Jesse's shakes his Etch A Sketch once again

by David Safier

CORRECTION: Someone pointed out to me that the Sahuarita Sun Q&A in the May 8 paper is, as it states at the top of the article, "a repeat of a questionnaire published during the Congressional District 8 primary." I missed that statement and assumed it was a new questionnaire. I regret the error. Since I can't correct the post without completely changing its contents, I will leave it as I wrote it. Readers should realize that, contrary to what I wrote, the Q&A preceeds Kelly's changes to his website.

Time for another shake of Jesse Kelly's magic Etch A Sketch, this time in today's Sahuarita Sun, where he's for privatizing Social Security once again.

According to Brady McCombs' article in last Friday's Star, Jesse Kelly removed these words advocating the privatization of Social Security from his website in the middle of April:

"Individuals can choose from a range of appropriate retirement options: such as a blend of guaranteed savings accounts, investment grade bonds, and blue chip equities," the website said at the time. "Americans should have the same options that Congress has through the Federal Thrift Savings Plan. We must not allow the bankruptcy of Social Security through lack of action."

Here's what he substituted:

"I support preserving, protecting and strengthening Social Security and Medicare. I do not support privatizing, eliminating or phasing out these programs in any way."

Got it? Privatizing options like "savings accounts, investment grade bonds, and blue chip equities" are out. "I do not support privatizing, eliminating or phasing out these programs in any way" is in.

So why is Kelly back to the original formulation in a Q&A in today's Sahuarita Sun? Here's what he says in answer to a question about Social Security:

Going forward we should allow younger workers the choice of placing a portion of their contributions into a personal account - similar to the current Federal Thrift Savings Plan.

In 2010, Kelly was for privatization and phasing out Social Security and Medicare. This campaign he was for privatizing until mid-April, and now, according to his website, he's against privatizing. But in today's Sahuarita Sun, he's for the same kind of privatizing -- "similar to the current Federal Thrift Savings Plan" -- as he was before he scrubbed his website in April.

The guy just can't get his story straight.