Associated Press
So, Mitt Romney has decided to put a blatant, demonstrable lie at the center of his entire presidential campaign. As of today, the Republican has successfully stopped the talk about his tax returns by telling one of the more offensive falsehoods of the year: that Obama has ended the work requirement in welfare law.
Does this have any basis in reality? Not even a little. The president is giving states the option of experimenting with new welfare-to-work programs -- an option Romney used to support -- but work requirements remain intact.
The question is what Obama is going to do about this. Simply pointing out that Romney is blatantly, shamelessly lying probably isn't going to cut it -- most news organizations are reluctant to hold politicians responsible for dishonesty, and voters are easily fooled. So what's the next best option? Ed Kilgore suggests putting Bill Clinton in front of the cameras, since he's the one shown in Romney's dishonest attack ad.
...Team Romney is leaving itself a bit vulnerable by going there, because Bill Clinton is very much alive and well and has a somewhat better idea of what he was trying to accomplish in 1996 and throughout his presidency than members of the party who tried to force him out of office and hated him almost as much as they hate Obama.
So if I were advising the president, I'd get the 42d occupant of the White House out there post-haste to rebut the lies and expose their intent.... If nothing else, it would discourage Romney's campaign from ever again pretending he's more like Clinton than Clinton's Democratic successor.
That's a good idea, but the Big Dog is busy, I've got a Plan B: end the states' flexibility.
Republican governors were the ones who asked for the flexibility to experiment, and Obama agreed. But if Romney and the GOP have decided to go nuclear on this, making up garbage in the hopes that voters are fools, the president can simply reverse course -- Republicans are against state flexibility and experimentation? Fine, no more state flexibility and experimentation.
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The last paragraph is right on. Make an issue about giving power to the states. Romney seems to want the federal government to maintain control. OK. Done.
Let's see how happy the Republican governors will be with Romney after Obama takes away their authority to experiment at the state level with different approaches.
Except that Robme won't get the blame, they'll make it Obama's fault. Again. And the media will say nothing. Robme's the freaking teflon candidate.
We all probably can call what would happen next if Pres. Obama did shut down the GOP governors -- Republicans would then go on to their next Big Lie to crow that they made Pres. Obama "back down" from his plan to give away hard-workin' folks' money to lazy welfare queens.
We aren't bored of hearing about Romney's taxes yet. Clinton can talk about how everyone in our society has obligations. People out of work are obligated to try to find work, but people with wealth are obligated to work rather than indulge themselves in their obsessions with their expensive horses, houses and cars. People like Romney are obligated to pay their fair share of taxes and to use the 2 trillion of capital that the 1% are withholding from the economy and do some work with it.
The 1% have benefited enormously from the Reagan corporate welfare state, and they too are obligated to work rather than engage in rent seekng business models. These parasitic activities are not work but have no economic value other than extracting more weath from the middle class . It's time for 1% to make real contributions to the economy- to get back to real work that made America great. The 1% have received all of the increases in gdp growth since 1970, while the middle class has received none of it.
It is time for the 1% to do work and pay their fair share of taxes.
So Romney, about your tax returns....
Obama should follow President Clinton's footsteps and govern to the center left instead of being a radical and socialist. No wonder why Moderate Clinton Democrats are so frustrated that they're sitting out the 2012 elections.
Obama is closer to governing to the center right and is STILL accused of being a socialist by the reichwing. Besides, I don't recall the GOP being all that fond of this "center left"Clinton you now yearn for.
I don't want to nitpick on your comment,so please expound a little bit on your
It sounds like baldashery to me.
Yes, how is Obama a socialist leftist Satanic scourge again? [ Radical and socialist equals devil/Lucifer/not a Christian/possibly a hippie/no, definitely a hippie ]. Because wouldn't he have left bin Laden alive [ and not authorized the use of drones, hello ] and wouldn't he be rounding up Republicans by now for those special camps that are already built [ I can start rumors if I want to, too. ] in the wilds of California? [ California being the devil's playground. ] Wouldn't his very vocal enemies be disappearing? Or do you think Obama even paying attention to anything that has ' welfare ' in the wording marks him as a dangerous radical coming for your money, your children and your guns? I'm being a tad snarky, but would honestly like to know what's up with your statement. Other than trolling.
DUCK!
Roger Ailes and Fox do not get to define what Left means.
Clinton is center-Right. Obama's policies disqualify him from having "Left" associated with his name.
Sorry "progressives", but it's true. Obama is a centrist and really will not take a liberal stand unless he is forced to.
Cindy, how about this proposal instead: The GOP needs to return back to the center and rediscover the benefits of sanity and a mature attitude about governance. Maybe it is the GOP that needs to rediscover true conservatism of people like David Gergen, Jon Huntsman, Gerald Ford, Nelson Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln or Teddy Roosevelt.
