Bush makes appeal to young voters

AP PHOTO

Texas Gov. George W. Bush appears on the "Late Show with David Letterman" yesterday after campaigning in Michigan earlier in the day.

By Jeremy W. Peters

Daily Staff Reporter

FRASER - Reaching out to what he called the "rising generation," Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush wooed young voters yesterday by promising them more control over their futures if he were elected.

"You deserve a government of the 21st Century, a government that reflects your values, community spirit, your trust in individual choice and ambition," the Texas governor told a crowd of about 400 supporters at a Macomb County auto and aerospace parts company. "I believe when I take office, we will reform to give the rising generation real control over their futures."

Specifically, Bush advocated allowing younger workers to invest their Social Security funds in the stock market as a key aspect to increased individual control.

"We will also modernize the system to allow younger workers to put ... part of their payroll taxes into personal retirement accounts. This is a new deal for a new generation, a rising generation of Americans," Bush said.

Bush directly addressed criticism that his privatization plan diverts Social Security funds out of the system and could leave many without a retirement safety net.

"These investments must be sound and responsible - no high risk speculation. The money will be available for retirement only," he said.

Returning to his theme of individual versus governmental power, the Texas governor said the people - not the federal government - would control their retirement savings.

"You will control it. You can pass it along if you wish, to your children," he said.

Bush repeatedly used the issue of individual control over Social Security benefits to draw sharp distinctions between himself and his opponent, Vice President Al Gore, who Bush said would bring about the "largest expansion of the federal government in 35 years."

In lieu of allowing people to invest Social Security funds, Gore supports what he calls "Retirement Savings Plus" accounts, in which individuals could invest their own money tax-free.

The night before Bush spoke in Fraser, the vice president warned a group of 5,000 gathered in Flint that Bush's plans would jeopardize the nation's economic prosperity.

"He has promised young workers $1 trillion from Social Security, and he has promised seniors that same $1 trillion," Gore said. "When I asked him last night how he can promise the same $1 trillion to two groups of people he wouldn't answer."

"Don't you ever listen to those who say that we ought to just privatize Social Security," Gore said Wednesday.

"I think it's irresponsible for the vice president of the United States to scare seniors by suggesting they would lose their benefits," Bush press secretary Scott McClellan said yesterday. "Governor Bush has made it clear there will be no reduction in benefits for retirees."

Bush's plan to attract young voters by offering them the option of private retirement savings accounts may not have the impact he'd like on a generation so far from retirement that it does not often consider Social Security a top priority.

"I think it's about leadership," McClellan said of how to get younger voters thinking about Social Security. "It's about someone willing to stand up there and say that if we don't do something about this the system is going to go bankrupt."

Bush supporter Ricky DeNardis, an LSA freshman, is one young voter who is thinking about his Social Security benefits.

"Governor Bush said everything that voters our age should pay attention to," DeNardis said. "This is going to effect us for the next 40 to 50 years. There's no way that the current Social Security can last to the point where we will receive benefits."

After leaving Michigan yesterday, Bush headed directly for New York to tape an appearance on the "Late Show with David Letterman," which aired last night, and a segment for a "Saturday Night Live" political special. Gore was also in New York yesterday to appear on talk shows with Regis Philbin and Rosie O'Donnell.

- Daily Staff Reporter Hanna LoPatin contributed to this report.