The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has released a Youtube video of Tim Walberg, Republican challenger to Rep. Mark Schauer — and the man Schauer defeated for the seat in 2008 — in the 7th District of Michigan, calling for the privatization of Social Security and agreeing with a questioner that Social Security was unconstitutional and a “Ponzi scheme.”

The statements were made in an interview with the Independence Caucus, a Tea Party-affiliated group. Here’s that Youtube clip:

Walberg’s spokespeople call this a “cut-and-paste hit job” but do not deny the authenticity of the audio, which is pretty unequivocal. Walberg is heard saying clearly, “I definitely support the privatization of the so-called Social Security system.”

Walberg is also heard on the audio saying, “I’d be very much in favor of saying that there ought to be a date certain when no longer does anybody have to put into Social Security.” When a questioner says that Social Security is unconstitutional, Walberg replies, “I wouldn’t debate that with you at all.” And when another calls Social Security a Ponzi scheme, Walberg replies, “You’re right.”

The full audio of the interview is not yet available, but the ICaucus website set up for those interviews says that they are “in the process of updating” that page. I guess we’ll find out when the full audio is released whether there is anything in the context that changes the meaning of the statements made above.

http://michiganmessenger.com/41102/walberg-wants-to-privatize-social-sec...