McCain's ever-evolving position on Social Security
By Steve Benen Thursday May 15, 2008 1:30pmWhile there have been plenty of polls suggesting John McCain would enjoy more support from elderly voters than Barack Obama, I’ve taken some solace in the fact that very few voters, in any age group, realize just how wrong McCain is about Social Security. For voters over a certain age, it has the potential to be quite a political problem.
Compounding the problem, of course, is that McCain seems to have trouble keeping track of what his position on Social Security is.
Take his interview this morning on “Live with Regis and Kelly.” Regis Philbin isn’t exactly known as a tough questioner, but this exchange was interesting:
MCCAIN: What should be partisan about the fact that Social Security is going to go broke? I mean, should we be divided up among Republican and Democrat…
PHILBIN: Do you have a plan?
MCCAIN: Yes, sir. It’s gonna require, though, cooperation and participation by the other side. And I’ll reach my hand out…
PHILBIN: Is it privatization of the Social Security program?
MCCAIN: No, no it isn’t. But I would say that I support … I’d put everything on the table to start with … but second of all … young workers ought to be able to put part of their salary, part of their taxes into Social Security, into an account with their name on it. But that would not in any way effect older workers. But you’ve got to have a negotiation.
First, McCain’s factual claims are just odd. Social Security isn’t “going broke.” What’s more, he doesn’t believe in privatization, but rather, wants workers to take their money out of the Social Security system and into private accounts. This, as far as McCain is concerned, is not privatization.
Second, the McCain campaign can’t seem to settle on one consistent position on the policy.
In 2000, McCain touted a Social Security privatization scheme, not unlike the proposal Bush made in 2005. Eight years later, his campaign decided to go in a different direction.
Sen. McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign Web site takes a different view, proposing “supplementing” the existing full Social Security system with personally managed accounts. Such accounts wouldn’t substitute for guaranteed payments, and they wouldn’t be financed by diverting a portion of Social Security payroll taxes.
Mr. McCain’s chief economic aide, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a former head of the Congressional Budget Office, says economic circumstances forced changes concerning Social Security policy. Vast budget surpluses projected in 2000 evaporated with a recession, the Bush tax cuts and the cost of responding to Sept. 11.
Asked about the change, McCain rejected his own campaign’s Social Security policy. “I’m totally in favor of personal savings accounts…. As part of Social Security reform, I believe that private savings accounts are a part of it — along the lines that President Bush proposed.”
When reminded that his campaign website says something completely different, McCain said his site would be changed. Two and a half months later, the site remains the same. As a result, McCain and his campaign have taken completely different positions on the issue, with the candidate embracing the same policy pushed by Bush, which Americans rejected overwhelmingly.
I wonder what seniors in Florida are going to think about this?
Login or Register to post comments.
Makes you dizzy don't it?
So, is Grampa Golddigger a liar or is he senile? I can't quite figure it out.
Social security is broke!
the fund was raided many years ago to balance the budget.
Don't tell me
Republicans now BELIEVE in evolution?
Hallelujuah!!!
Social Security needs to be done away with completely considering there won't be any money for any generation younger than baby boomers.
Personally, I think it's outright illogical to give people money just for being old (according to the gov't). The money spent on SS can easily be spent on way more effective programs that have a better chance of helping people who really need it.
If getting "free" money after retirement is a necessity then don't retire too early *or* save/invest your money better. You shouldn't have to rely on the gov't for everything. Gov't wasn't meant to do something like SS. The primary function of Gov't is to protect (physical) property, let's not forget that.
Duderino @ 6:
A Libertarian, eh? Will you be supporting Bob Barr?
It seems that this 'say one thing today and the opposite tomorrow,' is what apparently passes for dialogue among Rethugs. You don't have to know anything, you don't have to understand anything, you just yap throwing in buzz words and Repukes (and the supine media) oooo and ahhhh about what a "policy wonk" you are.
McCain wants to take my money and invest it for me...I dont think so...
the federal govt is obviously incapable of handling money, nor can they seem to hire anyone to do it for them...
I'll take care of myself thanks...
Maybe I'll join the system when we the people regain control.
