A collage of words used by fact-checkers to describe Romney's claims.
At a campaign event on Monday, a Republican voter asked Mitt Romney about falsehoods pushed by "leftists" and what he intended to do about it. The candidate replied, "It seems that the first victim of an Obama campaign is the truth."
As it turns out, the first victim is actually irony.
Michael Tomasky had a good piece this week, explaining what many have been reluctant to acknowledge: "The distinguishing fact of the Romney-Ryan campaign thus far is the extent to which it is built on outright lies in a desperate attempt to avoid honest debate at all costs." The GOP ticket, Tomasky argued, "lies as much as possible."
Just making stuff up about the other guy is bad enough. But it is in terms of past and future positions that what Romney-Ryan are doing really plows new and dishonorable earth. [...]
They know that the truth would crush them electorally. And so it follows that they know they must lie. They must lie about their Medicare plans. They must lie about the effects of their tax plans on average people and rich people. And they must tell a number of lies about Obama, all the better if they involve race, as the welfare lie does.
So this will be the entire point of the Romney-Ryan campaign. Lie lie lie. Muddy the waters. Turn day to night, fire to water, champagne to piss. Peddle themselves as the precise opposite of what they actually are. That is clearly the m.o.
It's always something of a relief when others notice this, but it's a dynamic much of the political world resists. Perhaps these stragglers could take a few moments to consider the 31st installment of my weekly series, chronicling Mitt's mendacity. (This week is the biggest list since I started the project in January.)
1. Referencing the money he gives to his church every year, Romney said, "This is done entirely privately. One of the downsides of releasing one's financial information is that this is now all public, but we had never intended our contributions to be known."
This is ridiculously untrue.
2. In an interview with Time magazine, Romney said of the recent Tax Policy Center analysis, "The basic foundation and premises of my plan are ... we don't reduce taxes or the share of taxes paid by the highest-income individuals. The highest-income individuals will get to pay the same share of taxes they pay today."
At a minimum, this is ridiculously misleading. Under Romney's plan, high-income people would get an enormous tax break.
3. In the same interview, Romney added, "I know that many in the modeling community do not want to assume growth with changes in tax policy. I do."
Actually, the Tax Policy Center, which Romney was criticizing, gave him the benefit of the doubt on growth assumptions, and found that his numbers still didn't add up.
4. On Twitter, Romney claimed President Obama "gutted bipartisan welfare reform by ending the work requirement."
5. Also on Twitter, Romney argued that the Affordable Care Act, "raises taxes on families making less than 120k. I will repeal it."
He's referring to an individual mandate that would apply to 1% of the population. And if President Obama's health care policy raised taxes on families making less than $120,000, then Romney raised taxes on families making less than $120,000.
6. In a campaign ad, Romney says Obama is "raiding $716 billion from Medicare."
7. The same ad accuses Obama of "taxing wheelchairs and pacemakers."
At a minimum, this is wildly misleading.
8. The ad concludes, "The Romney/Ryan plan will restore Medicare funding, and protect and strengthen the program for the next generation."
As it turns out, that's the polar opposite of the truth.
9. At a campaign event in Hobbs, New Mexico, Romney said, "Sometimes I have the impression that the whole regulatory attitude of the administration is trying to stop oil and gas and coal, that they don't want those sources."
In reality, coal production is up; we have more natural gas than we know what to do with; and oil production is up.
10. In the same speech, Romney said of Obama, "He's taken federal dollars, your money, to invest in companies -- solar companies, wind companies -- about $90 billion in so-called green jobs."
The details matter: much of the $90 billion was appropriated by George W. Bush, not Obama.
11. On welfare policy, the Romney campaign said this week that all the administration needs to do "is have HHS send out a hard letter making sure that the only things that will qualify under the work requirement is hard training and the cooperative programs with employers and define it in such a way that what was allowed before is all that's allowed in the future.... That's all that's required."
The administration already did this two months ago.
12. On the budget sequester, the Romney campaign argued this week, "It was the president who insisted on this makeup, this formula. Defense spending is not half of all federal spending, but it's half of the cuts approximately in the sequester. We disagreed with that then, disagree with it now.''
