Associated Press
The total of Romney falsehoods keeps going up.
First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a beautiful speech at the Democratic National Convention this week, which was very well received. There were a few phrases in particular, though, that seemed to strike a chord.
Referencing her and President Obama's families, she said, almost in passing, "We learned about honesty and integrity -- that the truth matters, that you don't take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules, and success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square."
Those three words -- "the truth matters" -- drew a hearty response. In context, the First Lady wasn't going after anyone in particular, and she didn't accuse anyone, even indirectly, of dishonesty. But I suspect people applauded not just because it's worthwhile maxim, but because this year, it seems clear there are some who believe the truth doesn't matter.
Consider, for example, the 33rd installment of my weekly series, chronicling Mitt's mendacity. This week's list is considerably shorter than usual because Mitt Romney spent several days out of the public eye, preparing for next month's debates. It does not include the media availability he did this morning (I haven't seen the transcript yet).
1. Mitt Romney told Fox News this week, "You know, no one in the [Democratic] convention so far has had the temerity to say that people are better off in America, because they realize it's not the case."
Actually, it is the case, and nearly every speaker at the Democratic convention has said so.
2. In the same interview, Romney said he rejects "the decision of the president to slash our military by a trillion dollars over this decade."
3. Romney went on to say "there's no question" President Obama took "work out of welfare" and "waived the work requirement in welfare."
I continue to believe this is as blatant a lie as any modern presidential candidate has told. It simply has no connection to our plane of reality, but Romney keeps repeating it.
4. Asked about the president's rescue of the American auto industry, Romney told Fox, "Well, my view from the beginning was that the auto companies needed to go through a managed bankruptcy. And ultimately, that's what the president did."
Romney can take credit for Obama's policy, or he can condemn Obama's policy, but to do both is obviously dishonest (and more than a little ridiculous).
5. In his weekly podcast, Romney boasted, "I have a plan to create 12 million new jobs."
Putting aside the pesky detail that Romney doesn't actually have a specific jobs plan, the fact remains that if we do nothing, we're on track to create 12 million new American jobs over the next four years anyway.
6. In the same podcast, Romney vowed he'll be able to "cut the deficit and put America on track to a balanced budget."
Actually, 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.
7. Romney added, "[W]e must rein in the skyrocketing cost of healthcare by repealing and replacing Obamacare."
That's plainly false, and the Romney campaign has never even tried to defend it.
8. Romney went on to say, "[L] me make this very clear -- unlike President Obama, I will not raise taxes on the middle class of America."
That's actually two falsehoods in one. First, Obama approved one of the largest middle-class tax cuts in American history. (Note to Romney: cutting taxes and raising taxes are not the same thing.) Second, there's ample evidence that Romney will raise taxes on the middle class.
9. Romney once again claimed, "President Obama began his presidency with an apology tour."
When the book is written on the biggest lies of the Romney campaign, this will be chapter one.
10. Romney added, "President Obama has thrown allies like Israel under the bus."
Officials in Israel say the opposite is true.
11. Romney also said of the president, "He abandoned our friends in Poland by walking away from our missile defense commitments."
Officials in Eastern Europe say this claim isn't true.
12. Romney added, "Does the America we want borrow a trillion dollars from China? No."
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. No one has borrowed a trillion dollars from China; no one intends to borrow a trillion dollars from China; no one has recommended borrowing a trillion dollars from China.
13. In a speech in Cincinnati, Romney said Obama falsely promised "he was going to create more jobs."
14. In the same speech, Romney said Obama intends to "raise taxes on our best small businesses."
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.
15. In a speech in Jacksonville, Romney claimed, "We're at a 30-year low in startups of new businesses."
16. In a speech in Lakeland, Florida, Romney said of the president, "He doubled the deficit."
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.
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, XXXI, XXXII
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To paraphrase Capt. Renault: "We mustn't underestimate Obama's leading from behind. I was watching when he led Seal Team Six from behind into bin Laden's compound."
