So by telling the truth, the GOP is lying.
Typical Dem doublespeak. The surplus was spent as it came in, by both Democrats and Republicans. There's nothing left to loot. It's just a stack of IOUs. And to redeem the IOUs, the federal government has to do what the 'trust fund' was allegedly set up to avoid - having to borrow or print money to cover Social Security obligations.
YES!!!. The reason why I keep posting these MSNBC claims about a huge trust fund surplus is BECAUSE this is congressional Democrats VOCAL position on SS. Not only are they claiming that SS has this huge trust fund funding it for another 20 years, but they also say that the CBO confirms what they are saying about a huge surplus trust fund, even when it is REALLY running huge deficits now.
Most congressional Republicans are smart enough (politically) to avoid talking about reforming(cutting) SS. A few others are talking about the reform land mine field. But ponder this question as I have daily for the past two years:
Why can't some brave Republicans explain to voters exactly where the SS payments are coming from? Couldn't they do a tutorial and track exactly how it is funded by US treasuries, probably being bought by the Federal reserve. And then call Democrats liars. Then and only then can we talk about SS reform.
I even say Jim DeMint say we shouldnt mess with SS because the 'government' (Holy crap!) owes SS that money because it was borrowed. He knows better, but this is smart politics.