Eric Fehrnstrom: Auto Bailout Was Mitt Romney's Idea

[Grassy Knoll]

Source: huffingtonpost

Top Mitt Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom vowed that President Obama's auto bailout was the GOP presidential hopeful's idea.

Fehrnstrom claimed Obama followed Romney's course to help the auto industry during an appearance at a Saturday roundtable discussion hosted by the The Washington Post.

“His position on the bailout was exactly what President Obama followed,” Fehrnstrom said. "He said, 'If you want to save the auto industry, just don't write them a check. That will seal their doom. What they need to do is go through a managed bankruptcy process.'"

"The only economic success that President Obama has had is because he followed Mitt Romney's advice," Fehrnstrom added.

Fehrnstrom made headlines back in late March for saying that Romney's GOP primary positions were as erasable as a drawing on an Etch a Sketch.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/28/eric-fehrnstrom-auto-bailout-mitt-romney_n_1461805.html

[Archae]

1. Errr...

[roguevalley]

2. they need to continue this. we need it clear how deep the psychopathy is

in this bunch.

[edgineered]

3. You're nuts - Romney's re-election is only a month away! nt

[roguevalley]

30. what the hell are you talking about? May I look into your crystal

ball? They need to keep being stupid. They will lose. And name calling will get you tombstoned.

[edgineered]

33. forgot 'sarcasm' - with positions, opinions, claims, etc

jumping from anywhere within the spectrum, I was trying to suggest that it would not be beyond them to push the limits that far. Look, I'm surrounded down here by some real wingers - whats on faux and whats on an afternoon talk show constitutes the entirety of the real world for them. Even more confusing to me is why I feel like I need to be on meds?

Concur with their continued stupidity, but what's this name calling you mention? Never mind - I see what you mean. No harm meant by the you're nuts comment - sorry. must have picked that up without realizing it

[roguevalley]

48. okey dokey

[CJCRANE]

4. Thanks for the thread Grassy Knoll...

but don't forget, posting this thread was Romney's idea, don't you go claiming the credit!

[Iliyah]

5. Oh my GAWD

next, Mittens will take credit for OBL death as well and everything that Pres O has accomplished. These goppers are nutso!!!

[tclambert]

47. Well, Romney did say it would be good to get bin Laden.

Creating more jobs and improving the economy? Romney's ideas again. Obama just keeps copying him on everything.

[sakabatou]

6. *headdesk*

[bucolic_frolic]

7. It is EXACTLY what GWBush did to Al Gore

Clung to his positions SO closely that, in the minds of the marginal portion of the electorate that doesn't pay close attention to politics, there was little difference between the candidates.

Don't for a moment dismiss this as insanity or political etch-a-sketch.

It is Machiavellian Democracy at its worst.

[Roselma]

9. Yes...I think that is what is happening in this case.

Romney learned from history. A lied told often enough......

[mac56]

57. True, and welcome.

[sulphurdunn]

8. Mitt Romney also invented

the automobile, played quarterback back for BYU, won the Vietnam War while in France and became richer than Midas feeding the poor and healing the sick for free.

[starroute]

14. And he told Al Gore how to invent the Internet

[goclark]

17. Did he invent a way to silently pay his taxes

yet?


Crickets still from Mitt----

[safeinOhio]

10. I forgot, how much gov. money

did Mitt suggest we loan GM?

[Raine1967]

11. Mitt Romney also came up with the idea for Obama to run for POTUS ...

... so he could be president in 2012...

WTF?

[Jamaal510]

12. It was Willard's idea that I register for DU.

[KamaAina]

13. He must be thinking of Obamacare

[Cali_Democrat]

15. Romney also killed Osama

It's true. Not only did he order the hit, but he was with Seal Team 6.

[Iliyah]

16. LOL

he was the SEAL TEAM!

Well I do thank him for Obamacare - LOL

[jmowreader]

18. So he was for it before he was against it?

That seems to have reached epidemic proportions in the GOP.

[wordpix]

27. etch that sketch one more time and shake again

[truthisfreedom]

19. And, rMoney is Obama's biggest PAC donor, too!

He also taught Barack how to tie his shoes. Seriously.

[enough]

20. Another heaven-sent campaign ad. (nt)

[schmice]

21. Next lie Romney tells will be that the election is over and he won.

[bayareaboy]

22. I guess most of Mittens staff must be ...

wearing magic lair lair pants on fire pants, now?

