Now that they have seemingly forced a deal averting the nuclear option upon their colleagues, the Senate's gang of fourteen Senators might soon turn to Social Security. The Hill's team of Jackie Kucinich and Jeffrey Young report.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wasted little time in touting the group’s clout. In an interview with Chris Matthews on “Hardball” on Monday night, Graham said, “Watch this group of 14 to come out with some deal for Social Security.”

“Really?” said Matthews.

Graham responded, “Keep watching.”

[...]

Graham has introduced a Social Security reform bill that has been strongly criticized by conservative groups because it would increase taxes on people making more than $90,000.

Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) characterized the Graham plan as a blend of the White House principles, including private accounts, with other features designed to entice Democrats to support it.

Pryor said that he has spoken to Graham about Social Security more than once outside of the judicial-nominees negotiations but that he is not ready to sign off on the South Carolina Republican’s approach.

Why any Democrats -- even moderates and institutionalists -- would be willing to bail out the President and the Republicans on the issue of Social Security is beyond me. It simply makes no sense.

I am a strong proponent of growing the political center of American politics, but the Bush plan to partially privatize Social Security would not only not help rebuild the middle, it would do much to undercut it.

The Democrats, rightly, maintain very little trust of the Bush administration. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) consistently supported the President, then he campaigned against her in 2002. The same has happened to many moderate and conservative Dems throughout the South and the Midwest.

What's more, in the past, President Bush has feigned bipartisanship in order to shephard a bill out of committee before allowing his conservative allies in the House to gut bills in conference. Ted Kennedy surely rues the day he agreed to back Bush on No Child Left Behind.

Every Democrat must continue to stick to the script on Social Security, regardless of ideological belief. The American people don't want private accounts (no matter what the White House calls them), and even more importantly, they're bad policy. Consequently, the Democrats simply must not talk with the Republicans until the accounts are of the table. No ifs, ands or buts about it.

Ben Nelson is a great man, as is Mark Pryor. Joe Lieberman is a great representative of his state, and I've enjoyed my few conversations with him. If one of them -- or any other Democrat -- caves on Social Security, giving President Bush a major boost and penning the obituary for Roosevelt's great legacy, it will be difficult for any serious Democrat to support their bid for reelection.