John McCain Denies Social Security Comments

John McCain tried to deny past comments on Social Security reform yesterday, a move which has exposed him to criticism from his rival as well as obscuring the record on what entitlement changes McCain would seek to correct.

During last night's pre-screened town hall, John McCain took a hard line against George Bush's plan to privatize social security saying, "But I'm not for quote privatizing Social Security, I never have been, I never will be."

But that doesn't quite fit with past comments made by McCain on social security. In fact, he was a big supporter of privatizing social security in 2004:

"Without privatization, I don't see how you can possibly, over time, make sure that young Americans are able to receive Social Security benefits."

The DNC has footage of both statements:

He also told the Wall Street Journal this March that "as part of Social Security reform, I believe that private savings accounts are a part of it - along the lines of what President Bush proposed."

Sen. Obama has already responded, sensing a potential soft spot of support among McCain followers on an issue that he has previously injected into the election cycle. From his prepared remarks:

Now, John McCain's ideas on Social Security amount to four more years of what was attempted and failed under George Bush. He said he supports private accounts for Social Security - in his words, "along the lines that President Bush proposed." Yesterday he tried to deny that he ever took that position, leaving us wondering if he had a change of heart or a change of politics.

Well let me be clear: privatizing Social Security was a bad idea when George W. Bush proposed it. It's a bad idea today. It would eventually cut guaranteed benefits by up to 50%. It would cost a trillion dollars that we don't have to implement on the front end, permanently elevating our debt. And most of all, it would gamble the retirement plans of millions of Americans on the stock market. That's why I stood up against this plan in the Senate, and that's why I won't stand for it as President.

Howard Dean has also released a statement:

"John McCain should realize that the American people know a bad idea when they see one. Despite the rhetoric, the facts don't lie. Senator McCain not only supports privatizing Social Security, he was part of the Bush propaganda machine that tried to sell it to the American people. The American people cannot afford another Republican president who will put the retirement security of millions of hard working families at risk. Telling the voters he opposes privatizing Social Security when he clearly supports it is not the 'straight talk' Senator McCain promised the American people. Senator McCain is ill-suited to be President if he thinks the American people won't notice when he says something in 2008 that is the exact opposite of what he said in 2004 and 2005."

Comments

[JBirder]

There is nothing inherently wrong with an occasional flip flop. A stubborn refusal to admit that you were wrong about something (ala bush), or a lack of understanding that situations change can be much worse.

What IS wrong with McCain’s flip flops is that he denies them. He is either telling us lies or he is getting forgetful (senility?). I am not sure which is worse.

[fungeezer]

Flippity-flop, yada, yada, yada, flippity-flop.
I said it, no I didn't.

[takeamericanback08]

See why Fox News is so distraught and have no other choice than to defecate whenever they speak. Fox News and those conservative attack ads are proof of their defeatist belief of McBush.

[roccofortuna]

Attempting to post for the 5th time -- there is nothing inflammatory, just sound reasoning -- didn't know that was against the TOS.


No, please, don't let me have a say in how some of my money is invested for my retirement...i can't be trusted...please save me from myself, democrats.

So rather than let me "gamble" my money over a 40-year period in an index that has historically returned 11% annually through world wars, losing wars, attacks on our soil, depressions, and recessions, Obama would prefer the guaranteed negative return of Social Security today? Makes sense. Thank you for protecting us all, Mr.Obama.

I guess I'll just have to clench my jaw a little tighter when I cast my vote for Barry in November...he may be dead-wrong on social security, but at least he's lucid and not suffering from dimentia.

[Shozen]

Common folks! Give the man credit. I never expected one in his seventies to be so agile! Look at all those perfectly executed flip-flops! If politics were an Olympic event, he would score a perfect 10!

[lee4]

Weathervane McCain has to be called out on all his changes. I hope ads will be made that drum it in the average Joe on how he's changed his position according to the political climate. The guy's such a phoney, and gets by with the "war hero" crap.

[AmericanSinceFeb08]

Again and again and again.

This candidate has no clue and no memory.

[iswideopen]

Liar, liar, pants on fire. For several months now, McBush. Are you going senile?

[BluesDogLefty]

Loser----

[NHGranite]

Will the real John McCain please stand up? You must have a doppelganger that denies all your words, Mr McC.

Let's have a contest to name the "other" John McCain? Con McCain? John McClone?

[naijaman]

Has McBush ever heard of Youtube? Sheesh...this guy is gonna lose in a landslide at this rate.

[Liberal2]

But it will endear him to the rethug faithful.

[Shozen]

The Crony Corporate faithful, they love people who stay "on message" despite the message changing.

But those Religious Wing nuts realize McSame will bash gays today and kiss and make out with the Log Cabin Republicans tomorrow.

[LTinCali]

I know that McCain has to know by now, even if he is not computer savvy, that EVERYTHING is now in the internet going back to when motion pictures started right? He is aware that everthing he has ever said as a politician is now a part of the public domain?

Why is it that on a daily basis, he says "I never said that." I just want to understand why he thinks that we don't know what he has said in the past.

Obama nor his campaign had better be attacked for bringing up the fact that this man flip flops more than Shamu on a good day.

[madkey]

IT'S JUST HOPELESS, MCCAIN JUST DON'T GET IT. WHAT IS HIS PROBLEM. HE JUST CANT GO A DAY WIITHOUT FLIP FLOPPING ON ISSUES. I'M REALLY TIRED OF MCCAIN AND HIS I DO AND NOW I DON'T POLICIES AND ITS HARD TO TRUST OR BELIEVE WHAT HE REALLY THINKS OR FEELS, AND THE MEDIA WANTS TO IGNORE MCCAINS PATTERNS OF FLIP FLOPS AND WHEN SOMEONE QUESTIONS MCCAIN ABOUT THEM, THEY WANT TO TAKE IT AS AN ATTACK ON HIS AGE. THE MEDIA WAS THE FIRST TO INTRODUCE MCCAINS AGE WHEN HE REPEATEDLY CONFUSED THE SUNNI FOR THE SHIA.

[MACS]

.
Is this a FLOP or a FLIP. They come so often that I can not keep track.
.

[midknightryder13]

If he's changing the first two numbers in the price -- it's a 'flip', if he changes the second two numbers -- it's a 'flop' and if he changes all four numbers -- it's a 'flip-flop" Well, at least that's how they explain it on "The Price Is Right".

[edfrienz]

I am all for keeping our social security safe, however, I do believe a lot has been borrowed against it and it should be paid back. We must pay our bills so this fund needs paid back. by the government. What about the IOU's at public debt? The government should leave medicare alone also. Our original medicare should never have been tampered with offering another form of Medicare called Partners, Medicare Complete, Humana, etc. etc. All of the other programs no one knows what they are about until they need to use them.

I say if something is not broken don't try to fix it. We have problems with oil prices going through the top of the roof and gasoline out of sight. All people can do is go to work, buy gasoline and hopefully food for their children.

How can our elected officials make decisions of how we are to live when it does not affect them and they have and will never be faced with such problems. You must haave lived it to understand it.

Take the tax off of social security. Why do you want to keep hitting the seniors. 85% taxable........ridiculous. Give some break to people who have children in college also. Remove the immigrants from our country and give the jobs back to our people. I never thought I would see our country in the mess it is in. Seniors do not have money saved for such outrageous groceries and gasoline.

[starboymikey]

"I have never been for what I'm for, even when I was for it. How much clearer can I be?"

[Liberal2]

Boy, you convinced me! McCain for Preznut '00.

Hmmmmm, I was fer 'im before I was ajin 'im?