Democrats say Romney lied during debate — and it is going to cost him

[TomCADem]

Source: The Hill

Democratic lawmakers say Mitt Romney "was lying" during Wednesday night’s debate, claiming those alleged fabrications will erase any advantage he received from his well-reviewed performance.

The legislators argue that the silver lining in President Obama's underwhelming debate showing is that Romney gave Democrats plenty of ammunition to reinforce their case that he is a flip-flopper willing to say anything to get elected.

"Romney’s performance featured a rather dramatic departure from his public record and campaign proposals," Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.), the third-ranking House Democrat, said Thursday in an email, "and he displayed a reckless disregard for bedrock American values of truth and honesty."

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) accused Romney of simply "lying" to appear more centrist than he really is. "We saw a Romney that is clearly an etch-a-sketch," she said in a phone interview Thursday. "He likes bank regulations now? He wants more teachers? No tax cuts for the rich? … He was basically lying."

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/260621-dems-say-romney-lied-during-debate-and-it-will-cost-him

[truthisfreedom]

1. After Obama is re-elected rMoney needs to be frogmarched for tax evasion.

I have no doubt the IRS has measured him and found him wanting.

[geckosfeet]

2. agreed - and lying on federal disclosure forms/applications

[savalez]

8. and voter fraud!

[cyclezealot]

12. Let's hope so..

See as a prisoner , if he likes budget cuts in a Federal pen.. The rich are often overlooked in their cheating and easily amend their tax returns with just a ' I 'm sorry..' its the middle income people who tend to get audited , since this country is of , by and for the rich.

[Ilsa]

15. Better yet, find a way to

incarcerate his lying ass in a for-profit prison. We'll see if he advocates for privatization after that.

[cyclezealot]

22. LOL...

that will be on my Christmas list.

[jmowreader]

41. I have just the one

The Idaho Correctional Center is Idaho's only privately-run prison.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/10/10/1833710/gladiator-school-still-dangerous.html

"The inmates said the prison was so violent it was dubbed “Gladiator School,” and that guards used inmate-on-inmate violence as a management tool and then denied prisoners medical care as a way to cover up the assaults."

[Panasonic]

25. Romney will have to surrender his billions of seized dollars

to the U.S. Treasury.

Once the LDS church discover that Romney is screwing them in the tithing department, they'll quickly excommunicate Romney and throw him out of the church.

[Island Deac]

3. Mythomaniac

I repeat, he is a serial Mythomaniac!!!

[Andy823]

4. I agree.

He lied his ass off, and I think he did it to try and get the president mad, but it didn't work. He had to keep it up so he told lie after lie trying to anger the president. Now he is going to have to answer a lot of questions about all the lies, and not just from the left, but also from those on the right, the far right nut jobs, who heard him talk like a "moderate" not the hard core conservative they want in the WH.

If anyone say they changed their vote after hearing Romney in the first debate, they full of it. Anyone who has been listening to him over the last year plus knows what he has said when he had to cater to the far right to get the nomination. Telling lies might make him look good to himself, and he can claim he "won" the debate, but the fact still remains the same, the man is not going to get elected to the WH, and he has done nothing to change the minds of the vast majority of americans that just don't like the guy!

[MADem]

5. Time to fire up some commercials--he wasn't "basically" lying--he was lying out his ass! nt

[ywcachieve]

6. Romney is a pathological lying, overbearing jerk.

No integrity whatsoever. We all know this about him.
This is his campaign. ~~>

[SoapBox]

9. Ditto!

[DollarBillHines]

11. Wrong. He is Lying for the Lord.

Lying for the Lord is a basic tenet of the cult to which he belongs.

http://sync.democraticunderground.com/1251116610

[WinkyDink]

16. I don't see the difference!

[AlinPA]

7. Media are more impressed by aggressiveness, animation, body language, speakers' movements,oneliners

at the podium and lies blow right past them. Many TV viewers are the same. Few read the newspapers, so lies can continue. Romney has flipped-flopped and lied incessantly yet still has a lot of support in polls.

[Gabi Hayes]

37. really? sounds like Al Gore vs. Bush. media crucified him for being overagressive.

remember?

remember who owns the media

not too many progressives in that camp

if Obama responds in kind to Romney, watch what they do to him

[AlinPA]

38. The media tells us what to think and many follow. As for Gore I'll consider your point about who

owns the media. So if Obama is aggressive, he will be "too aggressive, angry..." and we wil be told to believe that.

[LaydeeBug]

10. Why did they put "lying" in quotes? He LIED. Geeze. nt

[wordpix]

27. maybe someone might be "sued" - so put it in quotes

[Jamaal510]

13. People like Romney are the #1 reason why many Americans distrust politicians.

He is a disgrace with his lying and constantly shifting stances. It is guys like him who are responsible for much of the political cynicism out there.

[oldbanjo]

20. But he's a good Republican.

Once it is proven that someone lies to get elected President they should be disqualified.

[Jamaal510]

26. A good Republican, and yet most of his base isn't voting FOR him,

just against Obama. Go figure.

