McCain: "Social Security...is an "absolute disgrace.""

[babylonsister]

Quite a Statement

People say a lot of things about Social Security -- a lot of it nonsense. But I haven't heard something like this in a long time. John McCain says that Social Security, as originally conceived more than 70 years ago, is an "absolute disgrace."

McCain told a townhall in Denver on Monday, "Americans have got to understand that. Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today. And that's a disgrace. It's an absolute disgrace and it's got to be fixed."

It's really a disgrace? That's how the system was designed to operate. And it's served as financial bedrock of retirement security in this country for going on a century.

Video at link~

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/203287.php

[SpiralHawk]

1. More republicon 'Divide & Conquer' strategery

Trying to pit younger people against older people.

Republicons go the low route. Rather than strive to strengthen the bond between the generations: The older make sacrifices to raise and care for the young when they are infants and teens; then when adults the 'young' care for their aging parents and grandparents. But republicons seek only to divide and rile up unnatural antagonism.

I guess that kind of normal, healthy social compact goes against the greed and hate and fear that caracterize the republicon's so-called 'family values.'

Frankly, I find McCain's rhetoric to be in direct opposition to what is natural, good, and wise. Tres' republicon.

[Beausoleil]

2. "absolute disgrace"

Takes one to know one.

[closeupready]

3. Fine then raise taxes on the rich and superrich, i.e., the GOP base.

n/t

[Lifetimedem]

14. Exactly !

If they taxed 100% of everyones income SS would be on firm ground. As it is now the poor pay too large a share of their income into a "Fund" that the rich and super rich also benefit

If it SS fund really was kept as a fund instead of a government piggy bank full of IOU's it would be solvent .So now we need a plan to stabilize it.. Tax 100% and really put it in a fund that is untouchable for other reasons

[closeupready]

27. Yes, that's my preferred "fix" for what supposedly ails SS.

n/t

[liberal N proud]

4. I would have thought they learned their lesson with bu$h

Leave Social Security Alone you muther fockers

[Skink]

5. Save this for the town hall meetings.

Then Obama will give us the correct answer.

[Frances]

6. shouldn't this be in a Dem ad?

[babylonsister]

9. Great idea! Yes! nt

[kpominville]

12. The should play clips of FDR talking about SS

There are plenty of clips out there of FDR talking about the social security insurance program.

They could just run those to make McCain look like the fool he is.

[Summer93]

7. He says Disgrace

Is he suggesting that we on Social Security should have more to live on? Should they double the payout of Social Security?

[awoke_in_2003]

38. No, i think he is suggesting

that you just "shut up and die. Quit being a burden to society." Of course he doesn't have to worry about retirement, he has his government pension, his wife's millions, plus all the money he has socked away from political favors over the years.

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. It's an "absolute disgrace"...

... in the sense that Corporate USA is prevented from skimming off the top.

[kpominville]

10. SS is an INSURANCE program

The right has managed to frame the entire debate about Social Security as if it were intended to be an investment account instead of Social Security INSURANCE.

When viewed from the frame of an insurance program, McCain sounds naive and out of touch.

But we won't hear that frame in the conservative corporate media.

[JHB]

11. The REAL absolute disgrace...

...is any talk of getting rid of it.

In the 80s Social Security taxes were roghly doubled in order to head off the looming crisis of the Baby Boomer retirements. I'm not a Boomer (though it's a near thing) an I've spent my entire working life paying those higher taxes: the BB retirement is _paid for_ already.

Any attempt to take any of that away is theft. Don't fall for the BS about a crisis.

[TexasObserver]

13. the typical Social Security recipient gets about 20% of what McCain gets for disability

So here's a guy who gets $60,000 a year disability from the government, three times that as a salary, 100% of his medical paid by the government, and his wife and his lobbyists to pick up the tab for everything in his life.

But Social Security is the problem.

[Ilsa]

17. That needs to be part of the ad also. Excellent post. nt

[GoldenOldie]

20. 100% Disabled ....yet capable of functioning as a Senator ?????

Capable of daily climbing steep steps to board planes while flitting from State-to-State on his Presidential campaign??????

Compare McCain's use of "young taxpayer's," monies going to the elderly and those who under SSI who are simply existing. In government legalese, they once called McCain a "triple dipper," meaning he was getting 3-separate checks from the US Taxpayer.