McCain has a bullshit SLIDING SCALE answer for every topic. the Republican Party must have weekend seminars for training their candidates how NOT to answer important questions. They are SLUGS, all of them.
After listening to Senator Obama's speech this morning and also having just watched a live Q&A session he had with the press, I don't think it matters a whole lot which way the wind is blowing for Senator McCain or which story he's telling today. Senator Obama looks and sounds presidential. Senator McCain just sounds like desperate.
Senator McCain is not going to be able to keep up with Senator Obama's quick mind and sound reasoning, no matter what he does. The only votes Senator McCain can rely on are that 20 some percent who yet believe bush is doing a great job.
You heard of Foxy Grandpa? Get ready for....FUZZY Grandpa! He doesn't lie, he doesn't change his mind - he's just...a little...FUZZY on what it was he said he firmly, unshakably, unalterably, maverickally believed in...yesterday.
When he was young.
Duderino @ 6:
Wow, you sound intelligent ... Not ...
SS isn't a give-away. I started paying into it when I was 14 years old (you have no choice) at a fairly high rate too. The money I now collect is MY money that I was forced to save in a fund by the U.S. Government.
Now, the fact that the fund is drying up is in part because so much money has been borrowed from it for other things (that's called government mismanagement. ) So now the fund is in trouble. I tried for years to petition the government to allow me to take the money that would go into the SS fund and open my own account, but that was not allowed.
Anyway, you sound really young so there is probably no real point in my discussing this with you.
My Name is John McMaverick. I know that the "Maverick" title is contentious but I'll prove it to you. What you'd expect from a Maverick, such as myself, is to go against the norm or the grain, if you will. My friends, I'm a real maverick and that's why I'm bucking the maverick title by supporting every policy my party presents because that's the last thing you'd expect from a maverick, such as myself. Heck, I even vote on policies that I don't understand which is a lot of them.
Now that you're convinced of my maverick status, I want you to support me as your next president. You may think I'm too old, but really I'm just a kid at heart. You could call me fresh off the turnip truck. I'm so fresh I don't have any pre-conceived policies. That's why I change my mind a lot. I put forth a policy stance but don't waste too much time thinking about it. But I'm a maverick, remember, and I go against the status quo - especially my own. And that's why any policy I put forth I'm going to reject a few days later in lieu of a different one I will also reject.
Vote for me - I'm a maverick. And that's the only idea I come to D.C. with.
[This message was paid for by the people who told John McCain that he's a maverick when he didn't have any ideas at all]
Duderino @ 6:
Sarcasm right? Are there no debtors prisons?? Are there no orphanages?? Maybe its just best that some people just die and reduce the surplus population. The primary function of Government is to protect personal property from the mob. Taxes are no more than legalized stealing.
All of these statements were meant to be so over the top as to be obvious in their ridiculousness. They were NOT!! meant to be taken seriously.
fluffybunnyfeet @ 12:
Ah, then that explains his "fuzzy" math. It may not be pretty or rational, but it's cute and fuzzy.
Duderino @ 6:
Somebody needs to read some of the documents put forth by our founders. As I recall there's some stuff in there about life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness among other boring topics that we can just ignore. The most important thing isn't you or the society you live in. It's the junk you collect that turns out to be meaningless in the end.
Here lies Duderino: He had lots of property and that's pretty much what there is to say about him.
RayC @ 15:
Oops! Missed that part. :)
It's kind of pitiful to see Senator McCain fumble around with his answers on this and other topics. He's so desperately trying to say whatever he thinks will win him votes that he trips up on his own answers. The reason he's all over the place is because none of these answers come from his heart. If he were telling us what he honestly believed he wouldn't have so much trouble remembering his message.
Social Security is a "safety net" for old age, survivors of deceased breadwinners, and the disabled. It provides for the basic necessities, so these beneficiaries won't be completely destitute. The Scroogian ("Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?") attitude of the libertarians just doesn't cut it. The current beneficiaries paid into the system in good faith, and that bargain must be honored. As far as McCain's “supplementing” the existing full Social Security system with personally managed accounts, you can do that now - it's called an IRA. While I can understand the good folks above here who are concerned about whether they will ever need Social Security, or whether it will be there for them, I can only say that people are living longer than was expected when they were paying into the system, and the current benefits (due to inflation) are much higher than was anticipated years ago. But no politician is going to say "Sorry, old folks, Social Security is empty, your benefits are going to be cut off!"