[-Steph-]

14. I agree that his lies are chipping away it his perceived win.

He sold more whoppers than Burger King, and with the aftertaste starting to kick in, I think the people want their money back!

[joc46224]

17. I still wish the President had called him out real-time

I realize it's all wonder under the bridge now, but I do wish that Obama had called Romney on his lies real-time rather than 24 hours later on the stump. I think the vast majority of American's aren't watching political process as closely as some of us who follow blogs, news, etc. are. Or at least I would bet many of the undecided aren't following closely (that's why they are undecided). So for many their first view of Romney might very well have been during the debate. They might have thought "Well, he doesn't seem that bad. Seems pretty reasonable to me. And Obama is actually nodding like he approves of what he's saying." If they weren't watching the news before the debates they most likely aren't now, so the debunking of Mitt's lies won't be seen by them. Let's hope these same people watch the 2nd and 3rd debates AND that Obama calls Romney on his lies right then and there.

On a more optimistic note, I would be willing to bet that Obama's pretty fired up now. I would imagine he's mad at himself for allowing Mitt to get away with all he did, especially as he listens to all to all the pundits bash his lackluster performance. Beware a fired up Obama!

[Wernothelpless]

18. This is an interesting defense ...

The "liar liar pants on fire" defense ... perfect ...

News flash, Dems ... THEY don't care if he lied ... they're going to do whatever it takes to get the swing vote ...

[TomCADem]

21. The Question Is Whether He Is Held Accountable For His Lies

If Romney gets a free pass for contradicting his long held positions or, worse, saying something only to have his campaign quietly retract it off the air as was the case with pre-existing conditions, then of course Romney is going to win. CNN, for example, is playing along and focusing on the stylistic aspects of the debate, but refusing to call Romney on his contradictions. Worse, it praises Romney's contradictions as "moving to the middle." So, I disagree that voters don't care that he lied. I think they just have not been aware of these lies.

[CoffeeCat]

19. That's why this week's polls are meaningless...

Sure, Romney may get a post-debate bounce. Sixty million people tuned in and Romney's approval ratings were in the toilet. So, it makes sense that if his performance was above toilet level (meaning if he didn't smash his head into the podium and start telling America that he hates 47 percent of them), then he would probably achieve a small bump.

However---he LIED HIS FAT ASS OFF throughout the entire debate.

This was his big strategy. Just simply deny all of his ideas and basically everything he said for the past eighteen months--leaving Obama with nowhere to go.

Well, that's one hell of a strategy--if the election was frickin that night!

But it's not. The truth gets to settle in.

If the messaging is strong enough--that Romney lied--because he damn well did--then I expect that Romney will lose points on this.

What a frickin moron he is.

[SamKnause]

23. Romney lied ?

I thought the majority of fact checkers determined Mitt lied.

Am I misinformed ?

I watched the debate.

I know the issues very well.

He lied, did a 180, spun like a top, flipped and flopped, and changed his position on every issue that was discussed.

If that is a winning formula, then Mitt won.

Was President Obama non confrontational, reserved, non combative, and off his game ?

Yes.

I think the debate was a wash.

[Doctor_J]

24. Hopefully Obama won't subject the rest of the Dems to this next time

It doesn't appear very presidential to get rolled over like that and letting the Congress call out the liar.

[pampango]

28. Romney Told 27 Myths in 38 Minutes During the Debate

Pundits from both sides of the aisle have lauded Mitt Romney’s strong debate performance, praising his preparedness and ability to challenge President Obama’s policies and accomplishments. But Romney only accomplished this goal by repeatedly misleading viewers. He spoke for 38 minutes of the 90 minute debate and told at least 27 myths:

2) “I don’t have a $5 trillion tax cut. I don’t have a tax cut of a scale that you’re talking about.” A Tax Policy Center analysis of Romney’s proposal for a 20 percent across-the-board tax cut in all federal income tax rates, eliminating the Alternative Minimum Tax, eliminating the estate tax and other tax reductions, would reduce federal revenue $480 billion in 2015. This amounts to $5 trillion over the decade.

13) “I want to take that $716 billion you’ve cut and put it back into Medicare…. But the idea of cutting $716 billion from Medicare to be able to balance the additional cost of Obamacare is, in my opinion, a mistake. There’s that number again. Romney is claiming that Obamacare siphons off $716 billion from Medicare, to the detriment of beneficiaries. In actuality, that money is saved primarily through reducing over-payments to insurance companies under Medicare Advantage, not payments to beneficiaries. Paul Ryan’s budget plan keeps those same cuts , but directs them toward tax cuts for the rich and deficit reduction.

14) “What I support is no change for current retirees and near-retirees to Medicare.” Here is how Romney’s Medicare plan will affect current seniors : 1) by repealing Obamacare, the 16 million seniors receiving preventive benefits without deductibles or co-pays and are saving $3.9 billion on prescription drugs will see a cost increase, 2) “premium support” will increase premiums for existing beneficiaries as private insurers lure healthier seniors out of the traditional Medicare program, 3) Romney/Ryan would also lower Medicaid spending significantly beginning next year, shifting federal spending to states and beneficiaries, and increasing costs for the 9 million Medicare recipients who are dependent on Medicaid.