That's a lie. Democrats wanted the other half of the sequester to be tax increases. The defense cuts were proposed by House Republicans.
13. The Romney campaign also said it can create a "debt-free nation just like our parents."
For one thing, the Romney campaign isn't proposing to eliminate the debt, just the deficit. For another, I don't know how old most folks' parents are, but the U.S. has maintained a debt every year since 1836.
14. At a campaign event in Bettendorf, Iowa, Romney argued, "We've now had four years in a row with a president that's built trillion-dollar deficits."
That's not true. Obama inherited a $1.3 trillion deficit from Bush; it wasn't something the president "built."
15. In the same speech, Romney said, "Now, the president promised that he was going to cut the deficit in half. Yeah, it didn't happen, did it. He's more than doubled it."
Maybe Romney doesn't know what "double" means. The deficit on Obama's first day was $1.3 trillion. Last year, it was also $1.3 trillion. This year, it's projected to be $1.1 trillion. When he says the president "more than doubled" the deficit, as he has many times, Romney's lying.
16. Romney added, in reference to the president, "He's added almost as much debt held by the public, $5 trillion, as all the prior presidents of the country combined."
Romney has said this before. It's still a blatant lie.
17. Romney went on to say, "One out of six people's fallen into poverty under this president."
That only makes sense if we count Obama's first year in office, which relies on a standard Romney believes is fundamentally unfair.
18. Romney also said, "What [Obama] said was not a gaffe. It was not a slip of the tongue. What he said was his philosophy. He said that if you have a business you didn't build it, someone else did that."
That's not even close to being true.
19. Romney said his economic plan "creates 12 million jobs in four years."
If we do nothing, we're on track to create 12 million new American jobs over the next four years anyway.
20. At an event in Manchester, New Hampshire, Paul Ryan, standing alongside Romney, said, "Now, let's be very clear and fair. The president inherited a difficult situation, no two ways about that. Problem is, he made things worse."
21. Ryan also said of Romney, "He took struggling businesses and turned them around -- an 80 percent success rate. That's astounding."
It may be astounding, but it's also not true.
22. At the same event, Ryan said, "Remember when the president said, when he came in office he would create jobs. Unemployment would never get above 8 percent."
Obama never said unemployment would never get above 8 percent.
23. Also in New Hampshire, Romney said of Paul Ryan, "This is a guy who's been able to work with good Democrats, find people who could look beyond partisanship, find common ground to get things done."
After seven terms in Congress, Paul Ryan has never found common ground with Democrats to pass a significant piece of legislation.
24. Romney added, in reference to the budget, "So what do I do? Well, first, you've got to end the deficit and then start accumulating, if you will, reserves and growing. That's what we did [in Massachusetts]."
Romney left his successor with a deficit.
25. Romney also vowed to "get rid of the deficit."
There's no reason to believe this is in any way true. Romney says his plan "can't be scored," but independent budget analysts have found his agenda would make the deficit bigger, not smaller, and add trillions to the national debt.
26. Romney went on to say, "My test is this. I look at every program and say, is this so critical as a program it's worth borrowing money from China to pay for it?"
This continues to be misleading. The implication here is that U.S. debt is financed by the Chinese, but this isn't true -- China only holds about 8% of the nation's debt.
27. In explaining his plans to balance the budget, Romney added, "We're going to get rid of some programs like Obamacare and some others."
The Affordable Care Act saves the country hundreds of billions of dollars. If Romney "gets rid of" it, the deficit goes up, not down.
28. Romney also said, "We can't go on the way we're going on, or we'll end up being Greece."
29. Romney went on to say, "I don't want to raise taxes on the American people."
He may not want to, but according to independent analyses, he's going to.
30. Romney also complained about Obama's tax plan, arguing., "When you raise taxes on small business from 35 percent to 40 percent, you will kill jobs."
Obama has repeatedly cut taxes on small businesses -- by some counts, 18 times -- and if given a second term, his tax plan would have no effect on 97% of small businesses.
31. On U.S. policy in Afghanistan, Romney said, "We haven't heard this president" explain "what's happening and why they're there, what the mission is, what its purpose is, how we'll know when it's completed."
