No, Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney Haven't Resorted To Calling Each Other Nasty Names

[M_M]

Source: Slate

Politico's chief political columnist Roger Simon had a little fun with his column last night, writing that the two men on the GOP's presidential ticket had resorted to calling each other nasty names.

Paul Ryan, Simon wrote, was calling Mitt Romney "Stench" in reference to what the Wisconsin Republican would have to wash off of him if he hopes to one day run atop the GOP ticket. Romney and his close friends, meanwhile, had returned fire by dubbing Ryan "Gilligan," in an apparent reference to the bumbling crewman from Gilligan's Island.

The less-than-flattering nicknames were quickly picked up by MSNBC, the New York Times' Paul Krugman and a number of others, and reported as fact. The only problem, of course, is that the column was a satire. How do we know? (Other than by reading it in full.) We asked Simon. His emailed response: "I figured describing PowerPoint as having been invented to euthanize cattle would make the satire clear. I guess people hate PowerPoint more than I thought."

Read more: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2012/09/26/romney_ryan_namecalling_stench_gilligan_details_in_simon_column_were_satire_.html

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I should have known Politico would never really say anything negative about Rs-holes!

[oswaldactedalone]

1. It was a fun meme while it lasted

Let's just kick their ass so we can call them "defeated."

[backscatter712]

2. I'm still calling them Stinker and Slinker! n/t

[The Wielding Truth]

3. These names are apropos. They may stick even if not initially used.

[myrna minx]

4. It sure rang true to me.

[M_M]

11. Cheer Up

The Romney-Failed Chant-Scarborough clusterfuck is real!

[deutsey]

5. I thought it was hilarious, but I found it hard to believe

[Liberalagogo]

6. Don't care

Still calling him "The Stench" as it fits.

As for "Gilligan", no, because I liked Bob Denver and would not shame one of his signature characters with that asswipe.

[drm604]

7. I knew that it must be satire when I first read it.

I was shocked that so many ran with it as if it was fact. This makes us look foolish.

[aquart]

14. It was completely believable.

And I don't feel a bit foolish. Would have been fun to see Ryan deny that he sees a big stink attached to his career.

[FirstLight]

8. thank you for clarifying!

I was wanting to post an OP that actually asked "Isn't this satire?" It was just too snarky for me to believe outright...

However, there may be more truth in there than expected, since it was so widely accepted by people....

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. O.K., then. Let's just stick to the truth: "Robme and Lyin' Ryan"!!!

[M_M]

13. Works for Me!

[Richard D]

10. How strange to live in a time . . .

. . . when you actually have to fact-check satire.

[meegbear]

12. So?

If Al Gore "created the internet", then Romney is "Stench".

I'm going with it ... fuck 'em.

[FrenchieCat]

16. My feelings exactly!

[lexw]

15. The craziest part...it's believable.

[JeffHead]

17. They don't have to call each other nasty names.

Calling each other Republicans is nasty enough.

[PMcDee]

18. While watching the Brown-Warren debate

every time Brown referred to Warren as The Professor, I kept thinking, "Please, Elizabeth, please, call him Gilligan."