Think Progress

McCain denies his record of supporting Social Security privatization.

During his town hall event in New Hampshire yesterday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) got into a verbal back and forth with a voter over his support for Social Security privatization. McCain told the man, “I’m not for, quote, privatizing Social Security. I never have been. I never will be.” Watch it:

But McCain’s record begs to differ:

- “Without privatization, I don’t see how you can possibly, over time, make sure that young Americans are able to receive Social Security benefits.” [C-Span Road to the White House, 11/18/2004]

- “As part of Social Security reform, I believe that private savings accounts are a part of it — along the lines that President Bush proposed.” [Wall Street Journal, 3/3/2008]

Not only was McCain “a big booster” of Bush’s 2005 plan to privatize Social Security, but one of his top economic advisers, Carly Fiorina, recently told conservative radio host Bill Bennett that McCain “supports private accounts as one of the ways to reform the system” and that “he will continue to be supportive of those.”

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68 Responses to “McCain denies his record of supporting Social Security privatization.”

  1. linda Says:

    another day, another flippity-floppity from st john.


  2. DRxJ Says:

    You know, at this point, I'm not sure if McSame just lies for the sake of lying, or does he actually have progressed "senior moments" that may well be the beginnings of Alzheimer?

    I know I don't want this man running our country.
    How 'bout you?


  3. liberal traitor Says:

    McCain must go to the beach a lot.


  4. misshusseinmolly Says:

    This is becoming most surreal. Does McCain honestly believe he's living in some other century -- one where no technology exists to record his previous utterings?


  5. raynman Says:

    I think that McSame's become so used to the free pass that the media's given to Bush that he is expecting the same treatment.


  6. liberal traitor Says:

    raynman,
    You mean the free pass they've given to McCain himself. No MSM outlet is really covering this stuff. We know about it because we actually get our news from sources that REPORT things.


  7. techsong Says:

    The guys a flat out liar. This is only one of many he has told. He is just like Bush. He says what ever fits the moment no matter how much of a lie it is. This needs to be exploited by Obama. McCain can't be trusted. The biggest flip floper ever.


  8. Winski Says:

    Must have gotten their reading education in Crawford... Ooops, no curriculum on the YouTube taught there either....

    Pass me another dube so I can write Johnny's next made-up speech...We don't need no stinkin facts!!!


  9. DRxJ Says:

    Back in 2004, when my friends and I were having friendly, albeit sometimes heated, debates regarding the presidential election, I asked "Dave", who is he going to vote for, and why.
    He replied that during war time, a country shouldn't change leadership. He also stated that the other reason he is voting for Bush is that Kerry just flip flops on too many issues, that we need a decisive leader not afraid to make unpopular but important decisions.

    I wonder who "Dave" will vote for this year?


  10. Wayne A. Schneider Says:

    He's all lies
    He's all lies
    He's all lies
    McCain

    Look, either John McCain knows that he's saying things that are easily proven to be untrue, or he doesn't. If he does, then he's a liar. If he doesn't, then he's senile. Take your pick. I give him the benefit of the doubt and believe he's not senile.


  11. Dumb_Hussein_Fox Says:

    I’m not for, quote, privatizing Social Security

    Oh, that's cute. And typically deceptive.

    No diferent from the fact McCain is not for, quote, 'torture'; but enhanced interrogation techniques, that's okay.


  12. tarazan Says:

    McCain is a new phenomena in politics, he denies everything that he said before on record,sometimes just few hours later.
    That's good news for Obama and Democrats..by the time election day arrives in November,McCain will be swimming in a pool of denials.


  13. Fan of Man Says:

    would this be considered a mcFLIP or mcFLOP?

    im thinking mcDUD.


  14. misshusseinmolly Says:

    DRxJ Says
    June 13th, 2008 at 10:11 am

    He replied that during war time, a country shouldn’t change leadership. He also stated that the other reason he is voting for Bush is that Kerry just flip flops on too many issues, that we need a decisive leader not afraid to make unpopular but important decisions.

    I wonder who “Dave” will vote for this year?
    __________________________________________________

    My prediction is that "Dave" will vote for McCain this year. If the reasons you gave are the reasons he voted for Bush in 2004, it just proves that he is most influenced by the talking points of the right, whether they make sense or not.

    Not only will he vote for McCain, but he will suddenly be OK with flip-flops, and he'll suddenly claim that previous military experience is a condition for being president.


  15. cavjam Says:

    Privatize social security = subsidize investment houses.


  16. McWars Says:

    I take it that any reform would protect McCain's own use of Social Security. Ask him if he'd support means testing.