That's the exact opposite of reality.
32. At the same event, again alongside Romney, Ryan said in reference to Israel, "When President Obama made the 1967 borders the precondition to the beginning of negotiations, it undercut our ally."
That's both dumb and dishonest.
33. Romney added, in reference to Iran, "We should make it very clear that we're going to put in place crippling sanctions."
We've already put in place crippling sanctions. How can a presidential candidate not know this?
34. In his inaugural weekly audio message, Romney claimed, the Affordable Care Act "put in place a board of 15 unelected bureaucrats and gave them the power to make additional cuts to Medicare without even having to get approval from Congress. This means they could deny elderly Americans the care they've worked for their entire lives -- all because President Obama trusts bureaucrats more than he trusts seniors and their doctors."
Romney's trying to describe the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), but he's doing so in a way that's completely dishonest.
35. In the same message, Romney said, "According to independent, non-partisan scorekeepers, these cuts the president's people will take to Medicare won't prevent it from going bankrupt."
The lying is just amazing. The independent, non-partisan scorekeepers said Obama's plan would strengthen Medicare's finances and extend its financial health, while Romney's plan would move the Medicare system closer to insolvency.
36. Touting his own agenda, Romney added, "I released a plan to save and strengthen Medicare -- without making any changes for those that are 55 years of age and older."
That's demonstrably wrong. Under Romney's policy, the cost of prescription drug prices and preventive care for seniors would go up immediately -- for current and future retirees.
37. And again in reference to Medicare, Romney said, "No president should put in jeopardy your benefits."
Romney's proposal cuts Medicare benefits.
Previous editions of Chronicling Mitt's Mendacity: Vol. I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII,XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII, XXIX, XXX
Leave a Comment:
It sometimes makes my blood boil to read this entry. It must at times be stressful to write it. Thanks for making this important effort, Steve.
It is really, really mentally wearying to have to realize that somebody as devoid of character, charm, humanity, and decency as Mitt Romney can be allowed by the media and press to continue to get away with this straight-out, full-on campaign of Manufactured Lies.
The man knows what he's doing. And he has no problem with it. All to take away from the less fortunate and give to those who don't need. All in the service of hating the government. All in the service of a non-existent Invisible Hand, whose characterization of would embarrass Adam Smith. All to deny that many problems of society require society. All to say only individuals exist and society does not.
Mitt Romney is an exercise in destruction of the soul.
Please forgive me for posting off topic - but did Fox REALLY just out the U.S. Navy Seal author of "No Easy Day", written under the pen name of 'Mark Owen'?
It is moving fast that Fox gave out his name, age, state, and city - does anyone know if this is true???
Mitt ROTTEN has no soul!
NPR gave out this information this morning. I was really surprised by that.
http://www.npr.org/2012/08/23/159931393/book-on-bin-laden-raid-under-pentagon-pressure
Candidates only get away with lying because mainstream media lets them. Worried about their balance sheets, they're afraid of being denied access to candidates if they push them in interviews or challenge their lies. The Josh Simmons interview with Ryan is a prime example; he made a point of letting Ryan squirm away from questions whenever he wanted to. Editors don't want their reporters to be denied access to candidates when other media outlets have access and broadcast or print insipid interviews.
If newspapers were financially more secure, if TV news departments generated more revenue, candidates wouldn't get away with this. Editors and corporate media bosses fear committing financial suicide if they do anything that causes them to be denied access to candidates and politicians.
We used to have strict limits on media ownership. You could only own a percentage of the total media in any market. It meant 2 papers could survive, as well as local television news.
It also made it competitive by making sure there was always an independent voice.
Then Reagan happened. And Murdoch.
David Beckham . . . NPR may have reported it this morning, but they were only repeating it. I heard the name while I was channel surfing by Fox News yesterday (can't remember if it was in the afternoon or evening).
