Introduction: The Hot Topic Everybody is Talking About
Donald Trump has just announced, in a speech just held, his plan to work for legislation that eliminates the taxes on Social Security benefits. This bombastic proposal sets a lot of wagging tongues in regard to historical relations with Joe Biden. You heard me right Joe Biden had a lot to do with the original taxation of Social Security benefits back in the 1980s.
Will the mainstream media tell the story correctly? Trump’s supporters say the media is going to run the storyline to say he wants to abolish Social Security. Some even speculate that Kamala Harris might make an appearance to try and take credit for it. Let’s break down the facts, the reactions, and how this story might evolve into a viral sensation.
Donald Trump’s Statement: A Game-Changing Proposal?
“In my speech, Trump was direct and unequivocal in his proposal: ‘We are going to get rid of the taxes on your Social Security benefits’.”. You worked hard for this, and it’s time that you get to keep every penny without Uncle Sam taking another big bite.” Now, this is a stroke, one of those painstakingly political moves toward voters who are nearing retirement years the kind that hold the key to winning elections.
However, more than being just a political overture, this would be a promise to take financial pressure off the backs of older Americans depending on the Social Security system for their livelihood. But here is where things get interesting. The legislation to tax Social Security benefits was penned by Joe Biden while he was still a U.S. Senator. This in itself is enough to make people of both the conservative and liberal persuasions go up in arms.
How Will They Report It?
No doubt, the mainstream media will blow this story wide open. But how will they spin it? Trump supporters are already predicting that the media will distort the proposal to say Trump wants to abolish Social Security altogether. There’s where the narrative could get muddy.
The headlines could go, “Trump Proposes Social Security Overhaul Seniors Left in the Dark.” But Trump supporters say it is far from this. To them, the proposal was actually for the salvation of Social Security by removing the useless taxes. It is political calculus that curries favor with voters but might easily get twisted by any outlet looking for a more dramatic story.
Kamala Harris Steps In: Will She Borrow Trump’s Idea?
What one may call a surprise turn of events, Vice President Kamala Harris may just take this opportunity to make a similar policy announcement. Of course, it can’t be trashed because in politicians’ nature, it’s to hijack opponents’ ideas and relabel them their own.
Increasingly, Kamala Harris has been weighing in on issues like the economy, and some might wager that with this plan, she could take over to help shore up her support. The situation? Imagine Harris on stage at whatever the next big event is going to be for her, telling that crowd, “We have to make sure that Social Security benefits are tax-free. The hardworking American people deserve at least that.” Sure, politicians have cribbed from opponents before, but in the age of social media, this would have been a viral moment.
How to Frame the Video to Make This Go Viral
Now, for those of you who really want this video to go viral, well, there’s a way it could work.
Here’s how: Make a bomb: Begin with something real, like a hook of Trump, very confident, talking about legislation he would implement to abolish Social Security taxes.
Add in the Biden connection: Cut back to Biden’s past drafting the bill that first taxed Social Security. That bit of Biden history, up on the screen in a split screen with Trump’s proposal, really would have been some dynamism for this video.
Add some satire: mocking media headlines with possible spin, exaggerated and dramatic coverage of Trump’s policy.
“Steal” it on Kamala: End the video with some funny, sharp prediction that Kamala Harris is going to come out with the same recommendation voiceover or edited footage. Good information mixed with humor really brought this video home, notwithstanding the engaging visuals. The script has to be conversational in order to capture viewers from both sides of the political divide.
Final words: What all this will mean for 2024
Come 2024, it is this kind of proposition that will bring an injection of the kind needed to carve out a political landscape from bombastic pledges by Donald Trump to touting by Kamala Harris of her policy chops.
It’s all about the framing of the message so that people can relate to it. If the point of reference is a program such as Social Security, which touches millions of lives, then this video can really raise valid conversation. If it goes viral in the run-up to the next election, that can be a defining moment.
Conclusion: Watch This Space
Anything can happen in the fast-moving political world, but there is one thing for sure: this Social Security proposal is going to take center stage in coming months. Whether it is Trump pushing it through, the media spinning the narrative another way, or Kamala Harris claiming it for her own, this story is far from over.
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