  17. Freedom Rebel Says:

    John McCain in general is not looking out for retirees. He voted to raise the Medicare eligibility age and missed a critical vote to reduce prescription drug costs for seniors.

    McCain Voted Against Providing Health Insurance for Retirees of Bankrupt Steel Companies. McCain voted against a measure to provide temporary health insurance assistance to retirees of bankrupt steel companies. [S. Amdt. 3433, Vote #117, 5/21/02]

    People 65 and over need to really check out his record. Here is another way he wants to solve the problems with seniors:

    McCain Might Raise the Retirement Age and Reduce Cost-of-Living Adjustments. “[T]he McCain campaign says the candidate intends to keep Social Security solvent by reducing the growth in benefits over the coming decades to match projected growth in payroll tax revenues. Among the options are extending the retirement age to 68 and reducing cost-of-living adjustments, but the campaign hasn’t made any final decisions. ‘You can’t keep promises made to retirees,’ said Mr. Holtz-Eakin, McCain’s chief economic aide.” [Wall Street Journal, 3/3/08]

    In 2005,McCain voted against prioritizing Social Security solvency over tax cuts for the wealthy. [SCR 18, Vote #49, 3/15/05; S. Amdt. 144 to SCR 18, Vote #47, 3/15/05]


  18. spencers mom Says:

    This is a serious question - has anyone put up a website of McCain's goofs, flip flops and lies? With concrete refereneces, video links, press statements, etc?

    I think we can help our own candidate if we did something like that. There's plenty of material!

    Just a thought...

    PEACE


  19. Bartolo Says:

    McCain has pledged to lie at least once before he goes to bed.


  20. konchster Says:

    We can only hope McCain gives a speech in front of a Pro- Bestiality group cause I am sure he will be for banging my cocker spaniel Skippy This man has raised pandering to a level before unexplored


  21. unbelievable Says:

    DRxJ Says: You know, at this point, I’m not sure if McSame just lies for the sake of lying, or does he actually have progressed “senior moments” that may well be the beginnings of Alzheimer?

    I've been thinking the same thing. Early signs of Alzheimers. And I don't mean that as a perjorative. He really doesn't seem to either remember or believe that he said what he said.


  22. justsayin Says:

    "McCain contradicts himself, denies everything he ever said or will say."
    I didn't go back and count, but I get the feeling that this happens more often than not.


  23. unbelievable Says:

    When you rely on your stomach to think for you, rather than your brain, I suppose your memory is bound to be faulty.


  24. Paul W Says:

    Not only was McCain “a big booster” of Bush’s 2005 plan to privatize Social Security, but one of his top economic advisers, Carly Fiorina, recently told conservative radio host Bill Bennett that McCain “supports private accounts as one of the ways to reform the system” and that “he will continue to be supportive of those.”

    It is incomprehensible how this man is still considered a moderate and a maverick. He has flip-flopped so many times now he must be getting dizzy.

    http://progressiveworldreview.com


  25. nanlichi Says:

    McMold gets a free pass because let's face it, the Repugs are much better at controlling the message. Everyone here is outraged by the flip/flops but besides KO, do you hear it anywhere else?

    Obama gets email from a young hottie and it's all over the news, as in we don't need another Monica situation. And McCatatonic dumps his wife and marries a rich young bombshell within a month, but he gets a free pass.

    The lies stick and the retraction is never heard, but we prefer not to lie and so are handicapped. If the truth were told, the Repugs would never hold another seat anywhere. Well, Utah probably.


  26. Saint Augustine Says:

    Wayne A. Schneider Says:

    Look, either John McCain knows that he’s saying things that are easily proven to be untrue, or he doesn’t. If he does, then he’s a liar. If he doesn’t, then he’s senile. Take your pick. I give him the benefit of the doubt and believe he’s not senile.

    Nor is he too old. I'll agree with those on the right that say he's not too old, not confused nor senile, if they'll admit he's just lying his ass off.


  27. Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    When is the MSM going to start reporting on McCain's outright lies and distortions? When are they going to start reporting on McCain, period?


  28. RUCerious Says:

    Damned internets! Get off my lawn!


  29. greggp Says:

    It's about time that McCain's position on privatization became an issue. I was wondering when Obama would go all Social Security on McCain's ass. Once the over 65 crowd gets the news on this, Obama will likely make some inroads in that demographic.


  30. RUCerious Says:

    WHAT!? McIIIrd outed as a LYING SACK O'SHIT again?

    Is ANYBODY keeping a count of the rebuttals of the former positions, or will we wait for the Obama debates/townhall meetings for McIIIrd to get shredded..?


  31. wisedup Says:

    Keith Olbermann has so much material to work with...each day blasting mc same's lies. The republican ship is sinking and fast.


