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It was heartening that Mitt Romney's habitual dishonesty generated far more attention than usual this week, but the scrutiny doesn't appear to have discouraged the Republican frontrunner, who had an incredibly mendacious week.
Indeed, Jamelle Bouie noted the other day, Romney "is running against policies that haven't happened and an Obama that doesn't exist. Exaggeration is normal in politics, but this goes beyond garden-variety embellishment."
To help drive the point home, take a look at the 11th installment of my weekly series, chronicling Mitt's mendacity. Unfortunately, it's one of the longest editions to date.
1. Romney argued this week, "There's no question that when [President Obama] ran for office, he said he wanted to see gasoline prices go up."
2. Romney told Fox News, "[President Obama] said that energy prices would skyrocket under his views and he selected three people to help him implement that program: the secretary of energy, the secretary of the interior, and the EPA administrator."
That's not even close to being true.
3. Romney also told Fox News' Bret Baier this week about President Obama, "This is a president [who] simply does not have experience in tough situations."
That's ironic coming from a coddled multi-millionaire from a powerful, wealthy family, but it's also blatantly untrue. Obama has experience leading the nation during a time of multiple ongoing crises. Love him or hate him, the economic crisis, the war in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, the strikes on bin Laden and al Qaeda, and the offensive in Libya count as "tough situations" -- tougher than anything Romney has ever seen in his entire life.
4. In reference to Iran, Romney told Fox News, "It's quite clear that the president wants to avoid in any way a discussion about a military option."
It's quite clear Romney's not telling the truth. Obama recently told AIPAC, in a speech Romney heard and critiqued, "I have said that when it comes to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, I will take no options off the table, and I mean what I say. That includes all elements of American power: A political effort ... a diplomatic ... an economic effort ... and, yes, a military effort to be prepared for any contingency."
5. In making the case against the Affordable Care Act, Romney said, "Now we find out from the Congressional Budget Office that [Obama administration officials] underestimated its costs -- multiple trillions of new federal spending is simply not something people can afford."
That's just not what the Congressional Budget Office said.
6. In the same appearance, Romney said his first problem with the health care reform law is the "$500 billion cut in Medicare."
Romney loves this line, but it's simply not true.
7. In his University of Chicago speech, Romney said, Obama administration "bureaucrats" are telling "farmers what their 15-year-old sons and daughters can and can't do on the family farm."
That's plainly false.
8. In the same speech, Romney said, "Under Dodd-Frank, [entrepreneurial pioneers] would have struggled to get loans from their community banks."
Romney has to know that's not true.
9. In the same speech, Romney promised, "Instead of raising taxes, I will cut them."
Well, he'd cut taxes for most folks, but for those working families struggling most, the Romney plan calls for a tax increase.
10. In his victory speech in Illinois after the primary, Romney said, "The government would have banned Thomas Edison's light bulb. Oh, that's right. They just did."
This isn't just a lie; it's a dumb lie.
11. Romney told voters in Maryland, "[O]ne of the things that just broke my heart was watching the president go around the world apologizing for America."
12. Romney told a Wisconsin radio show this morning that Paul Ryan's budget plan "does not balance the budget on the backs of the poor and the elderly."
That's the exact opposite of reality.
13. In the same interview, Romney said the Ryan plan "preserves Medicare."
Actually, it ends Medicare, and replaces it with vouchers.
14. Romney argued in a separate appearance this morning, "The Catholic Church is being told that they have to provide insurance that covers morning after pills, sterilizations, and contraceptives. Despite the fact that these very features violate the conscience of the Catholic Church itself.
He's lying. That's not what the Catholic Church -- or any other house of worship -- is being told at all.
Rachel argued this week that Romney lies "all the time, really easily," adding, "He says things that are not true with unnerving frequency, arguably more than any modern candidate for major office, and there are a lot of creeps among them. Some dishonesty in national American politics is frankly routine. It's too bad, but it's true. Romney-style dishonesty is a sight to behold. It's different. He's bending the curve."
