Karl Rove must be feeling a little antsy about 2012 -- he's not only repeating falsehoods on national television, he's telling old lies that were debunked years ago.
Here was Rove on Fox News last night, telling Sean Hannity about President Obama giving a loan to Brazil.
"The president gave a loan to Brazil. Brazil which is eating our lunch economically internationally, why do they need our money? They have plenty of their own. [Obama] gave them a loan and told them, as you've just alluded to, went down there and said we want to be your best customer."
This again? Are Republicans still pushing this bogus story? I remember writing an item setting the record straight in 2010, after having seen it debunked in 2009.
In far-right circles, President Obama loaned $2 billion to a Brazilian oil company to drill for oil in Brazilian waters, to benefit China. In reality, a Brazilian oil company, PetroBras, received a loan from the independent Export-Import Bank.
The loan was approved by appointees of -- you guessed it -- the Bush/Cheney administration.
The Export-Import Bank agreed to the loan, by the way, in large part because PetroBras agreed to use U.S.-made oilfield equipment and services on the project, which made the deal beneficial for both countries. The notion that Obama is just handing over money to Brazil is just silly.
It's possible Rove is bringing up this old argument because of rising gas prices, but for those who take reality seriously, this canard isn't improving with age.
Leave a Comment:
This is more of the straw-grabbing that has gotten attention on this blog. The conservatives have tried gays, Girl Scouts, taxes, abortion, theology, and contraception, but have not generated the response from others of their ilk that they hoped for. Now, flying the "anti-American-interest" (or, an anti-China) flag will be their latest attempt at inflaming anti-Obama sentiment.
Since when has Rove and the GOP been bothered by reality, facts, and making true statements? This is hardly surprising.
ClusterFaux Fake and BS Nuwz fans will believe every word and he knows it.
Sure it's been debunked, but here's the thing: The people who get their information from people like Hannity and Rove aren't hanging out in the places where the debunking is taking place. They are all fetal positioned up in the informational cocoon that is the right wing media, and trying to get to them with the truth is an exercise in futility.
Exactly! If a truth falls outside the Faux Nooze bubble no one hears it. If it enters the bubble it is quickly expelled.
The Fox faithful would never question this, if it on Fox, it's gospel.
Faith is the operative word. Take literally the people who say they are faith based, because they do. That's what they mean when they say they make their own reality, you know, like WMD in Iraq. Dismiss all the propaganda spewed by Rupert's ruse as faith-based bull@!$%# for a faith-based audience.
Gee what a shame the righties never believe anything they don't want to. Truth is of no interest to them at all.
all he knows how to do is LIE.
C'mon, there is some nugget of truth to it. Maybe you guys are lying to yourselves. That's not good. Remember THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.
i like the extra doubleplusgood that the loan was approved by an administration rove was part of....
in Other News, the Appeaser in Chief just sold Alaska back to the Rooskies.
And is planning to return California to Mexico. What next- beads for Manhattan?
Rove lie, I'm shocked I say, I'm shocked....
I know, right? I would never expect it from him.
Karl is at it again. open mouth, and out comes a lie. Shame, shame, Karl.
How is this not libel? I'm no legal scholar, so my expertise only goes as far as reading wikipedia, but this seems pretty clear cut:
It is true that the Brazilian economy is doing better than most nations in the world right now. This is after a restructuring of their economy. The EU is presenting austerity measures. The middle east is killing their progressive population as it falls apart. We are in the worst recession since the Great Depression. What is Brazil doing that makes the President want to work with this nation? I am not an economist so I would like to hear some facts about the Brazilian economic history and their climb out of poverty. I would like to hear from Reich and others more facts on this issue. Rove opened the door. Let us hear some substantive issues on labor and the economy and POTUS position on building a better America.
Oh, now I remember after checking a few notes. About a decade ago, Brazil refused to allow the continued RAPE of their vast resources by American Corporate Robber Barons.