  32. upside99 Says:

    The Dems should run an Ad campaign like they did here in Colorado during the Governor election in '06. They had a picture of Bob Beaupreaus (R) and a Stop Sign. And kept putting up his flip flopping stances on everything, rotated the stop sign and called him Both Ways Bob.

    Worked like a champ. Ritter beat him like a rented mule.


  33. Freedom Rebel Says:

    #27 Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    When is the MSM going to start reporting on McCain’s outright lies and distortions? When are they going to start reporting on McCain, period?

    Good Questions. Probably when they start reporting all the news, even the unpleasant news that the Republicans don't want people to hear about.

    Or maybe it could be never, we have 5 guys calling the shots on what is actually reported on the news and radio stations and newspapers. Robert Kennedy gave a great speech about this. They have vested interest in seeing that a Republican stays in the White House. Until the day we get uncensored news is the day John McCain may be called on the carpet,so to speak, for all of his lies.

    Have a good day Bilbo :)


  34. pauldd Says:

    This is a red-meat issue to the far right which McCain is now aggressively sucking up to. Fortunately for the 75+% of the citizens of this country (the NOT far-right fringe fanatics), we understand that privatizing SS will destroy the most successful social compact ever created in this country. Private accounts will leave most people with less or no benefits when they retire or, god forbid, they become disabled during their prime years. McCain is a neo-con ideologue and will continue Bush's policies and accelerate some of the more harmful ones including larger corporate tax loopholes, reduced capital gain taxes for high gain families and elimination of the inheritance tax.

    Fortunately for us, it seems that unless Obama gets caught for raping a young white girl, he WILL be the next president.


  35. darlineishere Says:

    I have figured out what is wrong with McSame's memory. I just read on another blog that McSame said, "I don't know how to use the computer". He simply doesn't realize that voters in today's world can read his past record on the Internet.....he is still going on the assumption that he can state whatever he wants, regardless whether it is true or not and no one will know the difference. What about his campaign advisors? Do they not get a chance to tell him that his past record is available to anyone who does use a computer?


  36. upside99 Says:

    Freedom Rebel Says:
    #27 Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:

    When is the MSM going to start reporting on McCain’s outright

    lies and distortions? When are they going to start reporting on McCain, period?


    Good Questions. Probably when they start reporting all the news, even the unpleasant news that the Republicans don’t want people to hear about.

    SMITH: "I reported at the top of this hour that the campaign had told us at Fox News that the audience would be made up of Republicans, Democrats, and independents. We have now received a clarification from the campaign and I feel I should pass it along to you. The McCain campaign distributed tickets to supporters, Mayor Bloomberg, who of course is a registered Republican, and other independent groups."

    Poor ol' Shep at Faux, he "felt he should pass it along", which had to hurt about as bad as taking a constipated crap with a case of terminal hemorrhoids.


  37. Buckie Boy Says:

    Grampy McSame says - My friends back in the day we weren't secure at all, oh no, I tell ya, we wanted security but the wolves and alligators were roaming the streets, and I wanted them to get off my lawn, so I made my lawn private and secure, those wolves and gators couldn't get on my private secure lawn anymore, but then everyone made their lawns private and secure also, and I against that, if everyone has it then that's bad, only I get to have that, it's like these damn whipper-snapper wounded Iraq vets now-a-days, complaining about no benefits, we I got my $55,000 a year, that I don't need, too bad for them...GET OFF MY LAWN...I think I sat in my scrambled eggs.

    Which is it today, grampy, flip or flop?


  38. draftedin68 Says:

    Old dog, old tricks...

    With the acknowledgement that Herr Karl's been "advising" St. McSame, we can safely deduce that Johnnie and his handlers will continue flinging shit faster than a runaway manure spreader.

    With our asleep-at-the-teleprompter CCM (corporate-controlled media), the 15-second sound bite business will be awash in Rovian effluence.

    Sound familiar?


  39. christopher wiwi Says:

    I guess the old man had another Mcflipflop old person moment..


  40. Patty Says:

    Because the predictability of Sen. McCain contradicting himself increases daily, could it be that the Republicans are doing this intentionally -- that Rove and company see the futility of his campaign, so:
    1) McCain will bow out for health reasons(either before, at, or shortly following the convention);
    2) Either his "presumptive" running mate -- if the press has been generally supportive of the choice -- will run in McCain's place, or by then a more evenly-matched-against-Obama name will have surfaced;
    3) The election will include the sympathy factor for what-might-have-been.

    Otherwise, who in his campaign is thinking the town-hall, say-whatever-comes-to-mind format does any good for McCain?


