I'm going to resist the urge to scrutinize every speech from the Republican National Convention last night, but there were a few things about Mike Huckabee's address that stood out for me.
I couldn't help but laugh, for example, when Huckabee said, "Mitt has been loyal to his wife, his sons, his country, his employees, and his church." After taking a good, long look at Bain Capital, and the thousands of American workers Romney laid off, "loyal" isn't the first word I'd use to describe his relationship with "his employees."
Huckabee also described President Obama as a "self-professed evangelical" -- as if the president's faith is in doubt -- and argued that Obama "believes that human life is disposable and expendable ... even beyond the womb." Does Huckabee believe the president is some kind of murderer?
But it was this line that got me thinking:
"Speaking of budgets, Joe Biden's budget shows that while he wants to be generous with your money through higher taxes and government spending, for years he gave less than two-tenths of 1 percent of his money to charity."
Now, I don't know if the charge is accurate or not; it may be. For all I know, we'll be hearing a lot about this over the next couple of months.
But here's the thing the angle to keep in mind: Huckabee is able to attack Biden's charitable donations because the proof is readily available -- Biden has released more than a decade of tax returns.
Have Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, for years, given more than two-tenths of 1 percent of their money to charity? We don't know; they insist on keeping their returns secret without explanation.
Maybe they've been more generous in their contributions; maybe not. But if Republicans want to make this an issue, they should give the public all of the relevant information and let voters reach a conclusion.
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They say that they have, and they wouldn't lie to us.
Re: Does Huckabee believe the president is some kind of murderer?
Remember those drone strikes? Y'know, that have killed lots of people, including three American citizens?
Oh, and that Bin Laden fellow. Not that I'm sad to see him go, but it was a killing, no?
Don't go there or the ghosts of 100,000 killed in a war based on lies will come to haunt you .
They already do.
Why are Democrats Murderers, but Republicans (and there are some) who are pro choice are not murders and when Republicans are in the White House, war is self defense and when Democrats are in the White House war is murder. Remember Bush was Pro-choice before he was pro-life.
Mike Hucabee is a self-made coward! Being called out by him is like being asked to only buy one ice cream delight at the bumper of the ice cream truck in the middle of the street on a hot day!
Hey Mike, look more closely inward to your own tortured soul. Just saying! -Kevo
It does become sickening even to listen to this Republican Convention of Deceivers and Liars. All they do talk about is really death. People can listen to that trash any day of the week. When are these Republicans really going to get into talking about something that is good, besides their death wish for everybody else, except themselves? Oh yea, that’s right never, because that would mean they might loose some of the money they been packing away at everybody else’s expense. This just shows how the Republicans are really nothing, but thieves stealing away everybody’s rights and freedoms. It is no problem knowing that if the Republicans take over our federal and state governments totally, America will be lost forever.
This three day Republican lie-fest is bad enough but what really frustrates me
is that they get away with it because journalists let them. I just turned in MSNBC.
A Republican was telling Chuck Todd how Obama "weakened" Medicare by taking
out millions of dollars and how Romney will put that money back in and "strengthen"
Medicare. Will Todd ask him how more give-aways to insurance giants and for-profit
hospitals will "strengthen" the program? Of course not! On to next question. The same
head-in-the-sand "journalism" Andrea Mitchell displayed last night as she let Condi
Rice explain how it was really the Bush programs that led to the capture of bin
Laden. Come on, people. Do your job.
I can't believe how ridiculous the comments made by republicans and some people have made to this blog are. Telling the truth is a hard sell even when you have written and video proof. What are they thinking? If they repeat their lies enough, maybe other fools believe them.
What happen to your programs? I view online using itunes and msnbc and have not had access to August 28 and 29. Keep doing what you are doing as you are EFFECTIVE!
What bothered me most about the Biden comment was that Huckabee added that Romeny, in contrast, has donated 16% of his income to charity. Really? Says Romney? Where are the tax returns to prove that???
