McCain Hops On The BS Bus

McCain. Sigh. Used to think quite a bit of him. Him saying stuff like this makes me wonder why. AP (03.21.05):

"Republican Sen. John McCain, sitting alongside President Bush at a Social Security event here Tuesday, threw a few punches at those he says are blocking change. McCain took a jab at AARP, the lobby for older citizens, which has been buying television and newspaper advertisements in cities Bush is visiting to oppose his idea to let younger workers divert some of their payroll taxes into private investment accounts. 'Some of our friends, who are opposing this idea, say, 'Oh, you don't have to worry until 2042.' We wait until 2042 when we stop paying people Social Security?' the Arizona Republican asked rhetorically at the Social Security event here." McCain Takes Shots at AARP During Bush Social Security Rally

Stop paying people Social Security in 2042? This statement is patently untrue. If nothing is done, given the Trustee's rather pessimistic "intermediate" assumptions, there will be sufficient incoming revenues to pay approximately 73% of scheduled benefits in 2042. "John Rother, policy director for AARP, says his organization does not want to wait until 2042, but favors a solution that is less radical than the private accounts." "'If we can get away from private accounts and get away from creating massive new debt, then that would be a more constructive discussion that we would be happy to participate in,' Rother said."