It’s not the first negative ad we’ve seen this election cycle, and it won’t be the last. But Mitt Romney’s latest ad touting the blatant lie that under Obama’s welfare plan you wouldn’t have to work or train for a job, you can just sit and wait for your check, could be a new low.
Lean Forward contributor and contributing editor of The American Prospect magazine Paul Waldman stopped by The Ed Show on Friday to discuss what HuffPo journalist Jonathan Weiler called “[perhaps] the single most dishonest television ad in the history of American presidential campaigns.”
“They really do appear to have lost any concern about whether or not what they’re saying is true,” Waldman told Ed Schultz. “In the ad, after they get through talking about the part about Bill Clinton, every sentence in there is false, with the exception of ‘I’m Mitt Romney and I approved this message.’"
Romney accused Obama of “gutting” welfare-to-work programs, reducing them to plain old welfare programs. In reality, the Obama administration announced they would consider granting waivers to states to allow them some flexibility.
“Waivers that weaken or undercut welfare reform will not be approved. Waivers will not be granted to avoid time limits on when assistance may be provided,” the Obama campaign stated. “The only waivers that will be granted will test approaches that can do a better job at promoting work among families receiving assistance.”
Waldman explained that besides being wrong, the ad attempts to subtly play off voter prejudice:
“This issue is an old story for Republicans, it goes back to the 1960s. And it really exists at the nexus of class and race. Mitt Romney’s biggest political problem is the perception that he’s a candidate of, by and for the 1%. And so he’s doing what Republicans have done for a long time, which is to send a message to middle class voters that ‘your resentments shouldn’t be aimed up at the wealthy, they should be aimed down at the poor.’ And even though they’re not making an explicit racial argument, you can’t ignore the fact that there is always a racial element to this in the minds of voters and that’s something the Romney campaign is not naïve about. They understand the kinds of reactions people have when you start talking about welfare and those freeloading welfare recipients who are taking your hard-working money so they can goof off.”
Questionable racial subtext aside, Michael Eric Dyson was on hand to point out another major flaw in the ad – when he was the governor of Massachusetts, Romney supported a program that gave welfare recipients free cars, as well as repairs, insurance, inspection, and a AAA membership.
Thankfully, Waldman believes this could be the last we see of this kind of welfare-themed ad leading up to November. He told Ed Schultz they just don’t work like they once did:
“This does have sort of a whiff of desperation about it. Keep in mind, Republicans won the policy argument about welfare all the way back in 1996 and this just comes out of nowhere. I really think his biggest problem is this perception that he’s only going to do what’s in the best interest of the elite. So they are pulling out this argument that goes all the way back to Richard Nixon and to Ronald Reagan talking about welfare queens, and Newt Gingrich in the 90s talking about midnight basketball…this idea that your money is going to undeserving poor people and black people. It’s an old song but it doesn’t have quite the same ring anymore and it’s hard to imagine that it’s going to be all that effective.”
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righty~
Boy, you've earned a lot of Koch Bucks tonight. But I think we've seen those enough times. Try something new. We're getting bored with your spam.
MJB - I don't even read the righty's lies as he is in step with the rest of the republicans. They love to lie and hide behind being moral. Morally corrupt is all they are....
But all he did was cut and paste. We've read those same comments on every tipic page for the last 2 weeks. I don't think he earned his $.05 a word any more than congress earned their salery. Neither did.
I know, I didn't read 'em either. I recognized it as the same blah, blah, blah he's been writing. It gets very old after a very short while!
Is it any surprise to anyone that this ad is misleading and a total lie from the guy the righties want to vote into office. Doesn't say much about the republican party being an honest group does it...Another romnelie...it is getting real old....
Without question, Bain did not give Mrs. Soptic cancer. However, it's also undeniable, that the few years that Mrs. Soptic had left, were made much more miserable by Bain. Bain took her husband's job, benefits, wages. Yes, it was no one's fault that she got cancer, but the rest of her misery was caused by Bain. Mr. Romney does bear responsibility for that.
are nuts or what Im not defending Romney or Bain. In this case they dont need defending. Soptic lost his job and thus, benefits just like every one else. The company shut down due to cusumers not buying thier product. It even happened to me. What part of Mrs. Soptic had her own job and insurance and so was still covered.? Obviously way,way too much of Maddow and Eddies inciting you.
And we get the usual tea bagged republican not understanding business practices.
Yet that doesn't stop you from showing how little you know about business, but then you claim to be from Canada yet you seem to believe that Canada has the same business laws as the US when in fact Canada regulates their businesses more then the US.
Liberty...
I know that you have only recently come onto this board so there might be one or two things that you need to learn about effectively communicating with some of the lefties on the blog. The first and foremost thing is never confuse Whom with minor items like facts. He really has a hard time in understanding that concept. Secondly, never ask Larry to back up his claim with links. He never has to prove anything he says, yet you always have to prove what you say. Third...be prepared for them to be total hypocrites in regards to every issue presented on this board. This might help you better understand how their mind works and not drive yourself batty trying to figure them out...
just saying...
That is really the scary part...they actually believe the nonsense they come up with...shows you what a government school education will do to you...
just saying..
Keep leaning forward and you end up falling on your face.
Time to take the band-aid off, and eat your peas.........