Thank you RayC, only one to come up with the right response.
Although I must admit, it's kind of funny seeing the responses my comment.
RayC @ 15:
But I would say I support..........
Almost slipped there Johnny. Almost let that dead cat out of the bag. Go ahead, you can say it. We all know you support Dubya's failed plan that was soundly rejected.
Why not follow the privatize question up with: If You and Bush had gotten your way with Social Security, the same people responsible for the current housing/financial crisis would have been the ones charged with investing this Social Security money. How do you think that would have affected the funds security?
pissed off patricia @ 19:
Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!!!!
John, what do we have for this lovely young lady?
John: Pissed off Patricia, do we have a prize for you! Yes, it's a BRAND NEW GOVERNMENT! Just take a look at the 2009 model Oval Office. It looks particularly resplendent after a full restoration of its dignity - courtesy of American Voters. And take a look at the upcoming cabinet. Actual adults!
Yes, Ms. Pissed off, you'll have a country like you've never seen it before. Dignity, honor, respect and personal freedoms. All lovingly restored just for you. Retail value: Approximately priceless.
Time for Grandpa McSame to return to the home....he's had a very eventful day.
Duderino @ 21:
You totally fooled me. Then again, it's often hard to tell the difference between over-the-top satire and actual Libertarian positions.
So he's going to open diplomatic negotiations with the terrorist appeasers?
Seems like the way social security is now, you pay the tax, govt immediately spends it, (for war) ....then when I'm retired, (and need my check)...they will print the money out of thin air! thereby reducing the value of everyones dollar.
I wonder what gas, food rent will cost when I retire...with inflation the way it is, my money wont buy shit when I'm 70!
...crappy system...I'll invest all by myself. want something done, do it yourself. cuz govt aint here to take care of us...
Rusty Shackleford @ 25:
That's actually a real problem. I can't think of anything I could say that is so stupid a right winger wouldn't actually say it with a straight face. Satire is a lot easier when there's a little room left before you reach the most extreme position possible. And wingers don't leave that much space.
That's why The Onion can be confused with truth a lot of the time.
Young people are not going to invest money into social security trust funds with their name on it. Why? Because, they know if they invest money; it will all be embezzled out by greedy corporate raiders.
Touche, It's funny, I supported Ron Paul but that's one of the things I disagreed with when it comes to the average Libertarian view.
Rusty Shackleford @ 25:
Duderino @ 6:
McCain's preacher says that the USA was founded in order to kill everyone that worships Islam. McCain's platform of abolishing the Catholic Church and committing genocide against over a billion human beings will make the social Security problem seem small.
Besides if we can get rid of these young people on a foreign battlefield, they won't need SSI.
pissed off patricia @ 19:
Very true PoP. It must be difficult to keep a handle on this enormous web of lies that he is spinning. Not knowing from one day to the next what his last position was. What does that pesky web site say? Did I give a speech on that before? Did I introduce a bill about that? Who paid me to say what?
Maybe he needs to clean all those lucky charms out of his pockets and carry some note cards instead.
CafeenMan @ 23:
It's perfect! I wouldn't change a thing! Can I have a pony too?
Social Security is broke, it's been broke for decades. It's also a fraud.
No, it shouldn't be privatized. It should be abolished.
milquetoast @ 27:
You're not being fair. Just this morning an officer at my bank offered me very good terms on a loan for a tank of gas. And I'd have taken it too if I had enough gas to drive over there to sign the papers.
Social Security was a scam cooked up by the government to fleece old people in their youth. It was sold to the public as if it were a savings account.
The funny thing is the government has never been good with saving money and decade after decade they have proven themselves failures when it comes to money matters.
Anyone who is stupid enough to trust this government with their money deserves to lose it!
And McCain doesn't have to worry about social security because he is a multi multi millionaire and nothing ever concerns the elite unless they experience it themselves and they never do- so don't expect them do anything because they won't and never will.
What the heck is McCain doing. I do not think he knows what direction he is heading in. He is one crazy guy!
OT
Check out this Obama video.
http://www.americablog.com/2008/05/obama-lambastes-bushmccain-foreign.ht...