And as this morning's lies help demonstrate, the candidate doesn't even seem to care about being caught. I've never seen anything like it.
Previous editions of Chronicling Mitt's Mendacity: Vol. I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X.
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All I have to say is that I, and I think most people, are relieved, and heartened to hear someone call a liar a liar for a change, and back it up with facts instead of just making the statement rhetorically. If that makes others in MSM uncomfortable, then it may be that they have forgotten what we have a free press for in the first place. To report the facts. And the fact is, Mitt Romney is a serial liar. Sorry if that is not politically correct.
Keep up the great work. Can't wait to be able to get your book.
Apparently Mr. Romney never read, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
Romney has no soul.
My bad for actually going there.
Oh my gosh, that's an AWESOME point! Obama should address the Mormon Church directly in one of his speeches, after listing Romney's outright lies, and ask if the Mormon Church intends to endorse someone like Romney. That's one helluva an ace, though. I think I'd save that one until I absolutely needed it, and Obama probably won't. Romney is too toxic.
I would like to understand more about The Mormon Religion. Romney doesn't talk about it at all. It is as if he is embarrassed. I think if he let people know that he is proud of his religion it would help but, I feel they are very secretive.
h.l. mencken (circa 1925): "no man ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the american public."
This Sunday will David Gregory have the audacity to ask this week's designated Republican about Romney's mendacity?
Ron, no, he won't.
David Gregory is as big a liar as Mitt Romney.
Who is appearing on Meet the GOP this Sunday, anyway?
Yeah! If the media is "lamestream liberal" as the GOPers like to call it then why is it that on Sundays all you see is mostly republicans. I want fair and balanced.
The defining trait of the Romney campaign so far has been the constant lying, mostly about Obama. I look forward to the general election when I hope he will be called on it. But you have to ask yourself... what kind of a man can do this day in and day out in front of a national audience and not be ashamed?
Thurston Howell and Lovey.
Remember the movie 'The Informant"? Matt Damon plays a Romney perfectly. Hes just a guy that cant tell the truth, loves the attention and possible power that he might create but its all based on lies. Marco Rubio would fit great in this picture because he lied about his family, a perfect VP pick.
Brilliant observation.
If Obama were the far-left-wing extremist Republicans paint him as, then Republicans might have some substantive criticism. But since Obama is actually one of them, a moderate Republican, Republicans have no case against him. That is why Republicans lie all the time.
They have been lying to us for a very long time. Once you tell 1 lie you have to make up another 1 to cover for the first one and so on and so on and so on.
If you think President Obama is a moderate Republican you have not had enough birthdays. Please tell us - is he like Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush I - cuz I lived under ALL of them and PBO's policies are no where near them. Ike is even more conservative than PBO. So just who is suppose to believe your off the cuff statement?
No, not at all. The Republicans have painted a bleek sad portrait of who Democrats are. The truth is they are probably the happiest bunch of people you'll ever meet. Their willing to give the Republicans the benefit of the doubt should tell you something about the hearts of the Democratic Party. Who is really envious of who. Who prays for the other when they go to sleep at night. Enlightenment can be scarry, but, All Americans should be going through this together sharing their fears in order to conquer them.
There are only two possible explanations for Romney's deep and abiding commitment to lying.
1) he doesn't think any matter that doesn't directly attach to his religious beliefs is worthy of being 'true'--truth is faith, faith is truth to him. He's actually quite the religious fanatic, if you ask me.
2) he has -- and the GOP in general has -- absolutely nothing that they can legitimately criticize Obama for. The man has done an incredible, difficult job, making complex decisions, looking out for the good of the whole country, rather than the E-Z way that the GOP just has to pander to the rich...
I think you're right on the money with that assesment. Also, I always thought that Mormons were so goddam virtuous. Guess I was wrong on that!
Nope, most of the time they're just really good about hiding their moral shortcomings.
