Heck’s ‘pyramid scheme’ comment shatters moderate image
Did you hear about the congressman who recently exposed his primitive feelings and wound up jeopardizing his promising career?
Keep your pants on, pal.
I'm not talking about that textually transmitted disease, Anthony Weiner, the New York Democrat whose racy sexting and lewd photo sharing give a whole new meaning to "congressional probe."
The congressman of which I speak is Nevada's own Joe Heck, who recently called Social Security a "pyramid scheme" and continues to suffer from the self-inflicted wound. Unfortunately for Heck, his remarks weren't made via private text message, but at a town hall meeting where they were captured by a Democratic Party videographer and quickly posted on YouTube. The ghost of the ill-fated U.S. Senate campaign of gaffe-a-minute Sharron Angle was immediately conjured.
Although Heck sought to amend his blunder by quickly admitting he'd used a poor choice of words, he tripped himself again on a conservative radio talk show when he failed to correct a caller who lauded his "pyramid scheme" description.
Social Security faces financial challenges, but that's not news, and that doesn't make it a pyramid scheme. A pyramid scheme is a criminal conspiracy designed to bilk investors through the false promise of sky-high rates of return.
A pyramid scheme paid for Bernie Madoff's mansion. Social Security pays light bills and buys cans of soup.
Social Security is easy to demagogue by those who don't rely on it for survival. For the millions of Americans, Democrats and Republicans alike, who depend on their monthly checks, it's no Ponzi scheme. And it's irresponsible for anyone to characterize it that way.
Calling it a pyramid scheme gins up fears of falling skies and also makes Heck look like a pawn of his party at a time Republicans in safer congressional districts are calling for radical revisions to the federal budget. Those who drink Rep. Paul Ryan's budget Kool-Aid do so at their own political peril.
So it was with sincere curiosity that I found myself in Henderson on Wednesday at American Legion Post 40, where Heck spoke at a veterans town hall meeting. Not surprisingly , plenty of TV news cameras were there in case the congressman decided to practice a little political immolation.
I was interested to see how he handled the "pyramid scheme" controversy. Would he face it head on and get it out of the way?
Not even close.
People couldn't ask questions without first taking a ticket and having their numbers called. Heck staffers reminded attendees that questions should be limited to veterans' issues only.
When one audience member broke through and asked the congressman about Social Security, his answer sounded stiff, rehearsed and riddled with anxiety.
Although he said he supported Social Security, he added, "We know that Medicare is set to go bankrupt in 2024 with no action. And Social Security is set to be insolvent by 2037. I'm there to preserve those benefits for future generations and I will work to do so."
He didn't allow a follow-up question. He did, however, answer an inquiry about the Disney company's interest in securing the trademark rights to "SEAL Team 6" and the lack of respect paid for the national anthem at high school sporting events.
In short, he made himself look scared at a time he could have looked strong.
If Heck seems conflicted on Social Security, maybe he is. Although he is a tea party favorite and eats his lunch with congressional conservatives these days, not many years ago he was known as a moderate Republican state legislator. He was one of the guys the hard-core conservatives regularly beat on because he was too reasonable.
Using ill-advised hyperbole to describe Social Security might score points with his new friends in Washington, but it could ruin him back home.
Heck threatens to be consumed by a fire he started and flames he fanned.
John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Email him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.
