Josh Marshall:

Now, as Mr. McCain might, let’s have some straight talk. What McCain believes is no different from what President Bush and others did and do believe when they wanted to phase out Social Security and replace it with a system of private investment accounts. He’s just been a bit clumsier about hiding what he’s pushing for. The debate about Social Security is the same as it was in 2005 and in most respects the same as it was in 1965. You have one group who believe in the current system — which is an intergenerational bargain, insuring a baseline level of retirement security as well as insurance against premature, disability and for dependent children. The other side — McCain’s side — thinks this is just wrong, morally and economically. And in its place they want to create a system of individual private investment accounts — similar to a lifetime 401k.

John McCain says that Social Security is “an absolute disgrace” because “we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today.”

He really doesn’t get it huh? That’s how the system has always been designed to work. That IS the system. How else would Senator McCain pay for Social Security?

UPDATE: Nick Baumann at MoJo points out “McCain is saying, again, that the problem with Social Security is that Social Security is Social Security, instead of something else.”

Caught again. Is the Straight Talk Express out of gas?