Republicans who defend SS risk losing votes to Libertarian, Tea Party

From Eric Dondero:

While mainline Republicans are defending Medicare and Social Security, a growing number of disaffected Tea Party Patriots and Libertarians are saying "hold on a minute!" We actually do want to abolish the program, or at the very least privatize it through a gradualist approach.

The Libertarian Party, which originated the Tea Party protests in 2008, has long advocated abolishment of Social Security.

From the LP Platform:

Retirement planning is the responsibility of the individual, not the government. We favor replacing the current government-sponsored Social Security system with a private voluntary system. The proper source of help for the poor is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals.

On Monday night, 2008 Libertarian Vice-Presidential candidate, and potential 2012 LP Presidential standardbearer Wayne Root appeared on Larry King. He was joined by local St. Louis Tea Party leader Dana Loesch, who has increasingly become a media spokesman for the nationwide Tea Party movement.

Partial transcript from YouTube video:

KING: We had to pay Social Security. That was a socialist concept. Republicans voted against it at the time.

LOESCH: Oh, I agree. Yeah.

KING: Would anyone turn away Social Security now? Would you do away with it?

LOESCH: I would, yeah.

KING: Would you do away with it?

LOESCH: Yes.

KING: Would you do away with it Wayne?

ROOT: Well, I'd certainly like to. At best I'd do away with it, cause I could find better ways to save and invest my own $15,000 a year... If you put it up for a vote today a majority would want to keep it, but they'd certainly want to privatize a small portion of it... I think I can do better with my $15,000 a year, and I'd like it to be mine. It's mine.

Mainline Republicans who continue to defend failed government entitlement programs risk losing votes to Libertarian Party candidates in 2010. A loss of 3 to 4% in a close Congressional race for instance, to a Libertarian candidate who is advocating privatization, could prove disastrous to many GOP campaigns.