CSE Draws Attention to the Social Security Debate

Washington – On Wednesday, August 22, the President’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security met at the Loews Grand Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Literally dozens of reporters were dispatched to the event along with several television cameras from outlets such as Fox News Channel, CNN, C-SPAN, Cox Broadcasting, and Belo Broadcasting. They were all there not only to cover the Commission meeting, but also to hear what those inside the beltway had to say about the President’s Commission and Social Security reform.

CSE rallies outside of the

Loews Grand Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Anticipation was running high as both pro-reform and anti-reform groups jockeyed for position in the “spin game.” Several press conferences were staged inside the hotel in the hours leading up to the Commission’s meeting, where both free-market and liberal groups stated their position on this important issue.

While members of the media enjoyed the food that was offered by the groups holding the press conferences, Citizens for a Sound Economy distributed handouts and alerted the media to CSE’s rally that would take place outside the hotel immediately following. At the rally, CSE’s activists fanned out with signs and stickers advocating personal retirement accounts and touting CSE’s “Own Your Future” campaign. When opponents came out to challenge the pro-reform message, they were outnumbered and outworked by CSE’s activists.

CSE’s Brandon Arnold is interviewed by Fox News Channel.

Utilizing its grassroots model, CSE had a profound impact on news coverage of the Social Security meeting in publications such as The New York Times, National Journal, St. Petersburg Times, and Gannett News Service. The New York Times even had a picture of CSE activists dressed up as Uncle Sam and holding signs supporting Social Security reform.

In addition, Fox News Channel, Cox Broadcasting, and Belo Broadcasting interviewed several CSE activists and staffers on Social Security reform at the rally. CSE received coverage literally across the country, touching real people throughout the country, on both national and local affiliate news broadcasts. Proving again that it is indeed a force to be reckoned, CSE did more with less, maximizing impact and minimizing costs.