What difference does it make whether the Republican nominee has "promised" to do what he says should be done?

I ask myself this question every day about every promise and every issue.

Gack! When I first read that I thought you said "he's apparently prepared to *take* John McCain's position on Social Security."

Phew!

Seems that Charles Babington is in a three way race for the lead AP smear agent/McCain apologist, along with Liz Sidoti and Ron Fournier (?). Why be surprised when the slime continues? Stupid is as stupid does...

I have a question about privatizing Social Security that I've never heard anyone address. Maybe someone here can enlighten me.

In the 1990s the "Dot-com" bubble was driven, in large part, by new investors who wanted to get in on the chance to become "Dot-com millionaires" like a few early investors did. Intense public demand for Tech stocks, and especially IPOs, at any price drove stock prices much higher than their actual, or even potential, value. When the investors started to sell off these stocks, prices plummeted and investors lost huge amounts of money.

So what will happen if tens of millions of Americans all at once start using their Social Security funds to try to buy stocks? Won't that make the Tech stock bubble seem like a party balloon next to a dirigible? And when the bubble busts won't it look like the Hindenburg?

Oh the humanity!

Seems that Charles Babington is in a three way race for the lead AP smear agent - Analytical Liberal

You underestimate Nedra Pickler.

Hi I'm John McCain and I have a plan that will make your retirement easy and carefree. It's called Marrying Into Money and it's a real easy three step process.

First, find an heiress. You can find them anywhere as the US is the land of opportunity.

Second, divorce your first wife to avoid those pesky complications like bigamy.

Three, marry heiress who sits on a 100 million dollar nest egg.

Once you're done that then Social Security isn't an issue.

Won't that make the Tech stock bubble seem like a party balloon

Oh yeah. And that's the reason short sighted politicians want the new investments. The same principle applies to IRA's 401K's, etc. It also provides much stability as low-information investors tend to sit by as savvy insiders get in and out according to actual results and economic indicators. And it explains why it is stressed that these investors should always keep diversified portfolios.

He also hasn't promised to not raise taxes. He hasn't even said he would not raise taxes. He has said that he would be upset by higher taxes, just like the compassionate conservative meme of hating that things are the way they are.

If we need a promise for each thing, McCain has zero platform. For instance, he hasn't promised to not privatize Social Security, or bomb Iran.

What happens when people make stupid investments with their Social Security funds and go broke? We bail them out, via government assistance. It would be like a million little Fannies and Freddies: privatize reward, socialize risk.

Danp - Point taken... make that a four-way race. I still have my bet on Fournier being the worst, as he is designated as AP's Washington Bureau Chief!

You know it's a campaign promise when he says "Cross my heart and hope to die."

But then again, apparently 60% of the Repubican'ts DO hope John McCain dies so their princess can assume the throne. I mean, the White House.

Along with SteveT I also have a question about privatizing SS. What happens to people who retire during a bear market, like we have today? Will they have to put off retirement or reconcile themselves to having less money in retirement? Will they turn to the federal government for a bailout?

Yes!! Yes. Yes. Yes.

Obama is on the right track.

Forget about if Palin banged her husband's business partner, or who is banging Palin's daughters.

Hit McCain on Social Security. And then hit him again, and again, and again...

This will prove to be a certainty that McCain Will Lose The Election.

The AP needs to go out of business.

Oh, and more like Joe yesterday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZaUDKejZ_g

This is one issue that I think the AARP is hurting the Dems on by insisting on no changes to benefits. Young voters want a social security system that is fair to them, not one dictated almost exclusively by the current beneficiaries. Privatizing certainly isn't the answer, but it might make sense to gradually increase the age of eligibility and to tie increases in benefits to true inflation.

The Associated Press...reported, "Obama also said McCain wants to privatize a portion of Social Security. McCain has praised the notion of letting younger workers place a portion of their Social Security taxes into a package that is invested and follows them to retirement, but he has not made it a campaign promise."
---

It is clear to this point that Fournier and the AP, given the history between the man and the campaign and the bias in it's reporting, are solidly backing McCain for president.

