George and the 30 pounds he has picked up for his next film, a spy thriller titled Syriana, are nothing compared to the way his dad moves so seamlessly from being popular to being a populist.

Last weekend Clooney and his son were in New York and Washington, rubbing elbows with - and picking up checks from - some of the nation's entertainment and political elite. The Washington Post's Reliable Sources political gossip column sounded like Variety or even Tiger Beat in covering one of the fund-raisers, reporting breathlessly how the crowd was "wowed by youthful-looking mom Nina Clooney" and how "George wears the extra weight very well."

"Everyone knows I'm liberal," George was quoted as saying, "but I'd like to apologize for anything I've said in the past that could have upset people so that I can properly campaign for my old man. I'd like to apologize to the NRA, and to the RNC, and for making Batman and Robin.''

By Wednesday, Nick Clooney was back in Northern Kentucky, telling a Chamber of Commerce gathering that the wealthy aren't paying their fair share when it comes to Social Security.

In a move that will play about as well in parts of the 4th District as Solaris (a George movie that tanked), Clooney the candidate raised the notion of eliminating the salary cap on Social Security taxes as a way to save the ailing system.

Right now, wage earners pay the 6.2 percent Social Security tax up to $87,900. Congress should at least look at removing the cap so no matter how much someone makes they will continue to pay Social Security taxes.

Give Clooney credit for bold thinking. He is treading into waters few politicians - including his Republican opponent, Geoff Davis - will navigate. Social Security is supposedly untouchable, so at least Clooney is trying to come up with solutions.

But does he really think a tax increase that would be the largest in U.S. history will go over in the 4th District?

"People with high income don't like the idea," Clooney said in the understatement of the century, "but it can make the whole system solvent for 75 years."

Maybe this is part of a bigger plan. Clooney has also called for repealing President Bush's tax cuts for families making $350,000 a year or more. And he also wants to exempt up to $12 million of an estate from the federal estate tax, a move that would protect small, family-owned farms and businesses.

Clooney is coming up with ideas that could appeal to middle- and lower-income voters, who still make up the backbone of the 24-county 4th District. That may not be popular, but it is populist.

Crowley interviews state Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, this week on ICN6's "On The Record", which is broadcast daily on Insight Communications Channel 6.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com