I really would like to see the title of this ongoing blog changed from
Mitt's Mendacityto Mitten's RMoney is a f**king liar!He is a liar, in fact those statements contrasted with the truth would make a compelling television commercial...
Remember the Bush aide in 2004 saying, "We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do"?
Just like Bush, Romney is trying to keep the "reality-based community" so busy tracking and disproving his lies that they don't have time to fight him on larger, more important issues.
Again The Americans' Intellegience has been insulted. We can track what they say, we can tell you how they feel about all the issues, we even know what color the last sweater vest was that Santorum wore. And we can walk, and chew gum at the same time. And we sure as hell know how to vote.
When your base is a crowd of zealots who prefer lies to the truth then you lie like a shameless dog! (yes I said it -shameless/Shamus)
That about sums-it-up.
Well done!
Great work Mr Benen! i've been following your work for a while.
If Mitt Romney continues to lie like this his nose will be the correct height just like the trees in Michigan. Seriously though his lying is going to come back and haunt him. If he is lying like this now, whats going to happen if heaven forbid he gets elected and he starts lying to the heads of state of these other countries.
One thing is certain - as long as Mitt remains a candidate, Steve has some job security!!! Of course, that won't extend beyond November (unless Mitt launches his 2016 bid right away)!
This is by far the best photo of Mittens ever to accompany a post about him. Herp derp.
This is just a continuation of 08. None of the Repulicans had the fortitude to call Palin a liar either. They never contradicted her lies, therefore, the base believes them to be the truth. Now it's just habit - lie to the base and maybe they're stupid enough to believe you and you'll win. Who wants a President that NEVER tells the truth? Can we send him to foreign countries to represent the USA? I think not.
Lies are the means to an end: bolstering an emotional decision. When confronted with facts, just repeat the lie. Palin did it perfectly: the bridge to nowhere.
I would love to see a Truth in Campaigning / Truth in Advertizing law which would prohibit unvetted advertizements from polluting the air waves. How about stretching the truth? Nope.
Romney acts like he's already in the WH and he can "create his own reality" without regard to fact-checking by anybody, anywhere.
Mitt's Mendacity is quickly becoming my favorite feature of this blog! I look forward to it every week. Thank you Steve Benen! Keep up the good work. I love your articles.
Maybe they could publish a little sticky note pad book with all these listed one on each sticky note and people could stick them all around like in public bathrooms in every city. That would be very interesting to see Rmoneys' reaction to it. Or have baby Etch-a-Sketches hidden all over that say I'm unwanted.
Great idea!!!
I wonder it would become such an interesting clip if somebody would turn all the list items into a chronicle video-clip.
Having grown up as a fifth-generation Mormon and serving a Mission as did Mr. Romney, I can understand how the lies can flow so easily. Mormons profess to "know" Joseph Smith was a prophet as well as all the "prophets" since. The Mormon lessons used to contain this phrase when I was on my Mission. For me it was easy to say because it was in a second language (Romney went to France) and didn't seem like so much of a lie - kind of like Monopoly money isn't real, but when I came back and had to face the hypocrisy and lies that I heard every Sunday, I couldn't continue and eventually left the Church. But when one grows up and professes a "Testimony" of the Church and repeats it continually in front of friends and family, it requires a certain amount of mendacity to continue "knowing" things that one barely believes if the "truth" be known.
thank you for this service to your country.
There is no Etch-A-Sketch big enough or powerful enough to erase a tenth of Romney's lies.
As a physician with substantial experience with these disorders, although neither a psychiatrist nor neurologist, I believe that Romneys lying and inability to acknowledge his lies suggests a disorder of personality or an early dementing disorder, either which should disqualify him for president.
Do they have to pass some kind of a psychiatric exam to become President? If not, I suggest we implement one as soon as possible. Not that any other Nations' leaders were crazy or anything. I really off hand can't think of any Psychotic World Leaders, Can you? That might be something we oughta start looking for given the present situation that we're in. Seriously, It's not us, it's them.
I would disqualify an early dementing disorder, as Mitt has been lying for a long time.