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/fact-check-romney-told-27-myths-38-minutes-during-debate

Lots more of romney's 'myths' at the link.

[bamademocrat]

29. damn straght he lied.

I am just so discouraged about this election.
SHOULD I EVEN BOTHER TO VOTE?
On one hand we have a flippflopper 1%loving big wig job destroyer (i mean the guy even want to fire the moderator @ the debate,COME ON) whos sole purpose is to put us back on the path that got us into this mess we have been trying to clean up for four years.
AND on the other hand we have our democratic nominee who expanded the failed system of profit driven healthcare with no drug importation, longerwaits for generic drugs, no caps on rates, not even a public option. then extends the bush tax cuts, & a big list of otherconservative ideas.
I t feels like there are no longer two partys. Just two different wings of the"corporate party".
All this & i live in alabama which is a total red state & my vote wont matter in our electoral college voting system, & all feels pointless.
SO should why should i even bother voting??
I feel the obligation to. but i want to vote FOR something. not just against the other guy. pleAse motivate me

[uppityperson]

31. Have you local elections that you care about? I skipped voting once in an off yr and a needed schoo

school levy failed by 13 votes. They had to fire several teachers, expand class sizes to too many and it was bad. 2 yrs later the next levy passed very easily by a large majority. I have not failed to vote since.

There are lots of issues on ballots, lots of races from local to federal.

As far as for president? Do you want the one who got us into the mess, or the one who has very slowly worked towards getting us out of it? Do you want the guy who will nominate supreme court justices who will take away rights, or those who will let us keep them? Is marriage equality a sin or a civil right? Is there any 1 issue you can vote for Obama for?

[bamademocrat]

36. yea there is one reason i can vote for obama

I guess it would be the environment.
It just feels like a pointless exercise sometimes. very discouraging. especially with citizens united going thru.
I had so much hope in obama and i am so disappointed. I guess i'll go vote for him even though i know hes not going to stand up to the big corporations. It really felt bad with healthcare and other issues how he never even started the debate on the left side. It seems he Never even considered doing the progressive thing.
I sometimes wonder if obama and other blue dog democrats care what progressives/very liberal voters think. its like they know we will vote for them instead of the republican nutball alternative, so why even worry about doing right by us.
How do we persuade obama to stop leaning right when he knows our votes are already in his pocket? other than not voting, how do we make him fight for us instead of corporations? could we possibly start raising money for our causes? maybe he would do the progressive thing if we can raise him enough money.

[Indpndnt]

39. Obama is a "blue dog democrat?" Really?

Do tell. You've had three posts so far. Each more 'interesting' than the last. You've never answered my question after your first post asking why you refer to the President as the "democratic nominee" and not as the President. Please, continue.

[Curmudgeoness]

32. You gave your reason yourself, but may not realize it.

Romney's "sole purpose is to put us back on the path that got us into this mess we have been trying to clean up for four years".

So we either keep moving in a positive direction to get the country back to health, or we destroy the country....you already know what has to be done.

Many of us are not wetting our pants with excitement over the Affordable Care Act, since we don't think that it went far enough. But it really was a milestone that has been talked about for decades and never got off the ground. Sometimes it is baby steps we take before we can run.

As to living in a red state and feeling as if your vote doesn't matter, I have the feeling that if everyone who didn't vote for this reason would vote, outcomes may be different....or at least the numbers would look better and that would encourage more people to feel as if they are not alone in their position. The more people see that other people are with them, the more they are willing to buck the trends. You just never know what your actions might bring about.

And of course, welcome to DU.

[Indpndnt]

33. "democratic nominee?" Bothers you to say the President, does it?

[OldDem2012]

34. Just my opinion, but as a US Citizen it's your obligation to vote....

...additionally, I want the President to win the popular vote as well as the electoral vote.

[marezdotes]

30. The whole fam damley watched together.

Every one of us crazy Obama/Biden supporters. I was touting to anyone that would listen that Obama was going to mop the floor with Romney's smug face. Frustration ended up being the feeling during the whole 90 minutes. What is going on here? Who's running this debate? Why is Obama continually nodding his head in reply to his royal Highnass? Why is the Prez letting him lie like that? What? sigh. What? sigh... OMG
Then we discussed it and concluded that the President was messing with Romney. Realizing what Romney was up to, he held back and let him dig his grave. So, that's our story and we're sticking to it.

[sofa king]

35. "Democrats say."

Good lord, The Hill. The lies are still lies no matter who points it out.

False objectivity is a kind of dishonesty, too.

But you know what? Right now Democrats own the truth because nobody else has the balls to tell it. Including The Hill.

[wordpix]

40. sounds like the Dem leaders are singing our tune - many of us said the same thing right after debate