New Haven Independent

The issue emerged as a hot topic of contention between Lieberman, the Democratic-turned “Connecticut for Lieberman” candidate, and until-recently unknown Republican candidate Alan Schlesinger in the second of three senate race debates before the Nov. 7 election.

As Lieberman, Schlesinger and Democratic candidate Ned Lamont (pictured) debated for the second time Wednesday, a clear dynamic emerged: Lieberman, the one-time vice presidential candidate who lost an August party primary, did not dominate, and often got cut off abruptly by moderators as he overran time limits. Lamont appeared nervous, spoke quickly, and held back from addressing Lieberman directly. Schlesinger provided the fire, a bit more sedate but still prone to gesture wildly, and often turning to Lieberman with direct and comical jousts.

In Wednesday’s hour-long debate, cosponsored by WTIC and Channel 3 Eyewitness News at the Bushnell in Hartford, Ralph Ferrucci of the Green Party and Timothy Knibbs of the Concerned Citizens Party also participated. The debate, which you can watch at Channel 3’s website, will be aired on TV on Thursday at 7 p.m.

As in Monday’s debate, social security emerged as a major issue in a debate heretofore dominated just by the war in Iraq.

Asked to respond to young people’s fear that social security funds would dissappear for them, Lieberman repeated his claim that “The social security trust fund has enough to pay benefits until 2040.”
Schlesinger (pictured) recoiled: “You know, Joe, this is why I’m running against you.” “There is no money in the social security trust fund. It’s a cruel hoax.” He said he’s the only candidate offering solutions. Turning to Lieberman, he said: “I know you’re just a member of the flock, but it’s time for you to fly away.”

Laughter broke out. Moderator CBS newsman Bob Schieffer told the audience to simmer down.

Lamont attacked the senator for waffling on the topic. “Senator Lieberman’s been on both sides of the social security issue. He was for privatization, then he was against it,” charged the Democrat, who is strongly opposed to privatization. Lamont said eliminating the deficit, and “getting our fiscal house in order” would solve social security woes.

After Lieberman’s stance on privatization was attacked Monday, the Courant wrote this article clarifying that the senator’s stance has waffled over the years: He once voted for private accounts, and has since changed his mind. He has made public statements on both sides of the issue.

Lieberman said he’d “try one more time with Ned” to make things clear. “I am against social security privatization, and I will do everything I can as long as God gives me life to protect social security because a lot of seniors depend on it.”

Schlesinger (pictured), however, overshadowed Lamont’s attacks.

“Joe, I’m telling you for the bottom of my heart, this thing is not funded!” Schlesinger later pressed. “It’s IOUs, they take the money, they spend it somewhere else and they pretend it’s still there. Only in Washington could you think this way.”

Lieberman responded at greater length in the hallway after the debate. “[Schlesinger]’s raising a serious point. … He’s not just playing a blame game, he’s got a serious concern about the long-term viability of social security.

“Schlesinger’s raising some questions. I went back and looked at it, and I’d actually like to sit down and talk with him off the stage of a debate, so we’re operating from a common factual basis.”

Upon reviewing the facts after Monday’s debate, Lieberman said the best info he’d had was that the money taken out of payrolls pays benefits, but the surplus is being invested in U.S. treasury notes to pay off the national deficit. “The solution to the IOU’s is to get our federal government back in balance, and to me, the best way to do it is the pay-as-you go system,” The pay-as-you-go system, said Lieberman, “basically says if you cut taxes or raise spending, you gotta pay for it.”

The New Alliance
In another a classic Schlesinger performance, the Republican again joined forces with Lamont to attack the man they aim to topple.

Schlesinger turned to the senator: “If you had someone doing a job for 18 years, and after 18 years, their record was one of complete failure, what would you do? What do you think should happen with that person?”

He turned to Lamont to make his point: “Ned, you’re a businessman: what would you say about someone like that?”

“I’d say, “It’s time to go, Joe!” said Lamont.