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

[loax]

Just anothe example of his Flip Flops. He cannot remember what he said from one subject to the next. Do you really want McBush answering the phon at 3AM?? OBAMA 08

[unscum]

Awesome, so will the MSM pick this up? Why aren't the words of this serial flip-flopper being played in Florida? Or perhaps this ad is playing in Florida?

[TheRealMacDaddy]

Nope it ain't playing Florida...yet. Looking forward to seeing it though, hopefully on all three networks in the middle of Prime Time viewing. Maybe even on Fox in the middle of a NASCAR Race.

[lizr]

time for a great Dem ad that starts now and plays w variations throughout the campaign.

Just Mccain quotes back to back.

ROFLMAO

[BadgersBite]

John always forgets about those new fangled Moving Pictures

[Ajita]

The video doesn't work for me. If anyone else is having this problem try this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uth20YjXPsU&;feature=related

[Canaris]

We should start a pool on which McCain will show up on any given day, McFlip, or McFlop.

[southernfried]

McCain: you jerks, i'm going to privatize beer too

[ErnestineBass]

Never happen...beer is strictly a rental...

[Grannysue]

Hey McNuts, you may be married to a wealthy woman but for those of us who have worked all our lives for a living and are closing in on Retirement, do not touch Social Security or Medicare! There would be pleanty of money in it if you guys hadn't raped the funds over the past upteen years paying for God only knows what. Besides, the wealthy should be having more taken out of payroll taxes, instead of all the loopholes, while the meager pay through the nose! You may be riding in the "Straight talk Bus", but your talking like the "fast talk liar". Be glad to see you go with all the rest of your trolls come November.

[ErnestineBass]

True that, Grannysue. The $90,000 cap on SS is an abomination.

[majorteddy]

Liar, Liar, oldguy ,pants on Fire! Or maybe you judt don't remember making those statements!

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

Now let's be a little slower to rush to judgement, maybe he's just a senile, flip-flopper.

[SantaFeStars]

This old toot will say anything - depending on the crowd he's addressing. He's lining his pockets with SS, pensions, salary, etc etc. Does he care about us? Hell NO! The rich get richer through their tax loopholes and the average American ends up in the poor house!!!!!!!!!!!

[MourningDude]

We owe $14 trillion in future unfunded liabilities for Social Security.

Not only would Bush's plan have eliminated that bill, we would have had a huge surplus instead.

And of course it was COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. If you prefer the old plan, then stay in it. Where's the beef?

If Obama's going to discuss Social Security, then I want to hear HIS plans. Of course he has -NO- plans that will solve the problem. His one single proposal of changing the cap on SS taxes has been refuted by economists as ineffective. Even if you completely eliminated the cap altogether, it would only extend the solvency of SS by a mere 7 years.

That's not leadership.

[SWEETPB307]

his man whole campaigne speech isabout Lies!

The Pinocchio Test which got him 4!
McCain's talk about eliminating $100 billion a year in earmarks is largely fantasy. His advisers are now promoting a more realistic plan of eliminating $100 billion in overall spending. But it is difficult to take even that promise very seriously given the fact that the senator refuses to identify exactly which projects he will be cut. To use a phrase coined by George H.W. Bush, this is "voodoo economics," based more on wishful thinking than on hard data or carefully considered policy proposals.
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/05/mccains_fantasy_war_on_earmark.html

Today he said his SS reform, requires young people to put money in account...what dam money...he just say the other day the unemployment raise was because of new grads, and college students...Who are the people clapping at these meetings...do they not have TV's at least...
this is getting out of hand he also is stilll saying Obama will raise taxes...Did he on them not get the break down...
This is getting out of hand!

[realtalk]

MCCAIN IS A LIAR!!! HE HAS NO INTEGRITY. I HOPE PEOPLE WHO VOTE FOR HIM ARE PREPARED TO HAVE A PRESIDENT WORST THAN BUSH.

[noamjunior]

Lets try this a different way Gopers
Is there a major issue that McCain DIDN'T take two opposite sides of the issue ?

[realpolitic]

McCain flip-flops more than a pancake. He must have two policy positions on each issue. Of course, the media will probably ignore this major gaffe as they ignore most of the McCain gaffes. Being a Republican means never having to be accountable for what one says.

[ChiGuy]

Wow. It's a daily flip-flop fest with him.
Keep it up J-Mack. You're giving 0 all the talking points he'll ever need.