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After finally wrapping up his strange presidential campaign this week, Newt Gingrich talked to Wolf Blitzer about his support for his former rival, Mitt Romney. The CNN host asked, "Do you still believe Romney is a liar?"
Gingrich replied, in reference to the presidential candidate he now supports, "The governor said things at times that weren't true." Pressed further on whether that means Romney's a liar, Gingrich changed the subject.
It's generally not a good sign when high-profile supporters of a candidate hedge on whether the candidate is an honest person, but then again, the presumptive Republican nominee is not like most candidates. To appreciate the scope of Romney's distortions, consider the 16th installment of my weekly series, chronicling Mitt's mendacity.
1. In a speech in Ohio, Romney referred to the Bush/Cheney era as "before the recession."
The recession began in late 2007, more than a year before President Obama's inauguration. The economy crashed in September 2008, four months before Obama took office. Someone who claims an expertise in economic policy probably ought to know that.
2. In the same speech, Romney summarized his message to young people: "[I]t's so critical, in my view, for you to consider what's in the best interest of not just yourself, but of America, over the coming century, and it is to stop the excessive overspending."
Annual domestic spending is already on track to become the smallest share of the economy since Dwight Eisenhower's administration.
3. Romney acknowledged that President "inherited" the recession, but added that Obama "didn't make it better."
4. In the same speech, Romney said once "Obamacare" is implemented, "government at all levels" will "consume" 50% of the American economy.
David Corn explains today that this is Romney's arguably "biggest fib," which falls "somewhere between 'ridiculous' and 'stupid.'"
5. Also from that speech, Romney said Obama's record includes "the first trillion deficit in history."
That's a blatant lie -- the day Obama was inaugurated, there was a $1.3 trillion deficit Bush had left for him to clean up.
6. In the same remarks, Romney said, "We're on track to become Greece."
7. The Romney campaign again claimed "more than 92%" of the jobs lost since Obama took office are women.
This still is a ridiculous lie.
8. The Romney campaign added, "The fact is, what we have now is the U.S. economy is a hostile workplace for women under President Obama because it's harder to get a job."
That's absurdly untrue, too.
9. In New Hampshire, Romney said Obama is "focused on taking away from those who have the least."
That's blatantly untrue in an ironic sort of way. Romney's tax plan calls for higher taxes on those at the lowest end of the income scale. He also intends to cut food stamps, Medicaid, and educational spending, which benefit those who have the least.
10. Romney also vowed, "I want to help the poor."
First, see #9. Second, he specifically said earlier this year, "I'm not very concerned about the poor."
11. Romney told Charlie Rose that the president has launched an "attack on small businesses."
In reality, Obama has cut taxes on small businesses (several times), eased the process that allows small businesses to be created, and streamlined the patent process.
12. The Romney campaign argued this week that the former governor's position on the auto-industry rescue "was exactly what President Obama followed," adding, "The only economic success that President Obama has had is because he followed Mitt Romney's advice."
Romney condemned Obama's efforts on the industry rescue repeatedly, including throughout the GOP primaries. He can't oppose the policy and take credit for the policy at the same time, at least not if he's being honest.
13. Romney said regulations under Obama are duplicating "like proverbial rabbits."
It's a subjective question, I suppose, but at a minimum, this is deeply misleading. The truth is, Obama approved fewer regulations than George W. Bush did over a comparable period.
14. The Romney campaign this week claimed President Obama "delivered" the controversy over GSA over-spending at a Las Vegas conference.
The Obama administration launched the investigation that uncovered the wrongdoing, and GSA's reckless conference spending began during the Bush era.
15. In a speech in Virginia yesterday, Romney blamed "card check" for making things "tougher" on businesses.
Card check didn't pass, so it's impossible for Romney's argument to be true.
16. In the same speech, Romney said Obama has "added about 150,000 government workers."
That's the opposite of reality, and reflects an unnerving ignorance about job policy.
17. Romney, at the same event, said raising the top marginal income tax rate would force small businesses to "cut back" and not "hire more."
This is one of those zombie lies that never goes away, but it's still not true.
18. Romney went on to condemn Obama for "shutting down" a "wonderful" school voucher program in the District of Columbia.
