees."

Mr. Kirk said the issue he and his rival probably differ on most is private investment of Social Security.

Mr. Cornyn advocates allowing young workers to "personalize" a small portion of their Social Security contributions - up to 4 percent - and put it into investments such as bonds, money market funds or the stock market.

Mr. Kirk said that private investment of Social Security would be too costly and wouldn't protect benefits. "We now know, there's a generation of Americans that now profoundly understands, the [stock] market not only has the opportunity to go up dramatically, but that it can come down dramatically in a very quick period of time," Mr. Kirk said.

But Mr. Cornyn contends that the Democrat is not trying to find a way to deal with the system's long-term problem.

"Mr. Kirk has not offered any plan to keep Social Security from bankruptcy 20 years from now," Mr. Cornyn said.

Candidates differ on Social Security - Cornyn
for Bush plan; Kirk cites risks to scare Seniors

Here are the latest poll standings, fyi:

http://www.nbc5i.com/politics/1707582/detail.html

US Senate"who do you think you would vote for if the election were held today?"


	State	North Texas	East Texas	South Texas	Central Texas	West Texas

Democrat Ron Kirk	30%	33%	28%	29%	33%	20%

Republican John Cornyn	56%	55%	57%	51%	55%	66%

Undecided	14%	12%	14%	20%	12%	14%


	State	Male	Female	White	Hisp	Afri-Amer

Democrat Ron Kirk	29%	26%	33%	24%	43%	77%

Republican John Cornyn	56%	61%	51%	63%	30%	9%

Undecided	15%	12%	16%	13%	26%	14%

Rick Perry enjoys a comfortable lead in his race against Tony Sanchez, Jr. according to our poll of 600 likely voters throughout the state of Texas.

Nearly half of all likely voters think both campaigns are using "unfair" campaign ads.

The poll was conducted from Sept. 30 through Oct. 6 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1%.

Governor , "who do you think you would vote for if the election were held today?"


	State	North Texas	East Texas	South Texas	Central Texas	West Texas

Democrat Tony Sanchez, Jr.	29%	31%	28%	32%	26%	15%

Republican Rick Perry	56%	52%	59%	50%	56%	70%

Undecided	15%	16%	13%	18%	18%	12%


	State	Male	Female	White	Hisp	Afri-Amer

Democrat Tony Sanchez, Jr.	29%	26%	31%	24%	43%	70%

Republican Rick Perry	56%	60%	51%	63%	32%	12%

Undecided	15%	13%	17%	12%	26%	19%

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!

The "Afri-Amer" numbers are still a telling sign. If the devil ran as a democrat he would still garner 80% of the vote even after he promised to "pop-a-cap" in everyone's ass!!!

Wake up and take a real good look at the 3rd, 4th and 5th ward and see what your black Houston Mayor did for you!!! The streets in River Oaks are still paved in gold and yours have not been resurfaced or even patched in 8 years!!!!

LBJ said it all............a long time ago…………..

Stay safe; stay armed, VOTE CONSERVATIVE.

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