Nasty in Nevada

September 26, 2002

A recent editorial in the Las Vegas Review-Journal comments on "nasty" political ads that have saturated radio and television stations in Nevada. Specifically, the editorial examines the race in the third district between Democratic candidate Dario Herrera, and Republican state Senator Jon Porter. According to the author, Herrera has placed ads that read, "Would you invest your Social Security in stocks like Enron?… That's what insurance executive Jon Porter proposed." But, as the editorial claims, "The ad's a falsehood on several levels. First of all, Senator Porter has gone weak-kneed when it comes to supporting the notion of letting individuals invest a portion of their Social Security taxes privately."

"His ad campaign -- and similar ones by Democrats around the country -- is intended to scare the pants off senior citizens and others who are worried about the safety of their Social Security benefits. To the extent those irrational fears drive skittish voters to Mr. Herrera's side, they could be considered a success, of sorts."

"Mr. Herrera has failed to offer any proposal that would prevent the inevitable collapse of Social Security -- which is scheduled to start paying out more in benefits than it receives in taxes within the next decade or so."

"But at least Mr. Porter says he remains open to reconsider the matter sometime down the road. Voters in the 3rd Congressional District should find that stance more reassuring than that of Mr. Herrera, who can offer only distortions and scare mongering, rather than a positive proposal for needed reform."

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