Obama didn't shut down the school voucher program in the District of Columbia. It still exists.
At one of his events this week, Romney, in apparent reference to the president's eloquence on the stump, told voters, "[A]s you look at the campaign of 2012, you're gonna hear a lot of words, but you're going to have an opportunity to also look behind the words at the facts.... Words are easily malleable but facts, they're stubborn."
Yes, governor, they are.
Previous editions of Chronicling Mitt's Mendacity: Vol. I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII,XIII, XIV, XV
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Mitt is a weasel.
See http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/05/04/478368/478368/ on how the economy has now recovered all the private sector jobs lost to the BUSH recession
While all of this fact checking is great it doesnt help if the masses dont see this. This kind of fact checking should be on every major new show for everyone to see. They can fact check the president too. Someone needs to tell the sheeple the REAL truth instead of just a playing a sound bite with the hopes that the sheeple will dig deeper. Without anything being said most people will believe what they hear and vote accordingly.
Romney lies to his followers who believe the lies. Romney does not fool us with his lies but so what, we are not his followers. I wonder what will happen when Romney's lies hit the national stage. I want to see Democrats shove those lies back down his lying mouth. Democrats, if they had the nerve.
Romney can lie to the people who watch Fox. But the majority of people do not watch Fox News. It is incumbent on the MSM to call the lies for what they are and stop coddling Romney and the Republicans just so they appear on the morning news or talk shows. When they and the Dems know they will be confronted no matter which show they appear, the lies will diminish. But this means the media needs to be direct and pursue the lies. Politicians need to be shown that they cannot answer with ambiguous statements and talking points.
The ameriKan sheeple will believe what they are told to believe. It is called Freedom of $peech and those with the money have the most 'freedom'. To believe that the
MSMCorporately Owned Media will tell the sheeple otherwise is delusional.thank you for this service to your country.
So the party of Wilson who called Obama a liar is dancing around with that word when it plainly applies to one of their own. Is it that inate fear or just their herd mentality?
rubber glue rubber glue rubber glue rubber glue
rubbergluerubbergluerubbergluerubbergluerubberglue
Don't make fun of them , they have a plan to get Mitt elected
Re: Point 1 - Obama's economic policies are so bad that the economy tanked over a year before he actually started them. *sagely nod*
At least it was not Clinton's fault. Well not now but back then?
Thanks, Steve, for doing this every week.
I refer to it when I need to show what a "Lying Sack of Mitt" he is, to people that I know who don't accept (and still don't, even with proof) that he lies so much and how misinformed they are.
You send a strong message when you can say, "Mitt Romney lies (and I can prove it) at least 10-20 times or more, every week since mid-January of this year and it hasn't dissipated." That's almost four months of telling falsehoods.
Do you want this liar running our country? If he lies so much, doesn't that show how little credibility he has in proposing 'solutions' to the nation's problems? Doesn't it also show how he lacks seriousness about not only being president but handling the responsibilities of running the country? If he has to lie, is he really right for America?
The obvious question is: Why doesn't the mainstream media (or the Fair & Balanced crowd) question Mitt on his lies? They have proof that he said it, and now they should do the work (if they're lazy, you've done it for them) and ask him and be ready to show why that's not true when he tries to lie again.
As others have said, thank you, Steve. You really are the hardest working blogger in the business. I wish this Chronicled were highlighted every Friday night on TRMS.
As for the rest of the media, sooner or later they'll have to step up on this. It's just too good a story and Romney is just too disliked a man.
It is disingenuous for Romney to criticize today's jobs report when the so-called job creators who have had low tax rates since the last administration cut them are not hiring. It is especially galling in light of the recent revelations about the Caucus Room meeting the night of Obama's inauguration to establish a policy of bad faith in negotiations with Democratic efforts to address the economic collapse caused by the last administration.
I hear the Romney campaign is pushing for a new smart phone app for iPhones and Blackberries..
It's called the Etch-a-Sketch app...
This is an interesting idea. How difficult would it be for the DNC to launch a free phone app. identifying Mitt's lies? It could be a game like trying to stop Mitt's nose from growing by finding something truthful in his campaign. I am technologically disadvantaged.
