Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R) and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R)
When President Obama agreed to extend additional flexibility to states on welfare experimentation, he did so in response to a request from two Republican governors: Utah's Gary Herbert and Nevada's Brian Sandoval. Because Obama agreed to these GOP officials' request, Mitt Romney is falsely accusing the president of "gutting" welfare reform.
The reality, whether it's said out loud or not, is that every relevant player knows Romney's blatantly lying. Reporters know it; Obama knows it; Republicans know it; Bill Clinton knows it; Romney certainly knows it; and even Herbert and Sandoval know it. They are, after all, the ones who asked for the waivers in the first place.
So Greg Sargent did something smart: he asked the Republican governors' offices for their take on Romney's demonstrably ridiculous claim. They both dodged.
The statement from Utah Governor Gary Herbert's office said: "Utah's request for a waiver stems from a desire for increased customization of the program to maximize employment among Utah's welfare recipients," adding that the state had needed "flexibility to customize work-focused solutions."
Meanwhile, the statement from Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval's office maintained that its request to the White House was "not a request to weaken work requirements" or a request for a "waiver to eliminate welfare work requirements for recipients."
Right. Obama gave Herbert the "flexibility to customize work-focused solutions," so he and the president are on the same page, and Sandoval and Obama agree that the waiver doesn't "weaken work requirements," though Romney is falsely claiming the opposite.
Of course, the governors can't come right out and say they agree with the Democratic president, even though he did what they asked him to do, but they can't disagree with him, either. They have their own creative approaches to implementing the law, and Obama is allowing them to implement these ideas in a way the GOP likes. Hell, even Romney supported the flexibility he's now condemning.
So Herbert and Sandoval have no choice but to hedge, rather that admit what they (and we) already know: Romney is deliberately deceiving the public, hoping the media won't care and voters won't know.
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Perhaps the President should revoke the waivers. if the dang GOP governors who requested the waivers can not even admit the truth, shame on them and take them away, since they are obviously reprehensible.
I agree, completely! We let these bastards get away with EVERYTHING with,absolutely, no consequences for all the damage they do!
And cue the media not caring and voters not informed. This is a case where one can't punish the turn-coat governors without punishing the people caught in the political cross-fire. While the Republicans don't give a damn about the human collateral damage to their point-scoring, the President seems to and shows decency yet again.
Lee Atwater rides again. So now the mean ol' Kenyan socialist nazi (or whatever he is this week) is going to flood the country with welfare loafers, eh? Time for Harry to twist the knife a little more I'd say.
Steve, you have done some awesome work on this!! Since the RNC Chair will be on FOX tonight, I sent off an email to Van Susteren asking her to give Mr. Priebus a copy of the HHS policy that the ad is attacking. I asked her to request that he show where the work requirement has been gutted.
I sent a copy of the policy with my request. Yes, Romney is banking that the media won't care!!
Nice idea but the sun will rise in the west before the B*tch of Belsen, er, I mean Fux, will ever do such a thing.
Simple solution. Have a Dem Super PAC run the exact same ad, exchanging Obama for Sandavol and Herbert. Run these ads exclusively in Utah and Nevada.
I assure you, these Governors will not hesitate to speak up and set the record straight.
Team Obama then cuts their ad with the Republican Governors doing the explaining and setting the record straight.
I also like Kilgore Clinton idea too.
No Republican should ever sign a letter with Mitt Romney or you might have to do some flip flopping yourself.
Has Romney ever been accused of telling the truth?I wonder how bad he screwed his partners while at Bain.
And then we wonder why "voters are so misinformed", really? With a corporate owned media and journalists that are no longer responsive to informing WE the PEOPLE, this is exactly why WE have a dumbed down populous!!
As for these governors that refuse to admit the truth - Mr. President, how about revoking that "authority" that you gave them?!
Followed Carol's #4 lead: Sent an email to Van Susteren asking her to question Mr. Preibus on this lie and the lie regarding Ohio voting law. In addition attached a copy of the 2005 letter Romney signed. In addition, I contacted Nevada Governor Sandoval and challenged him to show some integrity and character and denounce Romney's lie.
Seems to me that the Tea Party is to the Republican Party what the Hell's Angels are to Motorcycle clubs. Why do they use the word Conservative, when they are actually the Religious extremists? Anyone notice that?
http://rense.com/general37/char.htm
check out the link above. The 14 characteristics of fascism. If that doesn't scare the heck out of ya, then nothing will.
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Greta Van Susteren @gretawire
Replied to
RNC Chair Reince Priebus goes ON THE RECORD at 10pm on Fox...
@gretawire Nev Gov Sandoval's maintains its request to the White House was "not a request to weaken work requirements" http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/romney-again-puts-gop-governors-in-delicate-spot/2012/08/07/fa15e2d6-e0c7-11e1-a19c-fcfa365396c8_blog.html
And sending email per Lorr-2611132 and Carol
live chat
http://gretawire.foxnewsinsider.com/live-chat/
I post the question , they said " Mr. Priebus was not there right now "
http://gretawire.foxnewsinsider.com/
I can't wait to see "Rummy", in a face to face debate with the President. Every time he says anything that has not been prescreened to say, he steps in it royally! What will he do without a present coaching team, in the debates? I think it will beat the hell out of Beavis and Butthead, and Jon Stewart will go stark raving bat @!$%#! It's gonna be a real hoot!
"Rummy" debating President Obama could get the highest ratings in a decade. Does "Dueling with an unarmed man", come into your possible thought process? He will need a lot more than a teleprompter.
All the "workers" in the ad are caucasian! Not racist?
Is there one Republican that has any integrity at all? Have they no shame? Karma is a bitch folks...they will all get theirs at the voting booth. That is if Americans ever take the initiative to learn and research. It is certainly not covered in the media between the Jackson family and Justin Beiber! Nor do we have time for civics in school. They are dumbing down Americas and we are allowing it!