Libertarians, and those disaffected with the GOP, how about this: Unite with the Left in the fight for a level playing field. The two party system forbids minority political views from gaining political power. Those who represent a significant portion of the population but cannot achieve fair representation in this society. The Reforms:
Entrenched politicians owe everything to the two party system and oppose all of these challenges to their power. We need more, not less democracy.
Mitt Romney is going to get us back to the center left & right. I truly believe that he will be the next Bill Clinton.
Cindy, I take it you're independently wealthy? Because if you're not, there's an old saying -- be careful what you wish for.
I think Cindy is independently ignorant. No wait, I think she's had help. Fox help.
Oh, oh, Cindy is on the wrong bus again.
"Mitt Romney is going to get us back to the center left & right. I truly believe that he will be the next Bill Clinton."
What an insult to Bill Clinton. I'm not even sure he'll be the next Mitt Romney, though there have been several incarnations so far. After he loses this election, he will be left right out of the center of the public consciousness.
Romney is a chameleon. He lies daily. He is secretive. He speaks out of both sides of his mouth. But racism is so strong in this country, that republican voters would rather have a shape shifting, magic underwear wearing, liar in office than an honest black christian...
What kind of world are we living in?
Good question, Neil - it's one that I increasingly don't recognize and one that I constantly worry about.
Well said, Neil. Because of their racism it's disgusting how disrespectful they are being to not only the president of the U.S., but to another human being. Not very Christian!
An honest black christian? A lot of people are saying now that Barack Obama is the biggest spender & his administration is the most corrupt in WORLD HISTORY.
Who's saying that? And just what are they saying?
"World History" ... for fu king reals Cindy-Loony-Who? An why do you lead off with "An honest black christian?" ... in your world are the only honest christians white folk?
The WORLD you speak for laughs in your face. We'd spit in it too but that would mean either visiting you in your freak-world OR having you come to our little slices of heaven. Either way, no thanks. We'll just spit on you metaphorically.
80'sGirl - I think you need to do more research because you are ill-informed. You're drinking the GOP proverbial cool-aid.
Darrell Issa says it all the time. He doesn't have any actual evidence, but he does say it. There are probably actually "a lot" of Fox viewers who say it. That doesn't tell us anything about the truth, since the actual facts say the exact opposite, but it is probably technically true that a lot of people do say it. Even so, I imagine the size of "a lot of people" who say that is considerably smaller than the number who say that Katy Perry is the best singer EVAR!, so take it with a large grain of salt.
A lot of people are calling Cindy a simpleton. Not the dumbest simpleton in WORLD HISTORY, but pretty damn dumb nonetheless.
Okay you smarta$$ people, explain to me where $6 Trillion of our hard earned tax dollars went? Oh, I get it...to his buddies, bundlers and special interest groups. For that kind of money we could bought ourselves full employment, the most beautiful airports, the fastest bullet trains, the longest bridge, the tallest skyscrapers, but instead what did we get out if, NOTHING, NADA, ZILCH...Ah, maybe some foodstamps and welfare checks, but sure hell it's not worth $6 Trillion.
Cindy-3358832
Cindy-3358832
Cindy-3358832
Cindy-3358832
It's true. But still doesn't explain the $6 Trillion dollar conundrum.
Cindy, everything you're complaining about the nation not having are items that the GOP has blocked the country from having. How did you miss that Chris Christie, and Rick Scott, to name two Republican governors, killed the high-speed rail projects that were on track for their states? There go your bullet trains. How did you miss that Republicans voted against funding for infrastructure? There go your "most beautiful airports...the longest bridge, the tallest skyscrapers." The GOP strategy depends on keeping folks like yourself confused enough to pin the blame for your frustration in exactly the wrong direction.
The American Jobs Act - Romney doesn't support it, and ALL Republicans voted against it. It would create a million jobs or more, and deliver on all of the items you say you want, but the GOP continues to block it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Jobs_Act
Lastly, the current economic recovery didn't happen via magical thinking. The spending that conservatives complain about 1) has been the lowest rate of spending in decades; 2) turned the economy around from sliding into another Depression to producing steady growth. You can see where the money from the Recovery Act went - state-by-state, grant-by-grant, contract-by-contract at:
http://www.recovery.gov/Pages/default.aspx
There is no conundrum on the deficits and debt except for the willingly ignorant, stupid, and irresponsibly inattentive. Or Fox-educated which is a subset of that group. Here's why the deficts and debt is what it is: W and his complicit Republican Congresses.
You want links, I got your links. Now do your homework wingnuts so you can educate your fellow Fox-educated wingnut ignoramuses:
The debt:
- Economic Downturn and Bush Policies Continue to Drive Large Projected Deficits Nice pretty pictures!
- What’s Driving Projected Debt? Nice pretty pictures!
Spending: (All with nice pretty pictures.)
