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

[ebanks84]

Well, just in case no one has noticed, the straight talk express has jumped the rail it seems and heading into the twilight zone.

McCain is a disaster just waiting for somewhere to happen! If he flips another flop just today alone, you can securely say he is the BIGGEST LIAR of them all. Everything he has said to date, he has unsaid to date. If he once said A was A, then today he is saying A is B. The man cannot control the lies. He says whatever he believes the people want to hear and that is a reminder of the Clinton campaign of "say what they want to hear". There's not any difference between he and Hillary and I'm not a bit surprised.

[TheNuff]

This poor man has sold his soul for the RNC nomination. The ventriloquist's have found their dummy. By the way, if you got to the GOP website there is barely mention of McCain. It is all Obama all the time. He is all over their website. That is very telling. Clearly there is nothing they can promote about John McCain.

[emmaspeaks]

this man is nothing that he has professed to be. How can he run for president. Its sad and unbelievable. I'll bet many republicans wish they had a percentage win for primary rather than winner take all. Then they might have a different candidate.

[MourningDude]

Let's hear Obama vow that young workers will receive full retirement benefits under his reform plans.

He can't do it, because he knows that's not possible unless we implement some sort of individuals retirement account system.

[NotFooledByDistractions]

How on earth does this McCain stay vertical without a spine?

No convictions, no principles - no, you won't be getting my consideration much less my vote.

[papla]

McFlip

[fev08]

McFlop :)

[realpolitic]

Democrats should hold up flip-flops at their convention and wave them whenever McCain's name is mentioned!

[vfx]

I like it.

Either, "Mc Flippy"

or, "Mc Flippy-Floppy"

[ImmanuelKant]

McFlop

[findingthetruth]

And the 3rd Flip ---- He goes back to the first. The 2nd is simply to appease voters.

[CTmom13]

Someone needs to create a BLOG or website that has them all his flip flops, so we can keep track of what he says or what his policies are each day

[debrouillard]

lol.You carry on like this you might force the old man to sign up for disability soon,claaiming his dumb and deaf. Just to give himself an excuse to never open his mouth again.

[ebanks84]

He already collects disability or haven't you heard. It was discontinued when he ran for the president spot. But with all his wife's millions, he had the nerve to collect disability from our hard earned money. Now tell me if that ain't a shame!

[emmaspeaks]

lol Great idea. I would actually like a website that does that for all candidates. It would be very telling (and helpful)to the american public. But then someone would say that the media is being unfair...because Barack would have less 'bad' things said.

[JJ30]

And they take jabs at Kerry for saying McCain is confused. This man is confused (age as nothing to do with it) he just confused and flip flops on the issues all the time. How can you trust him in the White House. No way!

[AlteSoldier]

McCain is either an straight talk express liar or an old man who is always forgetting what he said. There is something wrong with the man.

[Axolotl]

No free pass for McCain. In addition to above, take a look at:

His role in the Forrestal fire that killed 132 shipmates. A hero they say, from the start to the finish?
Keating 5 felony dodge.
Shitcanning his first wife
Carousing and pimping for senators while Navy liaison
Sellout of his signature issue, and now endorsing torture, just the way Bush likes it.
He was for so many things before he was against them. The unchallenged flipflop king.
Joe Scarbrough says he is tested as a c in c because he was a POW and "can't raise his arms above his head." Those are non issues, Joe. It is the swiss cheese scan of his brain that deeply troubles me and which will pick up where Bush left off to fatally damage this Nation. NO FREE PASS FOR MCCAIN. Also, no free pass for Hillary.

[littlepuffycloud]

They call him Flipper, Flipper,
Faster than lightning,
no one you see is older than he....

[ranger5]

Doesn't know the difference between Shites and Sunnis, can recall who Iran is actually backing in Iraq, apparently oblivious to his own policy positions in years past, castigating lobbyists and Washinton insiders while employing those very folk in his campaign. Good grief, this guy is beyond belief. And they called Kerry a flip-flopper. Either he is approaching senility, or he is willing to switch positions on a dime for political gain. And he has the audacity to print placards for his rallys with the word "Honor" on them. The man has no honor. He is a liar, a hypocrite, an adulterer, and a bad-tempered war-mongerer. I live in Arizona, and let me say that me and many others like me are going to work hard to eject him from his Senate seat as well. He may have a national reputation, but he has done nothing for his state, and of course during this campaign has missed nearly every vote in Senate. He's hardly a maverick. He is, in fact, emblematic of everything that's dysfunctional about Washington, DC.,

[ebanks84]

Senility or flip flopping is like six of one and 1/2 doz of the other. Either way, he's dangerous. He is not stationary enough to be a president, that's for sure.

[ImmanuelKant]

You go. What a double whammy that would be: losing the presidency and the senate seat.

[creasdp6]

I loved when a reporter (or maybe an audience member, I can't remember) pointed out that the Ayatollah is the actual leader in Iran with all the power while Ahmadinejad is more of a figure head with no real power, and McCain just responded by saying that most people think Ahmadinejad is that leader so he is. Basically saying that people are too stupid (maybe even him) to know who the real leader in Iran is.

[suzyhein]

i mean it's really stunning. the media is giving bo camp hard time about calling him confused. using the old card. but hey, if it walks like a loony old duck

[ebanks84]

hehehehehehe....................watch the loony old duck riding the crooked talk local into your town very soon! News at 11:)

[TotobiAyokoh23]

It is now official:

McCain is suffering from multiple-personality disorder at the highest end.

[olivia]

Republicans made the term "flip flop" a national treasure in 2004.

Who knew it would come back to bite them, and so hard.