Romney is a pathetic panderer. Luckily for our country, voters are not as stupid as he thinks. Romney knows he could make big gains in jobs by adopting Obama’s jobs plans for infrastructure, education, and renewable energy. The very BIG difference; Romney would count on Republicans to stop blocking Obama’s plans and getting Democrats to do what is right for the country!
A new book has been published. It includes an assertion; that leading Republicans and congressional members assembled the day of President Obama’s inauguration, at that meeting they agreed to act in unison to block absolutely everything that our new President of the United States tried to do.
The profoundness of that meeting and decisions that emanated from it, if true, and that is incredibly important if, means that the Republicans gathered there, were engaged in a conspiracy against the United States of America. Oaths of office notwithstanding, members of any party have individual rights to evaluate and vote, in congress, on any bill put before them. Because a party tends to elect likeminded representatives, there is a tendency to vote a predominant point of view by a large plurality.
Obviously when voting on bills, other factors come into play that affects the individual votes of the members of both Republicans and Democrats. We know that is the democratic process established by the US Constitution. Republicans decided in a meeting, long before any legislation was put before them by Obama that they would vote against it in concert. The content, and the impact of their vote on the country and it citizens therefore could never be considered. THAT REPRESENT CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT TREASON, AND CAN NOT BE DISMISSED AS PARTISAN OPPOSITION, BECAUSE OF THE ENORMITY OF SCALE!!
The Attorney General, if the assertions in the book have a basis, is obligated to indict and arrest these conspirators!
"Luckily for our country, voters are not as stupid as he thinks."
I wish that were true, but unfortunately, I haven't seen anything that supports your statement.
And unfortunately, the truth really doesn't matter anymore because the press won't act responsibly.
MM,
I follow your logic on everything you say and some legal consideration should be made as the evidence is gathered.
I'm hung up on your second sentence. I think that a large number of voters ARE that stupid. I don't have faith that Americans who vote in the next election will overwhelmingly see what a horrible idea Romney is for president (If You Want to F@(% America, Vote for Romney).
I also, as a by-product of this discussion, do not see Americans voting out Republicans in Congress with Democrats because Republicans have obstructed to every major piece of legislation the Dems have tried to bring to the floors of Congress (in an honest attempt to fix our problems), not to mention provided no alternative legislation/solutions and have nothing to show for their time in office.
In an ideal world, in America, Americans would see through this, as you've suggested and vote for Obama for a second term, vote out Republicans in Congress (to include having at least 60 dems, in the Senate so they can actually override filibusters) and get some $hit done finally.
Then, if that isn't working for us, we can blame them and move on to other candidates in subsequent elections. But I don't have faith in that ideal because I see every day, ignorance in the face of facts/proof, and indoctrination is hard to overcome in such a large scale. I hope and pray you're right about this Michael but I just don't see it happening so easily.
Would that were true but it is contradicted by the second half of your post:
That comes closer to the the truth. Republicans are incapable of any action which does not lead to tax cuts for the rich paid for by public debt. The idea that they are patriotic in any way is baseless.
But Democrats don't, do they. Democrats always let Republicans off the hook even when Republicans give thanks by stabbing Democrats in the back. Yet Democrats never learn. How can anyone be so stupid? Because they are in on the deal.
Bush 43 showed that no one in the world is safe from American might. An out-of-control leadership can send American armies rampaging across the world with an American economy sucking wealth out of nations everywhere. Bush's "extraordinary rendition" that kidnapped foreign citizens then tortured and murdered them in secret camps was not isolated to the hinterlands of Yemen but took place on the streets of European cities. Several European nations have lawsuits against the CIA for exactly that. The Greek financial crisis which is cascading through the eurozone was brought on by Goldman Sachs which figured out how Greece could lie to the ECB for outrageous loans.
I suspect that when top world leaders get together at places such as the World Economic Summit at Davos they scheme to break up this country. The way they are breaking it up is exactly what we are seeing: unchecked national debt leading to bankruptcy.
To watch international schemes in action you need look no further than your gas pump. Recall a few months ago there was war hysteria over an attack by Israel on Iran, hysteria promoted by Republicans for votes. Suddenly they all shut up and gas prices fell. What happened? I suspect the President told those guys to knock that @!$%# off, and they did.
