I’ve received five six seven eight emails from the DNC and the Obama campaign since 11:00 pm last night about Social Security. Most of them attack John McCain.
“DNC Releases New Web Ad Highlighting the Threat John McCain Poses to Social Security.”
“MCCAIN WATCH: SAME-AS-BUSH PLAN TO PRIVATIZE SOCIAL SECURITY.”
And so on. McCain has suggested in the past that he supports private savings accounts, but he has always fudged on what they would look like and whether or not they would mirror exactly the ones in the controversial plan President Bush pushed several years back. Moreover, McCain has called the basic funding mechanism of Social Security a “disgrace,” meaning he doesn’t philosophically agree with the program or doesn’t understand how it works. The Democrats are right to hit him for all of that.
But there’s a distinctly lame feel to the Democrats excitement here — You’re not supposed to talk about Social Security in campaigns because it pisses people off! McCain is talking about it! Let’s nail him! You can’t claim the guy is a fake maverick and then attack him when he talks out of school.
