During last week’s GOP presidential debate, Rick Perry spent more time defending his “provocative” rhetoric than emphasizing that he wants to save Social Security. But in a USA Today op-ed, Perry changes his tone. He writes that we need a “frank and honest discussion” about the program, but makes zero references to Social Security being a “monstrous lie” or a “Ponzi scheme.” Number of references to the need to “fix” Social Security: four.

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