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvTIphPnDM8
WOMEN UNITE!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvTIphPnDM8
I can't believe the low information voting block that just eats this stuff up. Obama DID gut the welfare law.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/08/26/the_truth_about_obama_and_welfare_reform_115208.html
Obama DID steal 716 Billion from Medicare to pay for Obama care
AND MADDOW KNOWS IT!!! Wath her on Meet The Press
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2012/08/12/national-reviews-rich-lowry-destroys-msnbcs-rachel-maddow-meet-press
I can't be bothered with the rest of her LIES. I can tell the readership here will eat them up though.
Sad, really.
Hey Maddow, when you're done sniffing around Mittens tax returns (He's richer than you. Get over it) Anyways, when you finish with that, how about you do a little journalism on Stephanie Cutters outrageous claim that Obama's recovery has created more jobs than the Bush Or Reagan recoveries?
How about THAT whopper?
“My view is I’ve paid all the taxes required by law,” Mr. Romney said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/us/politics/documents-show-details-on-romney-family-trusts.html
What many in the public (and very likely the press) are failing to appreciate is that Bain Capital, of all the turnaround funds out there -- and there are many, Blackstone, KKR, etc. -- among the lawyers that represent the companies targeted in acquisitions by turnaround funds, Bain Capital has always had the particular reputation as a scorched earth, hard-nosed kind of client. Bain Capital is known -- among the lawyers that do this kind of work -- as particularly ruthless.
Frankly, I think that says something. It would be interesting to get a few M&A lawyers in NY, Boston or San Francisco to go on the record about Bain’s reputation.
I think it would certainly help lend some context to Romney’s statement that his view is he pays “all the taxes required by law.”
Mitt's failure to release even one full year of tax returns encourages rampant speculation. On the milder end are these: 1) he's been skimping on his tithes to his church, 2) he did not pay even as much or as little in income taxes as he implies (if he paid anything in income taxes-- he avoids using the term "income taxes") or 3) that he availed himself of tax amnesty by belatedly copping to monies held overseas. Or all of these and maybe more.
At the other, less kind end, is the possibility that he is a crook at a level that makes Bernie Madoff's crimes and chuztpah pale in comparison. (I'd advise anyone who has had business dealings with Romney and/or Bain to check to see if their money is where it's supposed to be.)
What's with the secrecy? Is he hiding something relatively minor and awkward but technically legal, or is he covering up something much much worse? We know he is a liar, but what if he is even more of a liar than we imagine? Even while we point out his lies, are we giving him too much of the benefit of the doubt? Imagine if a super-crook got elected to the White House... Holy cow.
Yep, speculation can run rampant...but what if?
For ALL voters. Challenge - Name every Teapublican in this fun little clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvTIphPnDM8
I am constantly amazed whenever I hear Romney give any kind of speech, but particularly when he talks about ObamaCare. ObamaCare, or the ACA if you prefer, is nothing more than RomneyCare with necessary adjustments to make it cover the entire nation. While I would have preferred single payer, I understand why RomneyCare became the model for the national plan.
Still, when Romney comes out with his harsh criticism of his own plan, he ends up looking more than a little foolish. How does this guy not get laughed off the planet?
Because the millions of foolish people following him make laughing difficulty. However, the repeating of lies does not move this individual. Every time the fool opens his mouth he contradicts himself. In my book, no substance does not qualify you as someone I should consider.
Obama put in the individual mandate because Mittens and the GOP liked the mandate. He cooperated with and bent over backward to make happy the GOP. And regardless of what Obama did, they didn't like it,a nd twisted it around. cap and trade? GOP, mandate? GOP. There are many examples of this. it is such a shame.
OK, I'm going to "share" this on Facebook because we need a list, a chart, and a 3-minute video once a day that debunks all the miserable LIES the Romney/Ryan GOPer crowd spews out there every day. So many of us love the detail and the facts behind the lies BUT we need to wage a counter campaign WITH THE FACTS that is clear and short and includes video to post and share on sites like Facebook. We dont have the trillions of the 2% who are trying to buy OUR White House so we can only pass the truth around IF y'all who are in the business package some of the facts SO WE CAN SEND IT ACROSS America. It's really important because many of us work long hours and don't have time to watch all the great shows on MSNBC. It's a good day when we can quickly catch up on the "condensed" stuff our friends share with us over social media. We need small bytes of Facts Daily like vitamins! Thanks for considering my suggestion. MSNBC and the Rachel Maddow Show are great. I've watched Rachel since she used to guest-host for Keith Olbermann! May I add that we miss him too and wish him well so IF you see him ever, tell him that.