So why would they be constrained to facts? The AP is effectively an operation of the McCain/Palin campaign so should be expected to lie and deceive the electorate.

"This is one issue that I think the AARP is hurting the Dems on by insisting on no changes to benefits. Young voters want a social security system that is fair to them, not one dictated almost exclusively by the current beneficiaries. Privatizing certainly isn't the answer, but it might make sense to gradually increase the age of eligibility and to tie increases in benefits to true inflation."

Actually, Obama began this discussion by suggesting a modest but very sensible fix in Social Security. He wants to increase the payroll tax for high-end earners. That is, he will keep the current limit (tax income up to 100K) but then start the taxation again at 250K and go up to 1 Million. That would REALLY help the system, and would allow the tax to be cut on the bottom end.

Babington of the AP has been a Republican operative for years. He was traded to the AP from the Washington Post for John Solomon (one of the banes of John Kerry's campaign), who went on to the Washington Times. These guys are operatives and not reporters. Babington needs to be busted in much the same way as Fournier.

I agree that confronting McCain on privatizing Social Security is a sure winner. Great post, Steve.

Steve Benen: Have you ever heard of Phillip Butler, USN(ret)? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLWEDMLmjKk I have never heard/read your comments on his statements regarding John McCain's former POW and Naval Academy experiences. It seems the perfect rejoinder to the incessant POW meme, yet even the 'progressive/liberal' blogs are avoiding, seemingly, his extensive statements regarding McCain's unpreparedness for POTUS. Any comments? Am I missing something?
peace,
st john

Shorter AP: McCain has tried to hide his unpopular position on Social Security instead of publicizing it, so it doesn't count.

You write: "McCain has said Social Security should be privatized. He's called the structure of the Social Security system an "absolute disgrace." He's publicly endorsed the Bush privatization plan. And it's a key part of his party's 2008 platform."

I hope Obama adopts just this litany. Somebody send it to the campaign!

As for the AP, maybe their writer would like to explain why John McCain's words and his party's platform do not rise to the level of a "promise." What are they, then? A joke? Pure cow patties?

Silly people! Keeping campaign promises are soo 1990's (you know, when there's a Democratic president to be held acountable?).
As for fears that any "yopung people" may have about benefiting from Social Security: simply point out the fact that Social Security has been operating for 70 years, has never been in the red and, if Sen. Obama's proposals are adopted, will be good for the forseeable future.
If McCain is elected there may not even be a forseeable future; for Social Security or anything else!

Please excise that errant "p" from "yopung". I don't think it's a Freudian slip...

Great post - *that's* how to win elections.

The AP? Why, Fox was bad enough. BTW it's funny how Fox had some pieces saying McCain ads contained "lies"! Maybe the moneycons got to Fox (because they're scared of the theocrat Palin) but AP is still cruising on corporate autopilot?

delver24

The bushcon have drooled over ss.This is the largest chuck of loose change available.They already know how to divert all the monthly cash flow to their choice "investments".
After totally drained of any value ss will be ended along with all payroll deductions that favor employees.
This is not a new plan.They have only had problems explaining how this would work.
Of course there is no plan for this to work.
Same as the current desert disaster.
Can you have anyone explain this last 7-8 years and sound sane??
Note: anyone remotely connected to what has been happening or even has a slight clue what bushcon does should be banned from appearing in public.
When sewage is flowing out in public it gets stopped quickly,right?

Well, to be fair, John McCain called for privatizing Social Security, but he had his fingers crossed when he did it.

Also, for 5 1/2 years, John McCain wasn't able to weasel out of any Social Security-related promises.

P.A.,

You've forgotten ALREADY that John McCain does not speak for the McCain campaign?

Are you getting as "confused" as he?