McCain says: "Slash Social Security Benefits"

[MH1]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-kleiman/mccain-says-...

Here's the sequence:

Carly Fiorina says that McCain might raise taxes on rich folks as part of a Social Security deal.

Grover Norquist, speaking as the Grand Inquisitioner of the anti-taxers, more or less replies: "Bullsh*t! I wear McCain's balls on my keyring!"

Then comes the punchline:

A McCain campaign spokesman told ABC News Monday that McCain continues to oppose any tax increase as part of Social Security reform, notwithstanding Fiorina's comments.

"The lesson of history is that too many specifics at this point polarize the debate, that is the argument Carly was trying to make," Taylor Griffin said. "However, John McCain does believe that we can fix Social Security without raising taxes. As president, John McCain will call on Congress to develop a bi-partisan solution to Social Security — and if they won't, he will."

Three points here:

1. "Too many specifics at this point polarize the debate" translates into English as "If we told the retirees how completely we plan to shaft them, they might not vote for us."

2. The McCain camp seems to have invented a new idea: unilateral bipartisanship. If Congress doesn't come up with a bi-partisan plan, McCain will single-handedly come up with his own bi-partisan plan.

3. Since McCain has now committed to "fixing" the Social Security "problem" without raising taxes, and since the only two ways of getting projected revenues to match projected benefits is to increase revenues or reduce benefits, it follows that McCain is committed to cutting Social Security benefits. And that's before he has to reduce them again to accommodate the diversion of new money into private accounts.


So not only does McCain think that Social Security is "an absolute disgrace," he knows what he wants to do about it: he'll reduce pensions but not increase taxes on the wealthy.

Digg it:
http://digg.com/political_opinion/McCain_Planning_to_Sl...

[AzDar]

1. Oh, I'll happily kick the shit out of THIS thread all day LONG. That's it, Johnny-Boy attack SS....

the People looooove that.

Moron.

[MH1]

5. Heh, I thought some might find this refreshing

after the typical GDP fare of late.

[AzDar]

14. Kick...

[babylonsister]

2. That should play well in Peoria-if they ever hear about it. nt

[Imagevision]

3. retirees represent a large chunk of the boomers, McCain to rip them off in favor of the rich

[bunnies]

4. He doesnt need it. So why should he care?!

Selfish bastard that he is. K&R

[NYC_SKP]

6. On the off chance that he wins, if he cuts my benefits, I'll kick his ass.

I mean it.

I'll go find his old man flabby ass and I will kick it.

I will.

[Cha]

7. Fuck the warhog mccain.

[Deja Q]

8. Will he reduce deductions on the Social Security he's already drawing on?

[hedgehog]

9. "McCain doesn't worry about our Social Security because he married his!"

My Mom was only half awake when she came up with that one! I'm determined to spread that remark far and wide!

[FogerRox]

10. I find #3 very interesting

3. Since McCain has now committed to "fixing" the Social Security "problem" without raising taxes, and since the only two ways of getting projected revenues to match projected benefits is to increase revenues or reduce benefits, it follows that McCain is committed to cutting Social Security benefits. And that's before he has to reduce them again to accommodate the diversion of new money into private accounts.

More bullshit.

Here's the kicker, right from the SS Trustees own charts..... while looking at the "Low cost" scenario,
it shows Social Security would still be solvent thru 2085, based on GDP growth of about 2.5%.

During the Clinton years the US saw growth in GDP between 2.5% and 4.4%.

[indepat]

11. In the meanwhile, trillions of dollars will be pilfered from the mythical lock box to funds

tax cuts for the most affluent who have paid social security payroll taxes on mostly a very minor portion of their income. One would think the most affluent have the weatheral to fair o.k. without the government's massive pilfering from social security for their benefit.

[spin]

16. Wasn't it Al Gore who proposed a lock box for social security? (nt)

[indepat]

19. Yes, but 9-11 handed junior his trifecta including deficit spending in case of

war, et al, and with each dollar of deficit spending, Al's mythical lock box is being raided and a lot of that deficit spending arises from junior's tax cuts mostly benefiting the most affluent.

[spin]

20. No doubt the economy has been mismanaged by...

the current administration to the benefit of certain companies and wealthy individuals. I'm actually becoming worried about a total economic collapse. We seem to be caught in a "perfect storm" of events.

Originally I heard, several months ago. the rumor that this collapse would occur in September. I merely laughed and failed to take the rumor seriously. Consequently I can't even remember the source of the rumor.

Now I feel that one big event, like an Israeli attack on Iran, might cause the economic meltdown to occur.

[indepat]

21. For a glimpse at one take on the impending doomsday scenario in store for us, check out

http://www.rgemonitor.com re systemic financial meltdown.

edited for corrected URL and additional info

[cliffordu]

12. k and R fer shure. I am beginning to feel like tossing every time I hear him speak...

[blondeatlast]

13. Please, Senator McCain (mine); keep talking about Social Security, please, please!

If it doesn't give you a win in November, I'm SURE it'll play so well to the gazillion retirees in your home state--and I bet they'd LOVE for you to join them!

Oh, yes. DO keep talking...

[MH1]

22. I'm hoping for that too!

keep talking about social security, johnny boy! keep talking!

[nc4bo]

15. dammit

Why is it that the ONLY place I see mcanus' plan to gut SS is HERE or on a few blogs....

People should be screaming for this moron's eyeballs on a fork!!

Damn American media.

[snowbear]

17. Don't worry... It will be brought up in the debates for sure.

.... And I can't wait !!!

[Skidmore]

18. How about fat cats like him forgo their SS benefits

unless their income drops below an amount yet to be determined? That would work for me.

McCain doesn't think it is a disgrace not to collect it himself.

[Raster]

23. Pieces of shit. The wealthy only pay Social Security taxes on their first $90,000 of income.

These rest is Social Security tax free. Thank you Ronald Fucking Raygun.

[Overseas]

24. John Sidney McCain III would give up some of his Social Security

even if he had to sell one of his seven homes, to better serve our country. So he will expect the rest of us whiners to give up benefits and sacrifice just like he would be.

[Lugnut]

25. Fuck John McCain.

I get less than $1,000 a month. He and Ms Bud can kiss my ass.

[Imagevision]

26. I'd like to see the MSM spend more time with this story...

[MH1]

27. Kick for those who missed it yesterday.