The Attorney General of the United States was also obligated, under U.S. and International laws, to investigate the War Crimes of the Bush administration. How well did that work out? Oh yeah, The Capitulator in Chief declared we have to look forward and not back.
Before GWBush the democrats and republicans were like two parts of the same team. Like, maybe the democrats liked to pass the ball and republicans liked to carry the ball but the goal was always to move the ball downfield. As elections happened, the two parts gave the ball to each other with the assumption that maybe they disagreed with the call of the play, but at least we were moving forward.
When GWB got elected the republicans decided to change the rules of the game (remember Karl Rove stating that they were setting up a generation of republican rule?). Democrats still think we are all trying to move the ball forward together when, in fact, the republicans have started moving the ball in the other direction, thinking that if they cross that "goal line" they win. Unbeknownst to them, what actually happens is a touch-back and they have to give up possession of the ball.
Sorry for the football analogy, it just seems to fit.
Without any doubt whatsoever the Democrats are very much aware the rules have changed. Yes the Democrats are still trying to play by the old rules, but Iam not sure what other choice they have.
What do you suggest Democrats do? Considering they are dealing with an intransigent opposition whose strategy is winner take all -- my way or the highway, I have to say the Democrats have done better than expected under those circumstances. I give them an A for effort. I give the GOP an F for failing the country notwithstanding their success in blocking almost every piece of legislation possible.
What worries me is whether the voters fully understand that is what is taking place in Washington.
Yesterday Steve linked to an op-ed in The WaPo by Tom Mann & Norm Ornstein titled, ""Let's just say it: The Republicans are the problem"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lets-just-say-it-the-republicans-are-the-problem/2012/04/27/gIQAxCVUlT_story.html
However, the press corps has pushed the "both sides do it" for so long now that even if they changed the narrative, Iam not sure how that would play out. But I feel confident in saying we'll hear an endless cacophony 24/7/12 from the right screaming bloody murder ad nausuem.
What we seem to be dealing with is a conundrum that has a lot of unknown variables & moving parts and no solutions which lends way to the uncertainty in how this ultimately works out.
"what we have is a riddle wrapped in a conundrum surrounded by an enigma." That's from a movie some where...
Anyone ever wonder what happened to Seamus - I'm betting the Romney's don't even know where the old dog is buried!
Preordained - that is how the Romney's see themselves - which explains much of their mendacity !!!
I heard he ran away - sought asylum in Canada - and never made the trip home.
regard : 17. Romney, at the same event, said raising the top marginal income tax rate would force small businesses to "cut back" and not "hire more."
I gotta ask this: what Small business owners even qualify for that tax bracket? I mean really this doesn't stand up to even the most lazy-assed logic. Is he using the word small to indicate the size of the Board of Directors? of the managing executives? or the total of employees? The assets of the company?
When a Republicans say "small business" they mean "big business". And any lie for a tax cut is a good lie. It's all they know. "Raising the top marginal income tax rate would force small businesses to 'cut back' and not 'hire more'" is a lie. Raising taxes would increase the size of the economy and create jobs, not lose them.
Lying for tax cuts is all a Republican can do. They are incapable of any other action. The only question is, WHY are Republicans so obsessed with tax cuts when basic economics and hard evidence show tax cuts make everyone poorer, even the rich? They have a deeper, more sinister goal.
Mitt is playing the lie gig right out of the Reagan campaign book. Reagan wasn't too flush in the mendacity department either but the key is how many people are ripe for the fairy seeds and resistant to the truth herbicides. Lies sprout into mighty bean stalks in the right minds.
I'm getting confused. I swear I read there that he is accusing the public of overspending ?? Uh.. doesn't spending actually help keep the economy strong ?
"He's" wondering where the jobs are ?? Uh.. I think I hear a hint that he still believes that if we keep the rich from higher taxation, that, somehow, this creates jobs... sure doesn't seem to be working. These guys just can't let go of the concept of 'tinkle down' economics... which is spelled-- FAIL
Perhaps he needs to ask J Boehner "where the jobs are" ?
Jobs? Blah blah blah blah....