Just found these posts, and while it's probable that they won't change the minds of anyone who is already set on voting for Romney, it has made a difference in my own voting decision.
A question for Rachel and everyone else: Why do you think women, blacks, latinos, farmers, the middle-class, etc. would vote against their own interests? Are we finally at a point as a society where we're looking past our selfish reasons and casting our votes for the betterment of society?
Re: #5
Am pondering your question.
You seem to be suggesting that policies that would benefit women, blacks, latinos, farmers, the middle-class etc. are policies that would NOT work for the betterment of society.
If that is what you meant, I can only say I think that notion is just NUTS!
Perhaps I misunderstood.
@5.1 pretty sure you misunderstood. At it's most simple level, something could greatly benfefit me and help a lot of others. At the same time, something else could benefit me less, perhaps less, and have an even greater benefit for even more others.
That doesn't mean there aren't things and people that fit what you describe, but it would be a very narrow interpretation of the probable motivation behind Rick' query?
@Rick - not for nothing, in a recent poll, Romney got zero percent of the African-American vote, and women and Latinos are going for Pres. Obama in overwhelming numbers vs. Romney. That's why the repeated attempts by GOP governors in swing states to suppress the vote.
Please forgive me for posting off topic - but did Fox REALLY just out the U.S. Navy Seal author of "No Easy Day", written under the pen name of 'Mark Owen'?
It is moving fast that Fox gave out his name, age, state, and city - does anyone know if this is true???
The sky will not fall. Terrorists are not under the bed. Sounds more like a publicity stunt for the book.
Rove ousted Valerie, Fox ousts a Navy Seal. Fox = RNC
As Keith Olbermann--who used to work for FAUX--the rules don't apply to them...
Patty, It was Dick Chaney who outed Valerie, according to the book " Hubris ", written by Michael Isikoff and David Corn. An excellant book.
Like a lot of people I thought sort of telling the truth was important in politics and life, but at lunch I was shocked and surprised to discover that Romney's constant lying is a feature and not a bug of his campaign.
The members of my firm were shooting the breeze political. I mentioned that Romney was getting away with bald faced lies about medicare and welfare. I described Mitt's welfare lies at length. My associate, who is generally a Democrat, responded with "Obama had an ad that said Romney killed a woman." I sat slack jawed as my partner set him straight, but I am now sure Romney has negated his lying welfare ads with the false equivalence argument that "Obama called me a murderer."
America is on the slippery slide to hell.
The USA has been on a slippery slope since GWB was illegally installed by a corrupted Supreme Court. He gave us the additional supremes for a 5/4 rubber stamp for himself and, if Republicans win this election, our history as a representative democratic republic will be over. GWB said shortly after his inauguration, there is 70 years of democratic legislation to wipe out, lets get to work.
I feel your pain Ron...too many people have learned the pivot as the sole form of discussing any issue. When I have asked the question, "How do you feel about the frequency and extent of lies from Gov. Romney?" The immediate response is to point to perceived lies from the opposition. "That wasn't my question..." It is easier to defend one's position then admit fault or an unwillingness to research facts. And on virtually all subjects does this occur. I would like to see more tax returns solely to learn if Romney is one of the 40+ something percent that "pay no federal income tax" used by so many republicans as the defense against raising the top marginal tax rate.
The sad truth is the lying works otherwise, politicians would not so gainfully employ the tactic.
A bit off topic but I was recently incensed by a republican pundit that noted, "leaders can't lead if folks choose not to follow them". He was referring to the calls from republicans for Akin to withdraw from the race. Yet his party routinely complains and Romney routinely campaigns about the President's lack of leadership. This coming from the same team that opted to obstruct!?! Despite the will of the people, the economic calamity we faced as a nation and solely for their own political benefit. So much for "Country First". I was a bit miffed the host of the show did not jump on the hyprocracy.
