Because he paid into the system and is entitled to them so long as it exists?

“I’m receiving the benefits, the system is broken and, unfortunately, my children and grandchildren, according to the trustees of the Social Security system, will not have the same benefits the present retirees have,” McCain told reporters Thursday on his campaign bus.

McCain’s 2007 tax return shows Social Security benefits of $23,157 for the year, an average of $1,929.75 a month. He said he started receiving the payments “whenever I was eligible.”…

McCain reported a total income of $405,409 in 2007. As a senator, he is paid $169,300 a year. Last year, he donated $105,467 to charity, his return shows.

I wonder how many left-wing papers ran this story today alongside paid ads placed by the sort of multinational corporations they claim to loathe. After all, you can take money from an institution while still earnestly working against its (and thus, indirectly, your own) interest. Right, Barry? Media Blog notes that Obama happily cashes his senate check every month despite railing against Washington, but I can think of a better example than that. If you’re looking for financial interests that contradict reform rhetoric, forget his congressional salary, which is a mere few hundred thousand. Let’s talk about a few hundred million.