Quote: (10-04-2012 04:23 PM)Athlone McGinnis Wrote:
That lack of preparedness is exactly what many are criticizing Obama for in this thread and across the country. The fact that Obama failed to point out the lies does not mean that they were not lies.
Ok, Athlone, you know I respect you but I'm sorry, I have to push back on this.
It is unfortunate that people term "lies" positions taken that are based on contestable assumptions or based on what I'd consider to be pedantic parsings. It is misleading to call such things falsehoods, lies. It's all in an effort to play "gotcha."
Three examples from your list.
On Medicare, Romney said his plan would offer two choices for those in younger generations -- the "current" medicare program or a private plan. Your link implies, however, that because Romney proposes to slow the growth in the expansion (not cut government Medicare back, slow the growth) that he is in fact not supporting the "current" plan and, therefore, is uttering a lie.
"Stretch" doesn't begin to describe this wild claim from your source. Now we can debate whether Romney's approach is a good idea or a bad idea, but to call what he proposes a lie is a pedantic parsing of the first order.
Second, the $5 trillion number. Of course, that number comes from one specific source that ran the numbers and came up with that $ amount. That study was based on assumptions. Those assumptions are contestable, arguable. Romney has his plan -- and THOSE assumptions are contestable and arguable. But just because one source says one thing, and Romney says another, does not mean Romney is uttering a lie. He is making an argument.
Third, the claim that he called for the "full repeal" of Dodd Frank. He did say that the bills was bad, but he did say some of the revisions make sense. I happen to agree with him on that -- and the fact that he is willing to look at this bill and keep what's good should be applauded -- he shouldn't be slandered a liar because he's changing positions.
By that measure, Barack Obama is the biggest liar to sit in the Oval office.
Finally, I find it troubling that many on the left aren't engaging in arguments, but rather name calling. I also find it precious that the excuse makers come out of the woodwork here when their paragon is shown to be weak. Oh, well, it must have been the altitude. Or he’s too professorial, too decorous, too contemplative….too COOL.
Sorry, if you want to be in a position of executive power, you have to marshal arguments and defend them with passion. Maybe that suggests being president isn’t the right job for Obama. Moreover in the political realm you have to defend them against OPPONENTs. Of course, the problem is that in many instances Obama hasn’t had real opponents. From his senate campaign against the nutjob Alan Keyes to his campaign against the wooden John McCain, he’s never really faced a true executive who makes a case. He’s facing one now. Consequently, he is in trouble.