From DrudgeReport.com, flash news area, so not really linkable (that content changes repeatedly, doesn't seem to be archived).
{House Ways and Means Committee} CHAIRMAN:
EXAMINE RACE, GENDER FOR
SOCIAL SECURITY CHANGES
updated on DrudgeReport.com site: Mon Jan 24 2005 10:20:45 ET
House Ways and Means chairman Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA) on Sunday claimed Congress should consider looking at Social Security reforms that would payout future benefits -- on such factors as race and gender!
Depressed and determined Dems are ready to rip, top party sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.
"Bush's Republican Party is full of ill-conceived, dangerous ideas about the future of Social Security. But no idea seems more dangerous or patently unfair than linking Social Security benefits to a person's race and gender," blasted one well-placed Dem.
The Kern County congressman explained to NBCNEWS Tim Russert on Sunday:
“We also need to examine, frankly, ... the question of race, in terms of how many years of retirement do you get based upon your race. And you ought not to just leave gender off the table, because that would be a factor.”
MR. RUSSERT: Do you think Congress, Mr. Chairman, would accept any formula that said that people would be treated differently because of their gender or their race?
REP. THOMAS: If we discuss it and the will is not to do it, fine. At least we discussed it. To simply raise the age and find out that you've got gender, race and occupational problems later, I would not be doing the kind of service that I think I have to do. You and I have been around quite a while. We went through the '80s. We went into the '90s. And now we're in the 21st century. We saw the choices that were made in the past. We went to the well over and over again with the same old solutions which really aren't solutions. We've reached the point where we have to fundamentally examine it in my opinion. The president has given us that opportunity. We ought to take it.
Thomas hit controversy last summer after he instructed Capitol Police to remove Democrat committee members from a room on the Hill.
Choking back tears at times, Thomas stood on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and acknowledged using "poor judgment" during the episode.
Talk about someone that just doesn't "get it", this guy takes the cake.
I'm disgusted by the idea that this guy is even a member of the Republican party.
Between his apparent unwillingness to really consider the types of reform that the President has been exploring, and his now stated desire to consider Race and Gender for benefits, he's just too far gone.
I wish there was a serious chance at bouncing this guy off the committee, but I seriously doubt he'll face more than a back room talking to by his compatriots in the Congress. Unfortunately, meanwhile, the Democrats will definitely use this "gaffe" as a morale builder for their own purposes.
