Associated Press
President Obama greets troops at Camp Victory in Baghdad.
After spending the last several months paying attention to Mitt Romney's habitual dishonesty at a granular level, I've become largely inured to his more routine, casual lies. Some of the deliberate falsehoods are just too common to get upset about.
But once in a while, Romney tells a lie so blatant and offensive that it raises questions anew about the candidate's character and what standards of decency he's prepared to abandon to advance his ambitions.
As Rachel explained on the show on Thursday, voting rights in Ohio have been a mess in recent cycles, and new voter-suppression tactics imposed by state Republican lawmakers are inviting "chaos" at the polls this fall. Of particular interest is a state policy that restricts early-voting rights: active-duty troops can vote up to three days before Election Day, but no one else.
To that end, President Obama's campaign filed a lawsuit a few weeks ago, asking a federal court to "restore in-person early voting for all Ohioans during the three days prior to Election Day." Three weeks later, Romney came up with a new response to the lawsuit, posting this message to Facebook:
"President Obama's lawsuit claiming it is unconstitutional for Ohio to allow servicemen and women extended early voting privileges during the state's early voting period is an outrage. The brave men and women of our military make tremendous sacrifices to protect and defend our freedoms, and we should do everything we can to protect their fundamental right to vote. I stand with the fifteen military groups that are defending the rights of military voters, and if I'm entrusted to be the commander-in-chief, I'll work to protect the voting rights of our military, not undermine them."
Got that? Obama wants all eligible Ohio voters, including servicemen and women, to have the same ability to vote, which Romney says, in writing, means Obama is trying to "undermine" the troops' ability to vote.
This is as loathsome a lie as Romney has told all year -- and given his record, that's not an easy threshold to meet.
It's important to realize that this isn't a matter of opinion. CNN's headline over the weekend said, "Romney campaign jabs at Obama over voting rights suit." The headline on the Politico homepage yesterday said, "Obama, Mitt camps spar on military voting."
No. Wrong. No one is "jabbing" or "sparring." One candidate lied and got caught. Full stop.
Indeed, when pressed, Romney's spokesperson could point to "no place in Obama's lawsuit that seeks to restrict the rights of military voters," and Romney's legal counsel failed to "offer evidence that Obama's lawsuit would make it tougher for members of the military to vote."
After the campaign's dishonesty was exposed, Romney put a twist on his lie, saying Obama now opposes giving the troops special treatment. But even by Republican standards, this is insane -- by this reasoning, Romney supports a policy that discriminates against military veterans in Ohio who would be legally prohibited from the same early-voting rights as active-duty servicemen and women.
Does Romney want to deny special treatment for veterans of foreign wars? Does Romney think it's befitting a Commander in Chief to deny equal voting rights to those who put their lives on the line to defend the United States?
Yesterday, the Republican presidential campaign said the Obama campaign's lawsuit calling for equal voting rights is "despicable."
It's as if words no longer have any meaning, and Americans politics has become so blisteringly stupid, candidates believe they can say literally anything and get away with it.
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With all due respect Steve, what is your definition of "gets caught"?
A few new orgs reported it correctly long after the actual lie had been out there, but just as many reported the lie as truth. And most news orgs. reported as he said, she said.
And even today, after Romney supposedly got caught, it's still being reporting as a partisan disagreement and not an outright lie.
From the Haberman article linked by Steve B.:
Romney gets away with it again. The MSM has been a crutch for a terrible campaign and a terrible candidate. It's infuriating.
He is (Romney) a scary, ignorant, unqualified candidate....his lack of knowledge on foreign affairs scares the hell out of me. His lies are stupidly brazen, I don't trust him as far as I can throw him...
43 us presidents from 1789 to2008 spent 6.3 trillion dollars
obama spent 6.5 trillion dollars
If a lie is not proven to be false, If no one speaks out and says, "No! That is a LIE!", is it really a lie?
I think it's time to stop wondering whether Mitt the Twit is really that tone deaf. It's time to stop wondering what the possible motives would be for such blatant prevarications.
