Monday, February 28, 2005
Jumping the shark
The battle over Social Security has been joined by an unusual lobbyist, a 9-year-old from Texas who has agreed to travel supporting President Bush's proposal.
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In a sign of how far groups go to carry their message on Social Security, Progress for America has signed up Noah, a fourth grader, as a volunteer spokesman. He starts on spring break from James Williams Elementary School in Katy, Tex.
Progress for America, which spent almost $45 million backing Mr. Bush last year, plans to lay out $20 million on Social Security this year. It has spent $1 million on television commercials and is working to send experts around the country. Among them are Thomas Saving, a trustee of the Social Security Trust Fund; Rosario Marin, a former United States treasurer; and one really, really young Republican. Noah will not be eligible to collect Social Security for nearly 60 years.
Noah will travel to a handful of states ahead of visits by the president and will go on radio programs, answer trivia questions and say a few words about Social Security. Though he is obviously not an expert (and not really a lobbyist, either), officials say the effort is a lighthearted way to underline Mr. Bush's message.
As WWDT reminds us, bringing a kid in was a sure sign that a sit-com was headed downhill fast. See: Olivia annoying everyone on The Cosby Show, red-headed Sam joining the family on Different Strokes, adding yet another kid, Cousin Oliver, to the overpopulation at The Brady Bunch, and the birth of Alex's protege, Andrew, on Family Ties. Will reality mimic the wonderful world of sitcoms? Or is it too late to call anything "reality" with these people?
posted by chris at 12:53 PM
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