Though a late entry into the campaign, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson (R) - "the most impassioned candidate on entitlement spending" - is becoming a leader on the issue through his willingness to openly discuss the problems facing the Social Security and Medicare. He can continue his leadership role by providing a few more details on what he would try to do if elected.
*From the Christian Science Monitor, 10/29/07:
Former Sen. Fred Thompson (R) of Tennessee, the most impassioned candidate on entitlement spending, suggests that it's the nation's most important domestic problem - and, alone among the top-tier Republican candidates is willing to take the risky step of discussing cuts in benefits.
"The one thing that all the experts agree on … is that we're in an unsustainable position economically with regard to these programs," he recently told the anti-tax Club for Growth. "You'd think that would be the biggest thing we could talk about, other than national security. So we've got to talk about it."
Thompson intends to unveil a plan for entitlement reform in the coming weeks, according to his spokesman, but he has already been floating ideas, such as slowing the rate of Social Security benefit increases - a move that would, in effect, cut benefits. On Medicare, he suggests increasing fees for upper-income beneficiaries. To imply such moves puts Thompson in danger of touching the so-called "third rail" of politics - and he acknowledged that risk in a speech last month he gave to The Club For Growth.
But he gets credit, at least, from deficit hawks, who have been touring the country trying to educate the public on the structural problems in Social Security and Medicare. "There is an opportunity for leadership on this issue, because people are not expecting politicians to tell them the truth on this," says Bob Bixby, executive director of the anti-deficit Concord Coalition. "And while you would certainly catch fire from your opponents by putting forth specifics, I think the public would respect that person as a leader for taking a position."
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1029/p01s08-usec.html
