Sharron Angle will protect Social Security, like Pinochet did

The Nevada Republican releases an ad promising to protect the popular program, then says we need to privatize it

Published August 13, 2010 8:10PM (EDT)

Sharron Angle
Sharron Angle

Sharron Angle, running against Nevada Senator Harry Reid, wants to privatize Social Security. Except that she doesn't, because that is a deeply unpopular opinion, especially among old people, and old people are both more likely to vote in midterms and more likely to vote for conservatives. So... according to this new ad, Sharron Angle will protect Social Security, from Harry Reid:

Lockbox! Sounds good!

But if this is her position, she should probably stop also openly advocating for the privatization of Social Security. And if she is going to continue advocating for the privatization of Social Security, in direct opposition to her campaign ads, she should probably not defend the idea by pointing out that murderous right-wing dictator Augusto Pinochet did it.

LAS VEGAS — Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Sharron Angle says the nation's Social Security system needs to be privatized, and she says it was done before in Chile.

Angle referred to the South American country on Thursday in North Las Vegas while explaining previous statements that the United States should phase out its current system.

So... lockbox?


By Alex Pareene

Alex Pareene writes about politics for Salon and is the author of "The Rude Guide to Mitt." Email him at apareene@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @pareene

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