The Truth About Federal Spending
CHART: Spending, Taxes, And Deficits Are All Lower Today Than When Obama Took Office
Sources of the Budget Deficit
Obama Presided Over a Tax Revenue Drought, Not a Spending Binge
Obama spending binge never happened
How the Deficit Got This Big
The myth of Obama's spending binge
Who's to Blame for the Deficit Numbers?
And this is why you shouldn't feed the animals. They just keep coming back with more and more right wing nonsense.
RimKitty, Good Answer!!!
Cindy just proves that there is equal opportunity in the Republicans party. The stupid runs through both men and women there.
None of those links will enter the barrier in Cindy's brain. She only trusts Sean Hannity's and Glen Beck's "reporting", it appears.
Saying "I know it and you know it, the birth certificate or certificate of live birth is fake" There's no reason I should listen to that.
Oh, c'mon. The Big Dog is busy? How long does it take to get a statement, put a background on it, and package it up?
Romney must be abysmally stupid.
Do like I did, call the Romney campaign (857-288-3500) and register your disgust with this latest whopper. I told them that the slogan "Believe in America" should be Lie to America!
Er, facts not in evidence, Steve. This is, I believe, the third in a series of blatantly false attacks that Romney has tried in order to get people to stop talking about his tax returns. The others didn't work for more than a day, and I wouldn't assume this one will either. If it does distract for a few days, it seems about as likely it will be through a discussion of how outrageous it is, rather than about the supposed "substance."
It would nearly impossible for Obama and his campaign to attempt to rebut the lies that Romney and his campaign are spreading. Nor would it be desirable for the president to address each lie. That can be done by superpacs and other groups supporting the Dems. I would think that this is something that can be done on a national basis or at least in states where Dem votes could have a big impact on state and local elections. In the meantime, Obama should keep hammering on the Romney tax return issue.
Based on the example of the ad in response to the "you didn't build that" false attack, Obama is pretty good at briefly dismantling the attack (without reinforcing it by repeating the exact details) and immediately turning to a positive message. But I expect they'll wait a bit longer to see if this one goes anywhere or just fizzles like most of Romney's blatantly false attacks.
Now your talking my language mr benen , stick it to the gop full force and in their face , keep them guessing , no more defensive posturing for the dems , leave the gop unable to figure out what angle we will come at them next , keep them off balance , keep the narrative moving so that the msm has trouble keeping up , if the dems do not pounce , the gop will , the obama team stuck it to mccain pretty good by the end of 2008
Granted , the romney team is pretty clumsy about all this , but allow them an opening , and they might just luck out , karl Rove is right behind the curtain waiting
thank you again to the person who mentioned the possibilities of 'ignore' - i breathe more easily with that choice available
If Obama ended that flexibility, he'd be attacked for it in a Romney ad the next day - "Republican governors want the chance to prove they can make work for welfare more efficient and less costly to the taxpayer...but Obama just told those governors to go take a flying *** at a rolling donut. Obama: keeping poor people on welfare, sticking YOU with the bill."
Romneybot is a machine that responds to outside Obama-based stimuli with a flow chart of bullpucky, if Obama does "A," accuse him of "B," if Obama does "C," accuse him of "D," effective? Then "Repeat." Not effective? Then move on to "E." Obama accuses Romneybot of lying, accuse OBAMA of lying whilst simultaneously dismissing the criticism with "every campaign accuses the other side of lying, it shows how desperate Obama is." And it'll be like that until the debates, where Obama effectively hands Romney his ass multiple times.
Each company has only so much money coming in as revenue. When those at the top of the ladder of wage earners, the rich, take a lot of money for themselves in salary and benefits it leaves less for the rest of those workers in the company. When those workers on the middle part of the ladder in wage earning category, the middle class, have only a little money left over after paying for the basic necessities of living then they can only buy a little bit more products each month to fuel the economy. When those at the bottom of the ladder in the wage earning category, the poor class, only barely make enough to survive then they can’t buy anything each month to fuel the economy. In fact many at the bottom of the ladder in the wage earner category need government assistance of one kind or another in order just to survive. For those at the top of the economic wage earning ladder like Romney to bad mouth the work efforts of those at the bottom of the economic ladder and saying that the poor working class need to stop their dependency and insult the poor by saying that they need to ‘need to restore a culture of good work’ is ridiculous. The reason the middle class and the poor class don’t have a lot of money is because the rich upper class took too much of the companies funds for themselves and didn’t leave enough for the middle class and the poor class to have enough funds to fuel the economy or to live on. There is a revolution going on in this election as it was in every election since 1980 when the Republicans had our government adapt the voodoonomics style of government and it looks like every election we have in the future. This is a revolution between the rich like Romney and those that they brainwashed against the rest of us. You voters are going to have to decide if you want the rich like Romney to use voodoonomics to keep most of the funds from the payrolls from the companies we work for for themselves or are we going to not! Read www.mybetteramericaplan.com to see why Romney and the Republicans are bad for America in many ways.