[CountAllVotes]

26. McCain also COLLECTS Social Security

in addition to his VA disability and his Senate paycheck!!! What a _ing hypocrite! He's been feeding at the trough for YEARS!

:kick:

[TexasObserver]

31. He's a triple dipper with an oak leaf cluster!!

And then there's his wife and the lobbyists.

This guy had never had to worry about how his bills get paid.

[ljm2002]

24. Excellent observations...

...and they should be made where more people will see them.

Also, of course, he lives the high life with his rich rich rich wife, having several residences in tony areas of the US like Sedona, AZ.

Yet he feels qualified to say SS is a disgrace.

Senator McCain, YOU are the disgrace!

[awoke_in_2003]

39. Don't forget

that if he ever retires, he gets his government pension and health insurance, which of course are paid for by our tax money.

[rox63]

15. Someone needs to put the clip of him calling Social Security "a disgrace" into a political ad

And start running it non-stop in Florida. Way to piss off lots of old people.

[TwilightGardener]

25. I do think the elderly of America, who paid into the system all their lives, would like

to be informed of how "disgraceful" their lifestyle is now. Please, John, please expand on your comments.

[Ilsa]

16. McSame must have adopted Bush's college thesis' policy. And I

bet Phil Gramm-stand has alot to do with this.

"Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today." Did this idiot just figure this out? Way to talk down to your voters, McSame.

[Jim__]

18. I hope mcsame continues to attack the Social Security System.

Best thing that can happen for democrats.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

19. Disgraceful, Indeed

If that statement doesn't just sum up the inherently selfish attitude of Republicans, I don't know what does. What a horrible little man.

[ladjf]

32. Republicanism is at the heart of the global financial crises.

What started out as a political strategy to gain and hold power has turned into a full blown philosophy of shortsighted greed and meanness.

[VP505]

21. Disgrace my @#$%@!*(), McSame and the Reptilians

trying to destroy or eliminate SS is the only disgrace I see.

[gratuitous]

22. Fortunately for McCain, this statement will vanish in a day or two

While the pundits are endlessly speculating on why Wesley Clark hates the troops so much. By the same logic that claims Clark was dishonoring McCain's service in flying so many planes that were shot out from under him, it would follow that McCain is calling anyone on Social Security a disgrace. How about it, Brian, Charlie, Katie, Chris, Cokie, Sean, Rush, and all the rest of you? Any of you have more consistency than a runny dog turd to now say that McCain is bad-mouthing people on Social Security?

I fucking dare the lot of you rabble on the teevee.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

23. McCain sets a great example

to prepare for retirement, just get a divorce and marry a billionaire(ss).

Is that too difficult for you nattering nabobs of negativism to figure out?

We don't need no Social Security! Just rich spouses!

[Javaman]

28. as always, the rich hate it. mclame is not different. He's so full of shit, I'm surprised his eyes

aren't brown.

[Greyhound]

29. The disgrace is the stunning number of morans that believe this lie. n/t

:kick:

[SOS]

30. Social Security was fixed in 1983

End of story.

It's the "unified budget" chicanery that creates the appearance of a problem.
Gore's ridiculed lock box is the answer, but the crooks in Washington loot SS to make the real budget look better on paper.

Separate the unified budget into it's proper components and the "problem" disappears in one minute.
But if they did that, Wall Street would miss it's future opportunity to rip off 20% in "administrative fees".

[SmileyRose]

33. Wish I could recommend your post specifically.

:)

[Dukkha]

34. That's funny, retirees said the same thing about you

talk about elitism

[MiniMe]

35. I believe that it was George Bush with McCain's help who mortgaged our children's future

And that is a disgrace, not social security.

[bdamomma]

36. mc insane is a absolute disgrace.

[northzax]

37. who needs social security?

just marry a younger wealthy woman. Problem solved.

[HughBeaumont]

40. Well, gee, what's the solution Johnny?

Does it possibly involve your corporate cronies getting their greedy speculative mitts on that cash and running it the same way they ran the S&Ls: As a no-risk-to-them casino where we foot the ante AND the margin calls?

Seriously, and I'll keep asking this until the dawn of time . . . WHY is this race even remotely close? Is racism REALLY more important than letting this country sink into the abyss? Is hatred of someone's skin color REALLY more important than turning America into a favela/high rise nightmare?