I can no longer stand to hear Mr. Romney speak. It makes me very sick and angry, literally to the point of nearly throwing up every time I hear his voice. The only aspect of this entire affair that I can take any hopeful comfort in is that he WILL lose this election.....with that thought in my head at all times I find a happy place wherein I imagine myself in the room when he finds out he has definitely lost the election. I imagine the fury, the frustration, the yelling and screaming of a spoiled dictator in waiting upon discovering he has been found out and eliminated from the political arena. That he will, in a matter of minutes be reduced from a national spectacle to an unemployed non-politician with no job in any facet of the government either federally or locally gives me so much pleasure that I now find I will equally upset over the fact that I will not be able to witness it in person....but I'll get over it. I will never get over it if the American idiots manage to get him into office however. I sincerely do not think I will be able to stay in America if he somehow manages it. Pray for us all.
Obama is difficult for many of us to listen too. He is mean, nasty, and arrogant. He is a pay to play politician. He is divisive. He is not interested in governing. He doesn't have governing skills. He can't speak without a TelePrompTer. His townhalls are painfull. All he does is try to run out the clock.
His positions are extreme. Who votes to deny medical care to babies who survive live birth abortions? Who thinks that promoting policies that increase the number of out of wedlock births is positive for our country? Look at Chocago's murder rate and guess how many of those criminals or victims were born in wedlock.
Look at CA and IL. Their finances are a mess. You don't think that pay to play with the public employee unions isn't a reason? Well Willie Brown of CA does. He should know, because he perpetrated this fraud on taxpayers. Democrats and their relationship with public employee unions have hurt the taxpayers and is as corrosive to our politics as I have ever see
Romney has a high level of personal integrity and above all he is competent and knows how to work. It is unclear to me that Obama excels in anything other than his own success. Obama only knows how to spread around taxpayer money in pursuit of power. Mr TelePrompTer is not authentic. Only people looking for something from the taxpayers think so.
Isn't there a law against lies like that? Can't Obama sue him for libel ? I mean an election is affecting your income and if Romney bluntly lies about Obama isn't that libel? I wish Obama would do it just to deter other candidates from doing it. Actually can I sue Romney for misrepresenting Obama and impeding my ability to make a fair judgement ?
If you could it would go CLASS ACTION instantly!
That, in a nutshell, is the difference between those on the left and those on the right. We propose a lawsuit. They propose civil war and guns.
All 31 issues, collected to download as an ebook.
http://readlists.com/3bc093f6/
Thank you.
This is AWESOME!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvTIphPnDM8
The little wolf-in-sheep's-clothing action there, Uncle Mittle?
Premeditated deception?
Why, of course, dummy. That's how one sells a free-for-all as Freedom for All. Simple, and we know it works. It works!
There are those that say Mitt is capturing some of the swing state electoral votes. That puts all of us in great jeopardy. I fear we might end up in a Bush/Gore situation again with Florida driving the bus. I have nightmares about the popular vote for President Obama and the electoral vote going to R & R. How do we stop this bus from running us all over?
Fox News offered some results that had Romney doing exceptionally well. They were Fox News polls. As I listened to them, one of the pundits commenting did note that competing, non-affiliated polls painted a different story. The hostess gave a nervous Romney-esque laugh and acknowledged that yes, the other polls did say something entirely different.
R&R and the rest of the GOP will continue to lie and lie and lie and those unwilling (or unable - is insanity really so rampant in the general population?) to separate truth from fiction, even when shown real, verifiable facts, will vote for them. I am mystified by the huge number of people willing to vote against their self-interest and for the benefit of the richest.
What happens if Romey gets elected and all of his lies come to fruition? It's hard to believe a president could end up with a worse record than Bush, but that's exactly what would happen if Romney got into office. His policies would manage to drag our country to a low that far surpasses what Bush managed to do.
If that happens, let's hope Jimmy Carter lives long enough to hear people claiming someone else to be the worst president ever.
And how do we get all of this excellent information to the general public, Rachel? (No offense Rachel but those who read your blog are already informed and in Obama's corner.)
Just share what you know with those who offer their misinformed political rhetoric or otherwise open up the conversation for you to enlighten them when it's clear they are getting bad info.
Perhaps you should tweet it with the tag #foxnews. Or #pr0n.