Some "job creators" aren't obliged to actually use profits to hire more people
late breaking romney lie
after blind dissident cheb guangcheng left the chinese embassy , willard called it a “day of shame” for the obama administration, based on media reports that chen was pressured to leave by embassy officials.
wapo is now reporting: "In a telephone interview early Friday, Chen said he does not blame American officials for his plight after leaving the U.S. Embassy under a deal they helped strike. But he accused Chinese officials of reneging on their promises to fully restore his freedom."
the guardian reports: "Mr Chen has been offered a fellowship from an American university, where he can be accompanied by his wife and two children," US state department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on Friday.
The Chinese government has indicated that it will accept Mr Chen's applications for appropriate travel documents. The United States government would then give visa requests for him and his immediate family priority attention."
Even Bill Kristol criticized Mitt for injecting himself into the Chen story while Hillary Clinton was in Beijing in the midst of sensitive negotiations.
That kind of blunder illustrates Romney does not understand anything about foreign policy negotiations. It is beyond foolish, beyond ignorant to jump into the middle of something that he had no information about muchless even consider the fact that Chen's & his family's life were on the line.
Romney is clueless which makes him dangerous! IMHO
Romney was raised to believe that you tell people anything, including lies, to get what you want and to get where you want. Thanks to Rachel staying on top of his lies for the rest of us there could actually be a whole set of encyclopedias written of his prevarications !
Steve,
To pick a nit, you should correct Romney's quote at #10. He said "I'm not concerned about the very poor"; he did not say "I'm not very concerned about the poor." It's a subtle but important difference that blunts your point somewhat.
Please keep up the Mitt's Mendacity post, I look forward to it every Friday.
I think he's LESS competent than GW Bush-- and that's saying something...
Classic fascism requires a dictator. In the American interpretation of fascism the dictator will be a silly puppet who takes the heat while the real powers suck cash in the shadows. Romney fits the bill.
In right-wing fantasies the "government" will consist of nothing but a police force whose only duty is to protect the property of the rich. The visible government will be nothing but a show, elections reduced to a media circus.
Mussolini: Facism should rightly be called corporatism, as it is the merger of state and corporate power.
It is alive and flourishing in the U.S.
What's up with the media blackout of Ron Paul. Mitt Romney only gets a few hundred people to a rally while Ron Paul gets thousands watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?src_vid=mfrNz_2hvvM&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotation_138764&v=o2e_FUy-3eo
Steve, can you consolidate these reports for us into a single document we can share with the ignorant? Thanks.
I keep wondering how does a father present himself publicly as an unabashed, conscience-less liar, and still look his kids in the eye?
Mormons are not supposed to lie (directly) to other Mormons. It is ok to lie to the non-believers.
The man is pathological in his lying. At least Bush knew he was lying. Sometimes I think his riches and religion really have gone to his head. He thinks anything he says is gospel.
To paraphrase Mark Twain:
There are lies, damn lies and then there's Mitt Romney
Alas, Twain attributed that one to Benjamin Disraeli, who may not have said it afterall...
But it's certainly on the mark...
And a honk of my horn for Martin Bashir who gave us "Mitt the Mendacious."
Election reform will have to include some penalty for perpetuating blatant lies (obviously not a fine, they'd just pay and keep going). Maybe penalties under libel and slander laws? I don't have the answer but clearly it needs to be addressed in some way along with the $ and super PACs.
Thanks, Steve, for doing this. It's a priceless resource for those of us attempting to counter all the mendacity and set the record straight.
This is what you call desperate & juvenile: Mitt Romney's campaign is working hard hard to steal Pres. Obamas spotlight this weekend, when the President is set to hold the first rally of his 2012 re-election campaign.
http://abcnews.com/politics/obamas-election-rallies-saturday-blitzed-romney-campaign/story?id=16279109#.T6RMK7_emYU
Romney a total loser.... Obama/Biden 2012
Steve, did you see that the Washington Post's Glenn Kessler's (The Fact-Checker) doing Mitt's job for him again?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-challenge-to-obama-and-romney-deliver-one-truthful-campaign-speech/2012/05/04/gIQArMV21T_story.html?hpid=z6
A challenge to Obama and Romney: Deliver one truthful campaign speech
False equivalency at its finest.