It's obvious to me that lying is part of his campaign strategy. A conscious decision was made to simply lie about anything and everything, and let the average American determine what's true or not. It is actually a brilliant strategy, albeit totally devoid of character and integrity. And it may work.
This is perhaps the most important election of my lifetime (and I first voted in '88). It's not necessarily about who actually wins, rather, it's about does the truth matter any more in America? Are we so far gone as a people that we've lost even the most basic skill of separating fantasy from reality?
Thanks, citizen. Separating fantasy from reality requires establishment of fact to support whatever claim is made in a deliberative process normally referred to as debate. The questions asked by show hosts of guests to gain such information are often not answered but with self-serving campaign statements from all sides. The purpose of a free press is to enable the public's right to know and the press is failing. Like I've seen posted before, they have become stenographers to what I believe is the sound and the fury of confusion, where illusion meets realty. Debate moderators the same. It is hard to say that communication is even taking place.
pray to JESUS for out country
Wow. I can't imagine how stupid one must be to manage three spelling and grammatical errors in a six word sentence.
43 us presidents from 1789 to2008 spent 6.3 trillion dollars
obama spent 6.5 trillion dollars
I think I just wet myself laughing Lawyer!
okay, Rmoney isn't intentionally lying. he's just having a difficult time keeping things straight based on what the Karl Rove and Cheney told him to say and do. He sometimes gets confused as there is so much information he needs to remember. It might be easier for him if he had his own opinions and comments versus always depending on what the GOP told him to say.
I thought Willard just liked rats come to find out he is one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
President Obama's campaign filed a lawsuit a few weeks ago, asking a federal court to "restore in-person early voting for all Ohioans during the three days prior to Election Day."
The Romney response: "President Obama's lawsuit claiming it is unconstitutional for Ohio to allow servicemen and women extended early voting privileges during the state's early voting period is an outrage."
You just can't make up a better example of a political non-sequiter as this. Somehow, a lawsuit filed which seeks to restore early voting right to all Ohioans is an attack on the voting rights of the military? I think I could connect the dots from Kevin Bacon to a random child in North Korea more easily then I could connect the dots of this argument.
Where to begin? The Republicans keep bringing up that Clinton (Bill) lied about sex to Congress and that is why he was impeached. Doesn't lying to the entire world and the American people about global issues constitute a lie of equal weight? I have asked so many times I've lost count: Why don't the liberal/progressive pundits with visibility, such as Rachel & Steve Benen, directly challenge their conservative colleagues and bosses with these charges of blatant lying by the major candidates for national office and report their responses? This is probably a rhetorical question, but I ask it, nonetheless.
The thought of hearing Romney's nervous laugh every time he lies (which seems to be just about every time he opens his mouth) for four or even eight years is really is incredibly unappealing.
i know know one that has never lies be for but i do know this
dep of labor saying that obama laying of 80.000 soldier's get there pink slips
after the election
it better to have a rich man that told a lie then to have a poor country the broke obama nation
43 us presidents from 1789 to2008 spent 6.3 trillion dollars
obama spent 6.5 trillion dollars
With Military strength like the Romney family has supplied over these many deadly decades.....especially free world determination in World War II..... the United States could not have even placed one Romney Marine or Soldier as Embassy Duty Guard in The Canary Islands or Bermuda for one split second. It's not a Mormon issue either as one of my best friends in Vietnam humped the platoon radio in some of the most dangerous hellholes, and as a Mormon he let himself be drafted because he felt his life was no more valuable than anyone else's in his home state of Utah or beyond. For Mitt Romney and his nonmilitary serving tools that are his advisors to try again to "Swift Boat" President Obama after the lies about Abbottabad and Ben Laden's capture is beyond the limits of decency and military valor. "Doc" Rafter, V.N. 1968, Draftee & Grunt.