Any plan this silly old fool embraces this week or next is not supported by life experiences. For three generations, the McCain clan has been supported by nothing but cradle-to-grave federal pay-checks. Privatize yourself, Dr Strangelove. Safeway is hiring bag-boys right now.
pissed off patricia @ 33:
Sure, but we'll have to find one that's emotionally mature enough to handle constant bombardment from the right about it's moral values, etc.
Typical McClueless interview.
CafeenMan @ 39:
After what I heard today from Senator Obama, I'll trust him to protect my pony and anything else from the silly people on the right. No one is going to swift boat him or my pony as long as he's in charge. He has their number and he's gonna blow right through them.
Mike Gogulski @ 34:
Social Security is American. Why do you hate this country? If you don't like it, you can always move.
That was easy not having to make a rational response. I can see why wingers are so fond of it. Sort of like comfort food.
I would be in much better shape if they hadn't been raiding it for the last 20 years.
Raise the fucking cap!
reminds me of this exchange:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/16/mccain-stumbles-on-hiv-pre...
pissed off patricia @ 41:
Sounds like a damn good pony!
Did C&L just have a melt down or something? Hopefully it was nothing serious. Seems I am prone to having problems on Friday afternoons here. Guess everyone and everything is whipped by Friday afternoon. I know I am.
George W. Bush, 1977: "Social Security will be bankrupt in ten years! TEN YEARS!!!!"
~ 31 years later, and Social Security is still here.
George W. Bush, 2000: "When I am elected, this generation and this president will save Social Security"
~ Nothing Bush has attempted to do with Social Security (i.e. give it away to wallstreet via his privatization scheme) has happened.
George W. Bush, 2004: Promised to put Social Security at the top of his domestic agenda list.
~ Nothing happened, unless you count the seemingly endless, ineffetual campaigning he did for his privatization scheme on the taxpayers dime - that is for those brief moments when he wasn't vacationing.
John McSame, 2007: More of the same bullshit.
Synopsis: Republican bullshit continues to flow. Business as usual.
John McCain was on a local radio talk show here in Austin a few years and referred to Social Security as a "ponzi scheme." The talk show in Jeff Ward, and he has proudly played that audio clip several times over the years. The MSM and the Democratic candidate should be playing this clip again & again.
I wouldn't call it 'evolving' exactly.. That sort of connotates a condition with McCain that I don't think exists... That would be a rational thoughtful mind...
This is more like the flavor of the moment type shit....And he only has this flavor of the moment because some behind the curtin advisor told him to have that...
To be blunt, John McCain, all other age and or vet issues aside has become nothing more than an empty suit proxy and a cypher parroting whatever his campaign advisors think they can sell..... Just like George W. Bush... And they are using him to try and sell yet another ponyride on the neoconservative path to national catastrophe.....JD
Message to Obama: Get down to Florida and work this issue with seniors (I'm one, though just barely). Don't give McCain the chance to even begin to coop this topic. It's decisive for holding the senior vote.
Want pointers? Just recall how the Dems shot down the privatization movement in 2005. And how McCain is very uneasy at using the word "privatization". Yes. come on, Barack, don't waste another day. All is takes is, "I'll defend social security".
Young workers can already put part of thier wages in an account. Anybody can open an IRA or any number of investment accounts. The repugnacans just can't wait to turn social security over to private hands where we will get accountability similar to Enron or Iraq.
McBush - Ancient, age-old, antediluvian, antiquated, antique, archaic, hoary, old-time, olden, timeworn.
OLD.
I would like to argue for the position that McBush has NOT evolved in any meaningful or creditable way.
*
After what I heard today from Senator Obama, I’ll trust him to protect my pony and anything else from the silly people on the right. No one is going to swift boat him or my pony as long as he’s in charge. He has their number and he’s gonna blow right through them.
Listen, lady, it better NOT be a durn A-rabian pony!! Them's turrrrsst Islamic ponies!
Of course McCain wants to save the social security system. You know how much he is counting on it when he retires ( sometime around November I hope).
WAFL =
What
A
Fucking
Liar
As my ex-husband and I used to say, "What do you mean we'll never benefit from Social Security? Two sets of in-laws, and none of them live with us--we're definitely getting our money's worth with Social Security."