Typical tea bagged republican has nothing to say and proves he has nothing to say and he gets a follower. Keep leaning back and soon you will be looking at your own colon from the inside.
"D" for forward..."R" for backwards. True, soo true.
Sorry but it has always been republicans that put us on the cliff every time. From Hoover to GWB. Like robmehood there isn't a lie you won't repeat.
Marxists. Oh boy we have a McCarthy left over still stuck in the 1950's yeah looking forward not something a conservatard can do they keep going back to failed GOP policies.
Right in other news tea bagged republicans continue to be dumber then a box of rocks. Fascism is still around the GOP is filled with Fascists.
http://www.ellensplace.net/fascism.html
Boy does that sound like the tea bagged republicans, especially the ones posting on Ed's blog.
If Romney is an example of what mormons are like, I think they must all be liars. Oh, wait! The whole mormon religion is based on one huge lie by Joeseph Smith (The Non-Prophete)! And they call themselves Christians!
Senator Harry Reid is a Mormon. He is not a liar to my knowledge. You must not defame an entire group of religious people: Sweeping generalizations can be dangerous.
Well of course we can see that every time you post fake Canadian re reg.
Canadian Liberty just stifle (ferme la bouche), please.
Right robmehood the great white dop[e who picked a loser who is just another right wing dope, thats your hope LOL.
Right robmehood the great white dop[e who picked a loser who is just another right wing dope, thats your hope LOL.
Canadian liberty says: "We are watching witih great hope for the GOP!"
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I can already hear the news anchors dusting off the phrase you allude to: "Great White Hope ticket". You can picture it in your dreams, Can'liberty?
Well you conservatives will be chatting it up now that MRomney (who conservatives consider a "principle-free establishment republican") has selected one of your own to bring mostly all you conservatives back home fat and happy.
Actually, I am going to WITHDRAW the phrase I used above. Though I am sure I have heard it used on cable news channels and on the (political) web in the past. Nonetheless, you won't read it in a post from me again. I apologize for the offense. :)
Campaign sources say his VP pick will be Paul Ryan and he will make the anouncement Saterday.
LOL..Can Mutt be any more of a loser? Ryanomics, the medicare killer? LOL..Great job Mutt! They can go on tour and explain to the senior citizens about how they'll have to pay $6,000 out of their pocket for insurance per year if they win the WH!...This just keeps getting better and better!
Well dream on re reg. Ryan is just another Palin pig in lipstick.
Right mr yawn Ryan who is more despised then robmehood.
Of course you would but we already know that you are not Canadian nor are you anything more then a re reg disruptor.
Ryan is red meat for the teabagger voters, and we all know what nutcases they are. A CNN poll showed over 50% of the ppl did'nt even know who Ryan was. lol
#13.4
You are making assumptions about those on this blog - intelligence and where we get information - that are incorrect.
If we don't agree with you, then it must be because we are ignorant or misinformed?!?
On this issue of Catholics and birth control, I think you don't fully understand the issue.
For example:
The statement "Obamacare requires Catholic entities FUND birth control for their employees" is false.
http:/ /www.npr.org/2012/06/21/155490852/the-nation-catholic-health-association-flip-flops
By the way, I and many supporters of the ACA think there are some parts of the act that could be improved. The link you provided describes one of the things that should be looked at and adjusted.
I hate to admit that you liberals are right Obama isn't taking work out of warfare he just added things to the work list as sleep, talking on the telephone, surfing the Internet, getting a hair cut, staying home with your kids, going out to eat, getting a massage, and many more that normal people do every day after work. So basically Obama made it so you can stay at home and go about your business of not working and it would be considered work so you are right he isn't taking work out of warfare he just made it so everything is considered work
There is still a lot of work involved in making war - warfare.
Romney + Ryan = The Two Protuberances.
I cannot resist! Has Romney pulled another "palin" out of the republican hat?
On one hand you got MRomney who thinks he is "Mr. Fix-It" who can only come onboard any project as Lead. Add PRyan, the "Specialist", you get two pompous...protuberances.
This tale of the tape will be either interesting or bizarre. One thing for sure: PRyan has entered the national lexicon.
Hey righties, why don't you go put your ridiculous rants on Fox News because nobody on here believes you or Romney or Ryan or any of the rest of you stupid people. Repugs have nothing to offer other than lies and you are so stupid that you believe ads on TV while the rich A holes that are pushing this crap are laughing at you while you bend over and let them ram it up you. If you are a worker and you vote for policies that this greedy bunch of filthy rich (To which Enough is never is never enough) You really are stupid indeed! Do you really think that some Vulture Capitalist, Rich jerk like Romney could give a @!$%# about your serfish life, because that is what you are to them, a bug, something to exterminate after they rob you blind. Wake up and get some facts cause you will be the first ones whining about how they fooled you and took 20, 30, etc years of half your paycheck and now want to spend on themselves. Fools! This is exactly what they want citizens fighting each other while they enact policies that are taking whatever democracy that is left away.
I suggest you watch Chris Mathews and Paul Ryan on youtube before you jump to conclusions, both grasp the problem well:
The most dishonest ad in history, wow! I can't say I buy it, both sides are doing a lot of lying and both sides will do a lot more lying for the rest of the silly season, they cant help it, it's in their DNA.