What else would you expect from the sweaty upper lipped, shifty eyed, fake smiling, Richard Romney...oops I mean Mitt Nixon...er um ah, Willard Romney...well, you get my point.
i can get over a lie but how we going to pay the bills dep of labor saying that obama laying of 80.000 soldier's get there pink slips
after the election
it better to have a rich man that told a lie then to have a poor country the broke obama nation
43 us presidents from 1789 to2008 spent 6.3 trillion dollars
obama spent 6.5 trillion dollars
What else can we expect from the sweaty lipped, shifty eyed, fake smiling, Richard Romney...oops I mean Mitt Nixon...er um ah Willard Romney...oh well you get my point!!
Oh, puu-llll-eeeeease. History has shown us honesty has absolutely nothing to do with being a good or bad President.
But what about the folklore of Washington "I cannot tell a lie" and "Honest Abe"?
So, would you knowing vote for a habitual liar that will not show us evidence Reid is wrong, just roll the dice? We should just say, oh well they all lie, so might as well not vote or vote for the guy that's white and rich, maybe he'll give us a crumb. But his experience is unemployment after companies merge and off shore bank accounts.
43 us presidents from 1789 to2008 spent 6.3 trillion dollars
obama spent 6.5 trillion dollars
I'm convinced that President Obama will be re-elected on November, but let's imagine the impossible: having Pinocchio Romney as President-elect on November 7. America’s allies like England and Israel would think twice before following the lead of an arrogant know-it-all President Pinocchio Romney that insulted, lied to and patronized them while visiting their countries as a candidate. The Iran government would accelerate its nuclear program and start developing the construction of nuclear weapons, since President Pinocchio Romney practically guaranteed the use of the “military option” against Iran as a candidate. Regarding the American Economy, President Pinocchio Romney would rush to give tax cuts to the rich, increase defense spending, reduce or eliminate many social programs, outsource thousands of American jobs to China, South Korea or Mexico; gays and lesbians would be expelled from the military, schools, and churches; racial profiling would be the "Law of the Land" et., etc. I know, this is too horrific to be true. It could be called “Nightmare on President Pinocchio Romney Street”
43 us presidents from 1789 to2008 spent 6.3 trillion dollars
obama spent 6.5 trillion dollars
"President Obama's lawsuit claiming it is unconstitutional for Ohio to allow servicemen and women extended early voting privileges during the state's early voting period is an outrage."
By no means am I a fan of Romney's, he's a scumbag, but in this case you are completely ignoring the "extended" part of his statement. If early voting privileges are provided for all citizens in the state (a good thing!!!) then servicepeoples of the military will no longer have "extended voting privileges during the state's early voting period." They will simply have the same voting privileges as everyone else during the state's early voting period.
Is this misleading and shameful? Yes, definitely. Is it an outright lie? No.
But why would you expect a politician to not be misleading if he/she can distract the general public from real issues and hopefully give some voters a hook for voting Not Their Opponent? That's just blatantly ignoring our political atmosphere and history.
it better to have a rich man that told a lie then to have a poor country the broke obama nation
43 us presidents from 1789 to2008 spent 6.3 trillion dollars
obama spent 6.5 trillion dollars
SP, you do realize that saying that repeatedly doesn't make it true, right? Even if you click your heels together three times when doing it.
Damn liberals still don't get it...it doesn't matter how great your team is, or what dirty tricks the other team uses, or how absolutely terrible the referees have become -- look at the _game_. Each "team", yours or not, scores points on how much they can oppress you! And you CHEER FOR IT! Open your goddamn eyes.
Reading this will test your patience, but a deep breath should help. Many of us remember past presidential elections where USA Today and CNN reported that thousands of military votes were too late to be counted. These people put their lives on the line for us. Their votes must count. That is why Ohio - and a number of other states - now have such laws. Benen and Maddow are likeable; however, they are anything but "truth-tellers". They trust that you'll mindlessly believe their words and not conduct your own research. They know you will not read anything except the writings of liberals like them. They count on you to be willfully ignorant. I apologize if you feel angry reading this. It is worth it, if even one reader has the courage and drive to venture outside of your current comfort zone and seek the rest of the story.
Yeah, that's is why they link you to where you can find the facts for yourself.