[Bossy Monkey]

23. Close! Bailout of American Motors was George Romney's idea. Never quite happened. n/t

[Dawson Leery]

24. Romney said "let Detroit die".

The auto bailout was Obama's idea.

[Festivito]

34. .. in title, which helped the anti-bailout debate.

Out of the other side of his mouth, he outlines that they need to restructure, other than to simply take the money. Yet, at that time, he makes no promises.

Had the auto companies done as he suggested and then failed, he could claim they did not follow it well enough. If they succeeded he could claim they followed his suggestion.

Snarkily win-win while fueling the anti-bailout fervor.

[DCBob]

38. The title is enough. "Let Detroit go Bankrupt"

Romney can dance around some complicated nuanced explanation of what he really meant but that title is a hard one to get by.

Romney and his campaign knows this is one of biggest issues he will have to face during the election. Thats why they are working it so early.

[Festivito]

40. Title is enough for the choir, I aim deeper. I like your sig line.

We need to work early as well. I intend to change a few more minds.

Good luck. Thanks.

[DCBob]

43. I think the title is enough for more than just "the choir".

It hits home for many on what Romney and the Republicans stand for.. "survival of the fittest".

But I agree there needs to be a deeper discussion on the pros and cons of government intervention in situations like this.

[Blue_Tires]

56. +1

[The Wizard]

25. Let's go to the video tape (NT)

[TheCowsCameHome]

26. Earache Fartstorm is a lying weasel.

He is a rotten bastard. Period.

[SunSeeker]

28. And yet, he did win the Michigan primary.

Just goes to show you can fool some of the people all of the time.

[DallasNE]

29. The Swiftboating Of Obama Has Begun

The use of lies to turn a strong positive into a negative is what Swiftboating of Kerry was about and this reflects that very same tactic. The Swiftboating of Obama has begun. Let's see what kind of play this gets on Sunday talk, if any.

[BumRushDaShow]

35. One difference

Youtube didn't exist in 2004 during the Kerry-Bush election (it came about in 2005), so it will be harder for them to use the same strategy since all of their "As seen on TV" insanity is now available to re-play over and over!

[groundloop]

41. Yes, BUT.....

I don't believe the MSM will take the time to look up all the old rMoney quotes, they'll just give airtime to the current lie. And I don't believe most average voters will take the time to look up old rMoney quotes on YouTube, they'll just make up their minds based on the lies played on MSM.

[DallasNE]

45. I'm Sure Romney Is Counting On That Exact Thing Happening

Too many people are too lazy to do their own research, sadly. Remember, Karl Rove alone is set to spend $300 million on negative ads. And that is another problem, why do people allow negative ads to work?

[SemperEadem]

51. I'm not so sure about that

what with the Washington Post coming out and blatantly saying that the gop is the problem this weekend...

outright lying when there is a mountain of evidence to the contrary will only work on those who do not have critical thinking skills but do have cognitive dissonance issues... aka fux noose viewers. The sleeping giant knows a lie when it read/hears it.

rmoney's campaign is in desperation mode because they know they've got nothing.

and don't forget: this is the "etch-a-sketch" dude saying this. Take what he says with a grain of salt because he's not playing with a full deck.

[karynnj]

49. Obama has a major advantage - as President, people already know him

They hit Kerry as Kerry was trying - with almost no media help to define himself. With a non-complicit media, Kerry could still have gotten out who he was - and - in fact- he did succeed more than anyone could have expected him to. If there were enough voting machines in Ohio, he would have won - a race that was highly tilted against him.

[Rain Mcloud]

31. Walter Mitty

was for it before he was against it.

I don't know what they have to say
It makes no difference anyway
Whatever it is, I'm against it!
No matter what it is
Or who commenced it
I'm against it!

Your proposition may be good
But let's have one thing understood
Whatever it is, I'm against it!
And even when you've changed it
Or condensed it
I'm against it!

I'm opposed to it
On general principles
I'm opposed to it!
(He's opposed to it)
(In fact, he says he's opposed to it!)

For months before my son was born
I used to yell from night to morn
"Whatever it is, I'm against it!"
And I've kept yelling
Since I first commenced it
"I'm against it!"