"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. No one has borrowed a trillion dollars from China"
National Debt: $16T. 8% of that? $1.23T Hence $1.23T (essentially) borrowed from China. Why is this so hard for you leftists? Bill Clinton claims the answer is "arithmetic" and yet you suck at it, Rachel Maddow.
Halfway through my quest for my computer science degree i started looking for a network administrators job last year, once I got pass the first couple (get to know you) interviews the questions and request started about my documentation to verify I had the skills I claimed. I was seeking employment in the private sector, Mitt is seeking employment in the public sector. If it's been the norm to answer any and all questions a private sector employer asks of me, why is it not a requirement for Mitt to supply any and all information asked of him? If I told a company, well!, I'm not supplying that information, I have a feeling they would say, well we're not supplying that position.
Pathological liars believe their lies almost as soon as they say them. Romney's bullying mentality has carried him all through life and pushed him into billionaire-ism. He knows Ryan's m.o. is just like his own. That's why he chose him. They underestimate the intelligence of the ordinary American. There is the same avoidance abilities passed on to Romney's wife. Just review her interviews. None of this trio can imagine a "no win". They have a record of financial personal success that has convinced them they are invincible. Romney got to be gov. of my state, Mass., by avoidance on tax issues even when Mass. has rules about them and rules about residence. He thinks he can get away with the same stuff in his campaign to be president. We, the American people, must force him to follow the rules! Insist, through your rep., that he show his tax returns!
If only Ted Kennedy was still here to help us all out...
Arithmetic alert woo woooo
on point 12) 8% of US Federal debt is about $ 1 trillion (actually more). We are a country that has borrowed a trillion from China. Of course we will borrow even more if we are foolish enough to elect Romney than if we elect Obama. But when it comes to US federal debt a trillion here a trillion there and soon you're talking real money.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_public_debt
in July 2012, $5.3 trillion or approximately 48% of the debt held by the public was owned by foreign investors, the largest of which were China and Japan at just over $1.1 trillion each.[7]
Our president's desire to encourage entrepreneurship and improve education is important! Romney has no such interest! I am passionate about reaching out via this kind of discussion group, I think, to help establish a practical reading therapist course for parents with children in preschool, k., and 1st gr., especially, and have put it "to paper" in my book, "Light in the Darkness of Reading Failure". available on Amazon and in the Hawaii libraries. This course and army of practicals do not exist to date. I have help to develop a site and want to post it online. This course could help parents with a starting minimum wage job at elementary schools and allow them to help children by being in the classrooms administering simple therapy for struggling children with symptoms of the hidden disability in our era, especially involving vision perception. I created a new word, "imperception" to identify the problems 1 out of 7 children now exhibit. Simple, effective, and proven! I am 76 years old with over 50 years experience developing the remedial techniques making up this course that requires interest and dedication but no specific pre-education. Regular teachers have very little training that I envision a workforce of parents, available to help struggling children, could have. It's a hole that must be filled if today's children who show little promise, early, can succeed in school. I am disabled and almost home-bound, wanting to give away ideas that are proven to work and are easy to learn. Any suggestions? Ideas? Help?
Use Twitter, Facebook, etc. to seek the people you think would be your target audience or can help you find your target audience.
After exchanging contact information with you new friends, you can ask your friends to spread the word on your work so even more people will know of your deeds.
Eventually, you might even learn more things than you would've only found by yourself.
Good luck and love Obama!
Poor Mitt, he has been running for POTUS full time for FIVE YEARS now.
In running full-time for POTUS, he has done little else than travel to places that he would otherwise never think of visiting, beg money and give speeches.
Think of the remarks you have made over that past five years and think of all the things that you said that you would rather take back.
Poor Mitt.
This is why it is so important for us-the ones that support President Obama, to really get involved in the campaign by making phone calls, canvasing and anything that we can do to keep President Obama in office!!
Because Obama supporters are not writing 100 million dollar checks for him. Obama needs grass roots support to help offset being outspent 2-3x to 1 or more.