Romney supposibly gave 10% to the Mormon Church - that money stays in the Mormon Community. How much does Huckabee give to Charity, and Paul Ryan gave $2,600 to charity in 2010 — 1.2 percent of his income, donated $12,991 to charity in 2011 - 4.2 percent. So the point is WHAT????
expendable beyond the womb sounds like a gop plank
death penalty...check
war machine...check
denying healthcare for the poor or those with pre-existing conditions...check
expulsion of illegal immigrant minors regardless of circumstance...check
resistance to any gun regulation...check
denying abortions for cases when the mother's health is in danger...check
failure to condemn the President's drone strike policy...check
Yep, the GOP is pro-life as long at you're in the womb, once you come out you're on your own. That's why they're trying to end Medicare, Social Security, and the ACA/Obamacare - that's the way to support "LIFE"!
Has President Obama ever called himself an "Evangelical?" He has said he is a Christian, but that is not the same as Evangelical. Does anyone know if he has called himself an Evangelical?
No, you heard it right, I heard him say Christian too.
First Biden is not a wealthy man.He's net worth is estimated to be somewhere between ( -$209,000 and +$734,000)
Biden and his wife listed tax deductible contributions to charities on their 2011 tax return that amounted to just 1.46 percent of their $379,035 income.But that is 730000 times what Huckabee is alleging(0.002).
I am sure on many occasions, throughout his career, that Vice President Biden has followed the dictates of Matthew and secretly and confidentially helped others in need.
Only in American christian community that acts of goodwill are supposed to be touted on tv and radio for egoistical reasons.
As a pastor, Huckabee should ask himself if Jesus would do that?
Oh well,What should i expect from a Christian who doesn't want Health care for all.
I, too, was upset about the 'attack' on Joe Biden. THIS was a man who did not profit from his many years of public service. He took his salary, he went home every night to his children who for many years were without a mother. He took care of his family. Huckabee, good Christian that he is, denigrates this by comparing Joe to Romney who is work millions, tithes to his church and supposedly adds another 6% in charitable works. We KNOW that many wealthy people give to charity to lower the taxes they pay. To equate that with the goodness that is Biden is despicable.
Joe Biden is wealthy if you use the definition of the democrats. Are you only wealthy if you're a republican and make more than $250K a year? Why can't we just be honest and say all of the candidates running in the presidential election are wealthy and have been for some time therefore NONE of them really know the challenges of the middle class from the last 4+ years because they haven't been in the middle class in the last 4 years!
"But that is 730000 times what Huckabee is alleging(0.002)."
You're using faulty math to exaggerate (which is unnecessary, Huckabee's statement is sufficiently stupid, no need for hyperbole).
Huckabee is alleging .2% or .002. But you have to compare that to either 1.46% or .0146. You can't compare the .002 to the 1.46%, you have to compare the comprable numbers. So he's off by 700%.
does anyone know if political ads have to meet the same standards as other ads (like toothpaste, cars, soap, etc.) they cannot say thing that are untrue , can political candidates say anything that is factually untrue ?
No, they do not have to be truthful. Sep 19, 2008 Sarah O'Leary "Analysis: Political Ads Must Be Fact-Checked...Such messages should, at the very least, be as truthful as toothpaste commercials" http://adweek.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Analysis%3A+Political+...
I used this with students to raise critical thinking awareness and knowledge.
Mitt Romney got a $1,044,390 tax break on the $2,983,974 he donated to charity in 2010. What this means is that future generations of Americans will have to pay for 35% of Romney's generosity because that money went straight onto our national debt. 2010 was one of those special years for the Bush tax cuts in that one of the restrictions on how much you can claim on Schedule A for charitable donations if you are above a certain income was phased out completely. And according to the Republican platform, the deduction for charitable donations is one they plan to keep so we will be picking up the tab for some portion of Mitt Romney's tithe to his church for the forseeable future if he wins the election. Not a bad fringe benefit!
One of the recent biographies of Twitt has his son saying that Twitt returned from his 2 years in France with the new found perspectives that made him the man he is today.. I'm paraphrasing, of course.