  41. Freedom Rebel Says:

    #36 upside99 Says:

    Poor ol’ Shep at Faux, he “felt he should pass it along”, which had to hurt about as bad as taking a constipated crap with a case of terminal hemorrhoids.

    You can say that again. They always get this pained look on their face also, like do I have to say that. Please, don't make me do it... Thanks for the laugh upside99 :)


  42. stewarjt Says:

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

    What a numb nuts! First year college economics students understand they will receive full Social Security benefits when they retire without any changes to the program whatsoever once they know the facts of Social Security's finances.

    McBain is either ignorant or lying! That is no false dilemma. Those are the only alternatives!


  43. Left Coast Mike Says:

    McLame really should know when it's time to shut the fu(k up...he has been at this for way too long.


  44. Wayne A. Schneider Says:

    The McCain campaign distributed tickets to supporters, Mayor Bloomberg, who of course is a registered Republican, and other independent groups.”

    Um, Shep, Mike Bloomberg resigned from the Republican Party about a year ago. That's why there was all this buzz about him possibly running for president as an Independent candidate. You should really pay more attention to the political news, Shep, if you're going to talk about it on TV.


  45. MapleStreet Says:

    I could understand him, on being caught, saying that while he did say that, he has studied it more and come to a better understanding.

    I could understand it the **FIRST or SECOND TIME** that McCain could deny what he originally did, not knowing how easy it would be to find the original record. In those cases, he would just be a liar.

    But doesn't the fact that he hasn't learned from the first **DOZEN TIMES*** imply something about either his mental capabilities and/or his arrogance that he is above the truth ?


  46. greenpagan Says:

    Privatization is Public Theft. Case closed.


  47. jlmealer Says:

    He said they would have a CHOICE, nimwits!

    JOHN McCAIN’S 3R ECONOMIC PLAN 2008
    Abbreviated version

    Progressive Republican Candidate John McCain comes through for America with his 3R economic plan. In the persona of Theodore Roosevelt, McCain’s plan just makes sense.

    FIRST , keep in mind that to drop the fuel tax, the local gov’ts would crash. We must use the 3R to replace taxes lost from replaced fuel through green energy (Yes, we have it ready to go!)
    http://www.betterconstructed.com

    1. RETHINK: America must see globally on what America is capable of in our current state of technology, engineering and meet the demands that face the world.

    Private Sector framework is in place and current laws allow the 3R to happen. The Progressive attitude of John McCain to get things done by crossing party lines will resurrect America.

    2. REFORM: The American people must demand higher quality products and less restricted trade routes for Made in USA components. We will lead the way of MFG again!

    The USA will reform its dead manufacturing base

    3. REINVENT: America and Americans must reinvent themselves to reach and maintain these standards and by sheer American ingenuity, control the world’s marketplace in the competitive manner, as the USA has always been proud to be #1.

    NUTS AND BOLTS of the plan are simple.

    Billions of savings equates to millions of lost tax revenue from energy companies. The US needs a separate tax revenue source before we can move away from fossil fuels.

    McCain 3R solution.

    McCain’s 3R is about technical, closely monitored and rapid hands on training from pros to create new pros. Thousands of currently-job-displaced “once leaders in the manufacturing arena” will be asked to train and play instructor rolls in the 3R plan. Paid, of course, as these new leaders will help create a whole new style of prosperous America. A massive restructure providing thousands New American MFG means millions of new jobs for infrastructure alone.

    We have the buildings, needs and infrastructure to do this!

    New jobs is the mainstay for Creating a new guard for Social Security.

    This is the new place for financial speculators to invest!

    McCain’s Progressive nature embodies Theodore Roosevelt more than any US presidential candidate in history since the original Rough Rider blazed the greatest era of growth in America.

    We need John McCain to lead our nation with the same type of change.
    http://www.betterconstructed.com

    THIS DRAFT COURTESY OF:
    John Lewis Mealer, Founding President of Mealer Companies


  48. doktorgizemli Says:

    This is another example that the "old world jounalism of Murrow, Cronkite and Rather is dead and buried. In the case of the Time Magazine reporter Ms Tumulty, she seems to think the finding out the who, what, where, when and how have been replaced with a steno pad, which she records what ABC said in rebuttle to the complaint of Congressman Kucinich. There is a great disconnect with what happened and the points made by ABC. She asks little of no questions to ABC. She takes what is handed to her and repeats it vebatim and then calls that reporting. I call is stenography. Lida Sohbet sohbet sesli chat Gelinlik Modelleri


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  54. Oyun Says:

    McCain “supports private accounts as one of the ways to reform the system” and that “he will continue to be supportive of those.”


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