Just label it porn and they'll read it. lol
I think someone needs to ask if his magic underwear affects his judgment or any of the other crazy stuff in his cult..oh, that's just a joke..I don't think the dems should let this sleazy bs continue without calling his belief system - especially his religion and it's values into question. Is constant lying what Mormonism teaches? This guy has zero ethical core.
It's becoming increasing difficult not to go there, isn't it? Fortunately, President Obama seems able to counteract the bullies and the lies using truthful replies and without slinking down into the gutter with them. Kudos to him, because I'm ready to go for broke myself.
When I see Mitt and wife, I do amuse myself by imagining them in their magic underwear... but it's less amusing when I worry about him winning this thing.
Romney's "birther" comment was intentionally incendiary. I truly worry how the world would react if he is elected and the direction of this country. It would be a huge step backward for persons of color, women, religious freedom, etc.
5. On Twitter, Romney claimed President Obama "gutted bipartisan welfare reform by ending the work requirement."
Not only did they Twitter the lie, they've been running a tv ad for many weeks in Nevada making the same outrageous and thoroughly dishonest claim - with the narrator's tone of voice oozing contempt for the President and recipients of assistance. The 2012 version of the "Willie Horton ad", concocted to incite bigotry and loathing. Romney and his ilk cater to, validate and promote the worst in humans and they do it with heaping helpings of deceit that their supporters swallow whole without question or challenge and endlessly regurgitate.
The onus for ever-declining living standards is placed on those having the least, with the disadvantaged and unemployed portrayed as lazy bloodsuckers - while championing the philosophy of "profit before people" that has unleashed a tsunami of suffering on the nation - because they simply don't care. They are committed to enrichment of the few at the expense of society and seek to perpetuate it by any means necessary. To those lacking character, ethics and basic human decency, there is no shame in duping the masses and leading them to slaughter for personal benefit.
I can't believe that a candidate for President or Veep is allowed to tell lie after lie after lie without losing his right to run. I think that it is time that politicians be held accountable for both their words and actions. 39 blatant and absolutely refutable lies and yet there is still a possibility he could be president! To compound the heart stopping shame of that fact is that his equally culpable Veep under the right set of events could also become President.
I honestly think that there is a lack of honesty in politics because the American people don't make honesty a requirement. How can the world have any respect for the American people when we seem to have so little for ourselves as to let men who have proven themselves accomplished liers to even aspire to the highest offices in the land.? This may sound a bit nieve but really it is time that polititions were held to a standard. We don't tolarate dishonest poliece and we shouldn't tolirate dishonest polititions either.
It isn't that I don't agree with all of this, I do, but you can't just say it is a lie. You need to explain it, for the people that don't understand, or who believe all these lies. How do you persuade them to come to our side, if you don't show them what the truth really is. If he gets elected, this country is going straight to Hell, so we need to give it a lot more effort, than, that's a lie, to convince the people, that believe this crap.
This would be for more useful if it was properly cited. I don't personally doubt it, but saying, "You can't be right because Steve said so," is not very helpful. If you're going to go through the effort to do this then cite news sites, government stats, the OMB, whoever. Give me some links. I can't take Steve's word for it any more than I can take Romney's or Obama's word for it.
So here's a question, is it possible for a private citizen to hire a lawyer to sue a political candidate for defamation for statements or campaign releases that blatantly lie? Any lawyers here? It might be very interesting to start an effort to do so.
Steve's Mendacity items often link to his own stories, but if you read the stories, you'll see that he links to the references he uses to support them.
I find it hard to believe that in this day and age America doesn't hold it's political candidates accountable for what they say. How can It be that we have so little respect for ourselves that we would allow some one who has so little regard for the truth/honesty as to tell not one but 39 consecutive lies continue to run for the highest office in the land?
I shutter to think what world opinion of the U.S.A. will be if Romney becomes President. The Republican Party in general should hang their collective heads in shame for what they are doing with polling cut backs and actually their whole platform.
Something to think about in the coming election..
when do their lies catch up with them? I hope sooner then later.
thank you for this service to your country. I can't believe it was this long, and you're on edition 31