Because they don't want you to see the truth for yourself or anything.
The law in Ohio is taking away the early voting from all others than military and it is being twisted like an "extra twisty" pretzel to say what fits into an anti-Obama talking point for the parrots to repeat.
They are just word-smithing and that people believe it amazes me.
One of the biggest lie ever was that we HAD to attack Iraq and pursue the fantasy of Cheney and the rest of the neo-cons who are salivating at the thought of having Rmoney to control like they did Bush.
To me, that should not escape the attention of voters. I'm just wondering if Cheney has selected himself Veep again. This cannot be overlooked that neo cons always want more war and more profiteering regardless of our soldiers being sacrificed along with the spending.
It is clear that Romney is not telling the truth, just like the quote he took out of context about creating a business. The sad part is that his following doesn't care how much he lies, or distorts the truth, or doesn't have any policies of his own. To them it is about the hate they have for Obama, nothing more. These are the so called Christians on the Right. They don't want the truth and by a couple of these posts that is very evident, they have taken a simple thing and are twisting it any way they can.
"It's as if words no longer have any meaning, and Americans politics has become so blisteringly stupid, candidates believe they can say literally anything and get away with it."
It's a sad day when we have to face that a lot of Americans really are that stupid....but I think that day has come.
it better to have a rich man that told a lie then to have a poor country the broke obama nation
43 us presidents from 1789 to2008 spent 6.3 trillion dollars
obama spent 6.5 trillion dollars
Bush was a rich man who told lies.
Also, presidents don't spend money, congress appropriates funds. Nice try though....well...not really.
Wow, so many scum of the earth on this site. Won't ever come here again. Just proves what being a bull dyke does to the brain.
Well, judging from your comment you are more of a Fox News crowd kinda person anyway. ;)
GOTP followers don't read. They listen to ridiculous party lies and regurgitate the same as someone with acid reflux. Guess they are fooled in to believe that the destruction of the middle-class doesn't include them.
Politico changed its headline. It now reads:
Obama camp: Romney's Ohio voting claim 'shameful'
I think I liked Nixon better than this idiot. Thanks for putting this out there, Rachel.
Wow. I hate to be the "Paulbearer" here but there is another choice out there that is not Mittens or Obama. I have seen lying from both sides and yet there is no media coverage of people who tell truth or even people that have been in congress and know what is happening but when they tell the truth it is to scary to those wanting to get rich off of us and those who want to rely on government aid to take care of them. We must get back to the Constitution even if it hurts for a moment. everyone in congress should take a pay cut, lose the lifelong pensions that we are paying for, stop these undeclared wars and use our military in defense and not in warmongering, Our soldiers do not even know what they are dying for anymore. Our Freedom? Everyone knows that is not true. We are losing our freedoms and only Dr. Ron Paul is stating this with a very strong following that the news media fails to report. What, can't find a lie in that man? no juicy birth certificate issue or flip flopping to report? This man is still in the race. There is a revolution coming. It will be easy or it will be hard. Neither Obama nor Romney need to be in the White House and we need someone who will not compromise the constitution. If you people think that this "crazy old man" is just going to fade then you better take a darn good look at who he is influencing. The next generation and if this generation gets degrees and can not find jobs then watch what happens. The poorer the people get, the more involved they will become. Bank on a revolution of some kind. Dr. Paul wants a peaceful revolution but some of his backers are getting angry now. Republicans don't even want Dr. Paul and Democrats do not want an intellectual argument with this individual. Rachel, I am sorry if you will lose your job for telling the truth but instead of just reporting silly crap, stand on real principle. Real Reporting, the truth!
Here's the difference between the two presidential candidates: Romney tells blatant lies. Obama also lies but he sings a song or high-fives a 4-year-old so you can forget that he did. With Israel, the media, and Wall Street puppeteering our government, don't expect any degree of honesty from any man sitting in the Oval Office.
Both of them are just as bad! For true change vote Gary Johnson. If you haven't heard of him look him up, you'll like what you see!