General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow can you call someone a Liar when he's standing right next to you?
Obama is going to have to do that at the next debate, but I cant imaging how he is going to pull it off?
I imagined myself, standing in my bosses office next to the guy competing for my job... this guy has lied his way up to the point that everybody at the company believes him to be talented and credible... How do I call him a liar without losing credibility myself?
I personally wouldn't have a clue what to say.... Obama has a tough task ahead... so does Biden. I know they will show themselves
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)That is exactly the time that you MUST respond. You don't have to be ugly about that. It can be very effective to turn to him and say "Governor Romney, that is not true and you know it." Then turn to the camera/audience and succinctly explain why it is untrue and then conclude by how the issue directly affects the audience.
It couldn't be easier. But this is just not in Obama's nature.
Reagan was great about it. "There you go again."
HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)"Are you familiar with ____________________ (fill in referenced statement), are you saying __________ is completely wrong?"
patrice
(47,992 posts)Tennessee Gal
(6,160 posts)I would straight out say: "That doesn't square with the evidence."
And I would straight out say: "Are you saying the report/statement from _____________________ contains false information?"
HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)I really don't disagree with you.
Tennessee Gal
(6,160 posts)A debate should be a polite circumstance, but Romney disregarded that in spades.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)If the president just picks off one single lie and walks it through, that should stem the tide. After Willard lied about increasing the deficit $5T last time, Obama should have said, "Just yesterday your side kick said that you want 20% across-the-board cuts, which every economist in the country says will add 5 trillion to the deficit. Now you deny it. Which of you should we believe?"
Generic Other
(28,979 posts)that is the problem with liars. They are quick to spin new lies. Impossible to get them to stop. I think you need to stand your ground. Repeat that they need to take one position and stick to it. That being president is not like being a used car salesman.
Hammer him on the fact he never created a job, just exported them. Slam him with the poll number difference in Massachusetts. 30 point spread? So those who know the real man don't want to vote for him. Why?
The leopard can't change his stripes. The only time you should write in your notes is to keep score of the lies and make sure you tell us how many you count by the end of the debate.
Remind us that he is beholden to tea party's extreme policies. That he works for the 1% not the 99%. Occupy the debate, Mr. President. Blast him out of the water!
LiberalFighter
(50,495 posts)It's like they are trying to say it fast enough so their pants don't catch fire.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)well Mr Romney on (lets pretend) Jan 1, 2012 you said such in such (then quote exactly what he said) and now tonite you are changing your mind. If Romney says that's not true then Obama can come back and say well I have it on my website and if people are interested to see it they can go and view what you said and I have not editted it in any way. Use dates and times on him and what he said. He doesn't have to come out and call him a liar. Just show him the facts.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)Consequently you can't count on being able to confront every lie as soon as it is spoken.
Also the reality is that it takes Obama 100 times as long to discuss the lie as it takes Romney to make the lie. You can never keep up with every lie in a debate like this, so you have to pick your spots.
What is important is that you do it enough times during the debate that:
1) The audience starts to feel the pattern
2) The opponent starts to feel some consequences from arguing lies.
When you get the floor, you can start with "Wow, there are so many claims there I hardly know where to begin. Governor Romney said xxxx. (turning to face Romney directly). Governor Romney, you know this isn't true, but your campaign continues to say this over and over. (turning back to the audience) Let me set the record straight. here are the facts ... And here is how this issue affects you."
It is vitally important a) to confront Romney directly, eye to eye, and b) to end up by explaining how the issue affects the average person.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)bluestate10
(10,942 posts)southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)scheming daemons
(25,487 posts)Jazzgirl
(3,744 posts)It really isn't that hard if they're lying.
jsmirman
(4,507 posts)or you just point out how they are lying and avoid using the word "liar."
This is not like figuring out how to land Curiosity, for God's sake.
patrice
(47,992 posts)"My opponent just said ____________ , but _ _ _ _ _ _ _"
"This logic does not work, because ________________."
"The truth is that there are many different perspectives on _________________ , but some points of view are more reliable than others, because they include things that my opponent excludes" then go on to show how one's own point of view includes aspects of other competing points of view and your opponent's point of view excludes those same traits.
WI_DEM
(33,497 posts)try and do it with humor but get your point across.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)I know they have paper. Maybe Obama can pick the top flip-flops and memorize when he said each.
It will help to have the specific date and source (which people can look up and pins him down) rather than just saying he said something.
phleshdef
(11,936 posts)I think thats perfectly acceptable, especially when such a charge is easily proven.
BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)This puts you on the same side as Americans and isolates Romney. That is particularly effective because people already know the disdain Romney has for the average American.
berni_mccoy
(23,018 posts)"the toilet is jealous."
-or-
"You're so full of shit if I gave you a laxative, you'd disappear."
-or-
"I thought you just had bad breath until I realized you were full of shit"
I got a million of these.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)of Obama, just for the hell of it, showing up in a bright red suit
trailmonkee
(2,681 posts)I think Biden needs to show up in an uncle sam suit
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)Donkees
(31,079 posts)trailmonkee
(2,681 posts)leveymg
(36,418 posts)He should try it. Nobody will remember Barack ever being dour and overly serious. Really!
Waiting For Everyman
(9,385 posts)As long as he defines it as what he says about a lie, by referring to the second one that way. It's like saying "ditto" after that.
still_one
(91,946 posts)Now you want us to believe this is the real you? why would we believe that. You have been all over the board, and ether you are inherently dishonest, or you don't have a position on anything"
grasswire
(50,130 posts)"Governor Romney, is this what you believe today? On the Seinfeld TV show, they said 'It's not a lie if you believe it'. Is this what you believe today?"
countryjake
(8,554 posts)You don't get any points with an argument that resorts to throwing personal barbs at your opponent. But you must pick apart flawed statements; you have to show the error of your opponent's argument, why what they say is NOT logical and is NOT supported by fact.
Using a bunch of facts, alone, often won't win many points in any debate, either, unless you pair them right along with the erroneous argument that the other side has presented. Demonstrate the lie rather than attacking the liar.
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)20% of $2.5T is $500 Million X 10 years is $5T. Plus you want to add $2T to the military.
That is a total of $7T. Facts don't lie.
NotThisTime
(3,657 posts)voice, and that's actually how he should play it...
mitchtv
(17,718 posts)nt
trailmonkee
(2,681 posts)with a genuine smile... not a grin, but a big fat happy smile.... I like it!
spanone
(135,632 posts)KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)"coming from you...I don't know how credible that is"
trailmonkee
(2,681 posts)DianaForRussFeingold
(2,552 posts)Last edited Tue Oct 9, 2012, 05:36 PM - Edit history (1)
edited to add...
"Spouting so many half-truths and outright lies one after the other, it was impossible to keep up with it"
bluestate10
(10,942 posts)President Obama must use that word every time Romney tells a lie then immediately explain why Romney told a lie to viewers. Once he has established that Romney lied, the President needs to pivot to what his real policy is. The President can't be unprepared for the debate and fail to respond in real time to Romney's lies again. I really don't give a shit about rallies in front of adoring supporters, the President needs to kick the shit out of Romney standing a few feet away from that asshole.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)doesn't have a problem with it when he's being lied to.
Tikki
(14,537 posts)Tikki
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Whisp
(24,096 posts)maybe not in your job but in Obama's case yes.
he knows the score and what's at stake.
and he has his ways.
AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)the O campaign website so they can take a look for themselves.
Hearing the lies from the horse's mouth is gold, baby. Gold.