The McCain Mutiny

From a February 20, 2005 interview between Tim Russert and John McCain and Hillary Clinton… Russert asks this question of McCain:

MR. RUSSERT: Let me turn homeward on an issue that is very important to people watching this morning, and that is Social Security. Senator McCain, there’s a big debate in your Republican Party about whether or not, as part of the solution to Social Security’s solvency problem, that you lift the cap so that you would pay payroll tax, Social Security tax, not just on the first $90,000 of your income, but perhaps even higher. Could you support that as part of a compromise?

Before we look at McCain’s answer - realize what we’re talking about here.

American workers a large amount of Social Security taxes. If you’re employed, you pay at present, 6.2 percent of your income to Social Security and your employer pays the same percent for a total of 12.40 percent of your income. This doesn’t count Medicare hospital insurance which takes another 1.45% from you and 1.45% from your employer.

When this interview took place, the first $90,000 was subject to social security taxes. After that, you and your employer no longer pay the total of 12.4% tax to Social Security.

What Senator John McCain is being asked here, is whether he’s willing to increase the amount of income that is subject to this tax. This is a tax increase folks. And it is typical class-warfare kind of language as well. Its the standard, “Sock it to the rich, and we’ll all feel better” approach.

So, McCain’s answer:

SEN. McCAIN: As part of a compromise I could, and other sacrifices, because we all know that it doesn’t add up until we make some very serious and fundamental changes. I’m proud of the job that Senator Lindsey Graham has been doing in his leadership position on this issue and showing some courage.

Are we being a bit unfair to McCain? Perhaps he’s really not in favor of tax increases. Perhaps he was just having a bad day.

Not quite. Just remember that McCain twice voted against Bush’s tax breaks.

Thanks John.

Finally, Russert asks toward the end of the interview:

MR. RUSSERT: Senator McCain, a serious question: Do you think the lady to your right would make a good president?

McCain’s answer:

SEN. McCAIN: Yeah, you’re breaking up. I am sure that Senator Clinton would make a good president. I happen to be a Republican and would support, obviously, a Republican nominee, but I have no doubt that Senator Clinton would make a good president.

Great. Just great.

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