WHATEVER IT IS, I'M AGAINST IT
From the Marx Bros. film "Horse Feathers" (1932)
(Harry Ruby / Bert Kalmar)

[deacon]

32. Sounds like an 8 year old...grow up dude. n/t

[DCBob]

36. Romeny argued vehemently against the government bailout, as did most Republicans.

They taunted the deal.. remember "Obama Motors" and "Government Motors"? Romney and the Rethugs wanted to let economic natural forces run their course in Detroit and if they die, so be it.

Bottom line: If we had followed the recommendations of Romney and the other Republicans, the auto industry would have died and probably taken the country along with it into a deep depression.

They are desperately trying to rewrite history. Fortunately we have documentation of his precise words.

"IF General Motors, Ford and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday, you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye. It won’t go overnight, but its demise will be virtually guaranteed."

-- MITT ROMNEY, November 18, 2008

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html

This is a killer issue for Romney and his campaign knows it.

[tanyev]

37. Even IF that were true, the RW base still says the bailout was waste of money.

I guess the base has already been tossed under the bus.

[wordpix]

62. "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt"---NYT editorial`by Rmoney

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2012/02/15/abc-showcases-chrysler-workers-decry-romney-s-opposition-bailout

From the Wednesday, February 15 [2012] ABC World News:

DAVID MUIR: ....Michigan was once considered hallowed ground for Romney, it’s where he grew up, where his father George was President of American Motors in the 1950s and later Governor...Tonight, Romney is hoping voters remember those roots. But many blue-collar voters here remember something else, what Mitt Romney said about the auto bailout, writing this op-ed, “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt,” arguing: “If General Motors, Ford and Chrysler get the bailout, you can kiss the American automotive industry good-bye.”

MUIR: You’re all from Michigan?

GROUP: Yes.

MUIR: All of you had your jobs saved?

GROUP: Yes.

MUIR: For Romney it’s now a tricky argument after the bailout helped GM and Chrysler turn their fortunes around. Romney says he always backed the automakers going through a managed bankruptcy, which is what President Obama did. But Romney says it’s the billions in government bailout money that came with it that was a sweetheart deal for the unions. This Michigan mother was out of work 14 months. Today, she’s back on the job as an electrician on the assembly line.


Read more: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2012/02/15/abc-showcases-chrysler-workers-decry-romney-s-opposition-bailout#ixzz1tYtV2oEJ

[DCBob]

39. Ifs funny the Republicans have been arguing "Obama owns this economy now"...

except for the auto bailout.. that's Mitt's. Pathetic.

[penndragon69]

42. Shake, shake

rewrite.

[McCamy Taylor]

44. Romney's GE strategy: "I'm just like Obama, but white."

That ought to fire up the base.

[RBInMaine]

46. Yup, he's using his big GOP Etch-A-Sketch just like he said he would. Fucking GOP LIARS !

[AtheistCrusader]

50. "Let them go bankrupt"

Nobody's ever going to forget you said it, you pinhead. Spin all you want.

[liberal N proud]

52. REALLY?

I am falling off my chair laughing my ass off trying to figure out how they twisted this one to take credit for the same thing that a few month ago was cronie capitalism.

Here is the February article where he defends the statement - "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt": http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/22/mitt-romney-auto-bailout_n_1295343.html

[Generic Other]

53. Losers and liars

bail out their sinking ship

[Javaman]

54. I heard that mittens also invented chocolate milk and how to pet puppies! nt

[cosmicone]

55. Romney will even claim his father was Kenyan n/t

[rdking647]

58. i also heard romney led seal team 6 when they got bin laden

[mlevans]

59. The Business Insider apparently is not buying it.

FLIP-FLOP ALERT: Now Mitt Romney Says The Auto Bailout Was His Idea[/link]

[Amonester]

61. Thanks! Here's the NYT's oped link to spread around everywhere:

Op-Ed Contributor
[font size=7]Let Detroit Go Bankrupt
By MITT ROMNEY
Published: November 18, 2008[/font]
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html?_r=1

[yurbud]

60. Republicans depend on Americans having absolutely no memory except what the media tells them to

remember--and then they tell the media what they are allowed to tells to remember.


And it works.

The problem for Democrats is the corporate ones buy into the GOP narrative and the progressive Dems who point out the lies get little to no coverage.

A lie this big should be page one news, but this Huffington Post piece and a trip around the progressive web block will be the end of it.

Count on it.

[amuse bouche]

63. Myth Romney

will continue to create his own fable. That's a given