I guess it's too much to hope that the deception stats stay low, but it's nice to get a relative break. Thank you for documenting this over the year. I do wonder what kind of deception score they'd give the Republican convention, especially counting the Paul Ryan speech, vs the Democrats.
I realize Romney/Ryan/Republicans are counting on the power of repetition in their lies; however it seems that they're mainly counting on the faithful to carry them in the election. Perhaps this is justified given the number of people who are actually expected to vote, but it seems weird to think that Fox Republicans make up an automatic majority in an election.
I don't get how this blatant deception is supposed to play to independents. Since independents don't see themselves as buying into a party platform, I would think they'd be more likely to go for competitive shopping with their candidates. A candidate who lies excessively and ignores facts, in my mind, they're not that competitive. People who pride themselves on independence don't strike me as wanting to be manipulated.
I also don't think moderate Republicans have the zealous fervor of a right-wing true believer Tea Partier. I do recognize that moderate Republicans can loathe the Democratic party and would rather die than vote Democratic, but it's hard to see them embracing the Tea Party. Perhaps they think that the Romney/Ryan lies are only for Democrats, but I doubt that is true. Even if they think that in office Romney would show his more moderate side and that this is just appeasement for the Tea Party, it seems unlikely if Romney hopes to stay in office as long as possible.
This election is such a huge test: can the excessive funds of super pacs buy an election? Do people really want leadership that would so willingly deceive? Can the political system and media raise the level of substance and fact in this debate? Can we protect the right to vote?
I'd love to see both Romney and Obama hooked to lie detectors while speaking and the debates. By the way it is a lie to say Clinton was not impeached! Just thought you should know. Somebody needs to as the President where he wants to take this country if he could have his way with his "change" what would this country look like, what position would the US be in the world? What would be the average income for American? Who would oversee the lives of Americans? Who, in his view , is more important in the lives of the people of the United States? Who or what should be or have the biggest influence in their lives
"Romney's bullying mentality has carried him all through life " What in the world are you trying to talk about?????????????????????????????????????????
The links aren't working and the page keeps defaulting to the comments section, making the article almost impossible to read. Fix it.
We all have an amygdala, and it tells us we don't tell it how to react- you know fight or flight. Frank Luntz et al. , have learned how to frame issues in a way that triggers these instincts. Facts don't phase people reacting instinctively. If facts don't agree with their world-view, they will make up or accept 'facts' that validate it. This is why lies can be so effective, but also insidious. Hence George Contanza's admonishment to Jerry, " Jerry, remember, it's not a lie if you believe it". Mitt Romney knows full well he is telling lies he just believes that the ends justify the means just like in his business life. The people he is lying to believe what he says because it validates their prejudices and fears, so in their mind they are not being lied to.
On Romney's refusal to release his income tax returns, President Obama added, "and we haven't even asked for his medical records yet. Is the President going to?
Is persistent flip flopping a mental affliction? Is there something in Romney's medical record about his mental health?
If Romney becomes President, wouldn't his persistent flip flopping have an impact on national security, domestic and foreign policy, etc?
It would be very interesting to learn how the White House staff functions under a President who flip flops a lot. Let's wish Ryan the best of luck if...
Imagine if it gets written in history books: Major Cause of World War III - Flip Flopping!
I think there is a very fine line that separates flip flopping from persistent lying which all comes down to either a distortion of perception or early signs of Alzheimers. Anyone who has this problem needs to have his head examined especially if one is running for President of the U.S. A.. Seriously.
Rachel, would you invite a psychiatrist on show to discuss flip flopping?
If Republicans persist in lying, there would come a time when the Republican Party would be known as Party of Liars. Political Agenda - to lie.
After a time even tea party members would be so ashamed they would leave the party, you think?
My favorite parts of the Democratic Convention:
1) Video showing Ted Kennedy beating Mitt in a debate (never ever saw that before)
2) Sister Simone sticking it to Mitt on his religious morality
3) John Kerry (testament to America's past mistakes)
On a side note:
PBS Newshour presented a Washington state community college helping to create new business and fostering education through profitable wine
No party affiliations here, just hope that America will be able to fix itself