The Obama vs Romney charitable giving figures ARE (as you'd expect) not just wildly off, but dead wrong: http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/01/29/wash-posts-parker-wildly-distorts-charitable-gi/186639
They are citing Obama's charitable giving from more than a decade ago when he was still running for the IL state house and paying off his student loans with two kids to feed.
The number cited for Romney is only his most recent figures based on the one tax return he's willing to release (tweaked for max appearance.)
Also: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/01/26/romney-charity-money-went-to-pray-away-the-gay-group/
If Huckabee got this info from Biden's tax returns, that would only show the donations for which the Bidens were seeking a deduction. That doesn't mean those are his only donations.
When Obama was a state senator he argued/voted against a bill that would have required a second doctor after an abortion to verify that the fetus was deceased. Obama saw this as trying to create an unnecessary hurdle/expense because the law already requires all doctors to do their best to save any baby born alive, but the religious right seized on his words as evidence that he was "pro-infanticide." It never got onto the mainstream radar because it never made sense to anyone else. That may be what Huckabee was referring to with his "beyond the womb." Here's a link: http://www.catholicleague.org/obama%E2%80%99s-pro-infanticide-vote/
The only reason that I might disagree with you is that Huckabee has rarely shied away from directly making that claim himself. But I agree, it's probably just the standard "codewords for the base" thing.
I have been watching the convention and it seems like every speaker contradicts what they are saying to the people and what they believe in. Huckabee said that all men are created equal. I guess in his eyes only if you believe in his beliefs. He said that Our Constitution is "a Great Constitution and so is our Bill of Rights. The Freedom to speak, assemble, worship, pray, and even refuse intrusions into our own homes". Doesn't that include our bedrooms? So actually he is forcing his beliefs on the American people. WE need to respect other people's beliefs, opinions and principles and stop trying to make laws that are discriminating! I don't call that Freedom at all.
Ran Paul talked about immigrants and how they began a business and are thriving in this great country. But if he had his way with the laws of America those immigrants would not be able to step foot into some establishments because of their Race. Please… can anyone explain to me what Freedom really means? Freedom does not discriminate! Government and Religion should be separate. If the Religious beliefs are to become Law then wouldn't that mean a 'Modern Day Spanish Inquisition'? Isn't that why our forefathers came to this great country, to get away from those beliefs? Freedom is a Right to Choose. I myself do not believe in abortion. That is between you and your God.
Compassion has it right. You're not a real man unless you believe what Huckabee says you need to believe...and only real men have a right to vote.
Time to correct some misconceptions about the charity and tithing questions,
and I have looked at the tax returns.
I'm really glad that Mr. Huckabee has re-opened the charitable giving question. As much as I hate to agree with him, his claim that Mitt gave more than 16% of his income is technically kinda correct -
Mitt listed $2,983,974 Gifts to charity on Schedule A Line 19.
This is actually %17.42 of his $17,120,067 Taxable Income (Form 1040 Line 43) after Itemized Deductions of $4,519,140 (Form 1040 Line 40)
but only 13.78% of his $21,646,507 Adjusted Gross Income (Form 1040 Line 30). Fact checkers would label this True, but highly misleading.
This is still better that the still-being-used Republican tag line "You didn't build that", which was widely rated "Pants on Fire".
When it comes to the tithing question, which directly relates to the "he's a good man" posture, the picture is a little worse. The LDS Church expects the tithe to be based on all income, not Total Income, not Adjusted Gross Income, not Taxable Income, but Gross Income.
Read Mormon Tithing, Temple Recommend, and Temple Recommend Questions. Notice question 10 - "Are you a full tithe payer?"
Now, lets look at their 2010 tax return.
Mitt: Have you talked to your bishop and your stake president about this? I'd say it's time to heed your own advice (to Harry Reid - and I think Harry is a moron for saying what he did) - "Put up or shut up". You cheat your own church, apparently lied to your bishop and your stake president about it - and we're supposed to let you lead our country? I don't think so. This issue speaks directly to what kind of man you are, and the picture isn't pretty.