Of course, that was back in the good times. Now we're all more likely to be living with those in-laws on those same checks.....
Screw SS. We can just grind up anyone older than 60 and use em for fertilizer to feed the clone army
Listening to politicians on both sides convinces yet again that we are going to hell in a handbasket. Fast.
"I wonder what seniors in Florida are going to think about this?"
Who knows, UNLESS SOMEBODY FINALLY GETS AROUND TO PUTTING AN AD ON THE TEEVEE ABOUT IT? It would be a good thing if the DNC could start going "Social Security on his ass" now.
SS is going broke? How about taking a good portion of the trillion dollars we've wasted in Iraq and shore it up? I suspect an infusion of cash like that would allow SS to remain solvent a few more years, ya' think?
Congress bickers about a few million dollars in ear marks, and doesn't even question spending BILLIONS of un-budgeted dollars on the debacle in Iraq! It is truly mind boggling.
The idea that incompetant bureaucrats take my hard earned money and "invest" it for retirement, is worse than ludicrious, it's down right criminal.
Let me keep my money and invest it as I see fit.
Na, we can't have that, because the leviathian that is the federal government and its pimps must continue to be fed.
Forget I mentioned it.
McCains proposal for personal social security accounts reminds me of the same scheme proposed several years ago by my Congressman Alan Boyd.
A major problem with personal accounts is that since current social security taxes go to pay current beneficiaries, the only way that personal accounts can be set up without affecting current beneficiaries is by borrowing the money. I'm trying to find the link to the Arizona Republic article on Jim Kolbe but I believe the amount that would have to be borrowed in up to $2 trillion.
Where is McCain going to find the funds?
Master Po @ 60:
That idea only works as long as the economy is stable or expanding, AND as long as you can maintain a stable/expanding working career. There are a lot of things that can trash your plans AND your savings - as I know all too well. If your job gets outsourced to China or India, if the company you were working for goes belly-up, if you sink everything into a small business which fails, if you HAVE to get another job and you look in vain for months or years, if you have (or someone in your family has) a serious accident or a progressive, disabling illness - well, are you starting to get the picture?
You want to keep and invest "your own" money? You're gambling, just as surely as if you walked into a casino and laid it all on the table. You're gambling that your career and your health - and the health of everyone else in your family - will hold up for fifty years or more. And you literally can't afford to lose.
Back in 1984, it was recognized that Social Security wouldn't be able to meet its obligations. So, back then, Social Security taxes was increased to create surpluses, which it has been doing ever since. These surpluses are in a sense "loaned" back to the government.
Bill Clinton balanced the budget, and left office with forecasts of surpluses as far as the eye could see. It was forecast that the national debt would be entirely retired.
Bush came in, and with a mindbogglingly zeal, set upon to destroy the surpluses with borrow and spend economics. As Paul Krugman pointed out back in 2001, Bush's commission on Social Security believes that the Social Security surpluses "loaned" back to the government didn't constitute "real assets". I heard Bush himself say that not too long ago. Bush came into office with a malevolent eye on Social Security, with an intent to destroy it. I think by running up the deficits so high, he has at the very least, partially succeeded.
The American people themselves are to blame. They had surpluses as far as the eye could see, and every reason to believe it would continue under Gore, and voted instead for the party of fiscal irresponsibility. The 2000 election shouldn't have been close. People aren't voting based on the issues. We see it in this blog where some posters say that they're going to vote for McCain if Hillary isn't nominated, or if Obama isn't nominated, even though Clinton and Obama are similar on the issues, and McCain is four more years of Bush.
The Daily Show had some excellent coverage on the West Virginia primary last week. It revealed some entrenched mindsets of voters that the corporate media chooses to ignore. With so many people not voting on the issues, and so many people not voting at all, it's no surprise that Social Security is trashed, and a leader who lies is reelected (in 2004), and despite his current popularity, his policy successor is close in the polls for the 2008 election.
MCcain: "Kelly, you probably don't remember"
Kelly; "Actually I do"
lol, McCain is so old that he isn't able to gauge Kelly's age. Everyone is a teenager to him haha
Login or Register to post comments.