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Greg Sargent: In a surprise appearance before reporters at the White House just now, Obama made a striking, if perhaps long overdue, charge: He pushed back on GOP claims he’s running a dirty campaign by arguing that Romney’s entire campaign is based on flat out lies.
…. it remains the case that we are seeing nothing from the Obama side that’s anything like what Romney is attempting. Romney right now is premising one of the central arguments of his whole campaign on a complete lie. The notion that Obama “gutted” the work requirement in welfare reform has been debunked again and again by independent fact checkers and by the president who signed the law Obama supposedly gutted (see Clinton, Bill).
But Romney has now run three ads — one, two, three — making this claim. Incredibly, the Romney campaign is doing this, even though he himself said that campaigns should pull ads that are called out by fact checkers. Romney and his surrogates have repeated the welfare lie in forum after forum after forum.
…. The folks working at the big news organizations know Romney is lying with abandon. What should they do about it? I’m sympathetic to political journalists — it’s not easy to keep up with all the falsehoods, and at a certain point, the same lie told again and again loses its news value. But perhaps Obama’s comments today will prompt at least a bit of media discussion about what it means that one candidate — yes, far more than the other — is running a campaign of such epic dishonesty.
Full post here
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Don’t miss Liberal Librarian’s post on Todd Akin here
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Greg Sargent: The national battle over Todd Akin’s comments about “legitimate rape” has shed light on a “personhood” bill, co-sponsored by Akin and Paul Ryan, called the Sanctity of Life Act. Much of the chatter today has focused on whether Ryan opposes abortion in cases of rape. The Romney campaign confirmed today that Ryan does personally oppose it, while clarifying that a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose it.
But what about the other legal implications of the bill Ryan and Akin co-sponsored? In an interview just now, Dem Rep. Louise Slaughter, one of the leading pro-choice voices in Congress, raised two startling possibilities.
“One of the questions around this legislation is, Could a rapist who impregnated a victim sue that victim if she decided not to carry that baby and to have an abortion?” Slaughter said. “Another question: Could in vitro fertilization be outlawed?”
More here
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See here
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TPM: Todd Akin’s Greatest Hits
Student Loans: In April, Akin cited a law Democrats passed in 2010 that saves billions of dollars by preventing private banks from profiting, risk free, on federally backed student loans as an example of the notion that “America has got the equivalent of stage three cancer of socialism, because the federal government is tampering in all kind of stuff it has no business tampering in.”
When offered the chance to clarify, he declined, saying “I called a spade a spade.”….
First Amendment: In June 2011, Akin told Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, that “the heart of liberalism really is a hatred for God and a belief that government should replace God.”
Marital Rape: In 1991, as a state legislator, Akin questioned whether anti-marital rape legislation might be used “in a real messy divorce as a tool and a legal weapon to beat up on the husband.” He ultimately voted for the bill.
More here
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New Hampshire, August 18
Windham, New Hampshire, August 18
Rochester, New Hampshire, August 18
Scout Tufankjian for Obama for America
Bob, you’re too quick! Congrats on first…again.
Oh, thank you Susan … actually didn’t expect to be first … am always happy to defer Chips wonderful awards to others, as well … I’m just trying to get various messages posted for others to use if they find them helpful. It’s about all I can do in between my (very long) daily real ‘job’
Hannity is begging Akin … so …
Chips VERY uplifting photos. You rock.
home for lunch..what did I miss?
Great presser by POTUS (see above). One of the best.
Thanks…I’ll have to watch when I get home from work…no time:)
I have to say. my President seems to have stepped up on his shirt and tie game.
He’s always sharply dressed in a suit and tie, but this particular combination (fine pinstripe white shirt and black with grey/white polka dots tie) is very, very nice.
I saw that! Muy sexy! Love it!
Uh huh. Mmmm …
I noticed that he was biting his lower lip during his answer about the Swiss bank accounts. It was very hard to hear what he was saying while he was looking so impish…
He certainly gave the impression that he would have loved to say what was really on his mind about Willard. LOL
If you want “impish” check out the first photo!
http://3chicspolitico.com/2012/08/20/president-obama-holds-presser-for-media-jackals/
I love that angle of his eyes – looks deadly. And so appropriate when addressing the jackals.
He sure has. His suit game too as of late has been on point.
I love POB’s new and very out of the box look. That is what I love about him. He does not like people trying to box him in. You are always looking very fineeeeeeeeeee, Mr. President. HZ
‘Severely Conservative’ Ryan would have put 3 of #BainMitt’s sons and their surrogates and those paying for and providing the services in jail, btw. Wonder if #BainMitt knows … tried to tell him once before so this is a 2nd effort to inform him and others
Over on Huffington Post there is a photo of Todd Akins flanked by Romryan. There is no life in that man’s eyes. That’s sometimes what I look for–his eyes are scary–honest to God–there is something evil in that man.
All three of them? ‘Cause that’s what I’m seeing.
wait…he has three eyes?
Ha! Or I meant Akins, Romney, and Ryan, all three buffoons with their own set of lifeless eyes. One of them. Or three. Anyway, lifeless, also, too.
but, but, but, with 3 sets of eyes, can they see further into Russia?
uh, uh, uh, may I get back to you on that one? Also, too?
Okay cookemom you made me spray my keyboard. Warn me first
Condition Rice should be ashamed of herself. She shouldn’t associate herself with the GOTeaP. She’s such a sad person.
Willard is having a Mormon religious leader to lead a prayer at the convention next week.
ha! Good luck with that, Mittwit.
This should be good…
It’s actually quite something that we’re a week away from the GOP convention, and the American public doesn’t know a single thing about the GOP platform and Romney’s agenda. They literally have run a campaign solely on the premise of “anyone, but President Obama”. They should be ashamed, but the apathetic members of the public who can’t be bothered to demand more and keep informed are the ones who should be even more ashamed.
Wrote about just this point in another thread, and it’s good to see it tweeted by “Pres Bartlet” …
Amen to THAT!
Well lookey here. Someone telling the truth about who Pres. Obama is. GOP heads explode in 3….2….1
Love this response!!!
LOL!
Tally, thanks so much for posting this. I went and listened to the full interview, and I must say this is a Must to listen to for all interested in this wonderful Admiral.
I read an article where he was very supported of the CIC, and he had nothing but ‘Fantastic’ words about POB. Thanks again. TOD family, if you get an opportunity to sit and listen to this, it is wonderful.HZ
Eye candy. Excuse me while I go indulge myself in Sam Kass awesomeness.
Feeling a little warm there M4O??
SIGH. In addition to being handsome, he’s thoroughly kind.
Can’t wait for the OFA video.
That’s a busy day! I didn’t realize FLOTUS would be at that dinner, too. Nice.
Wish I was there.
I think Cynthia Tucker is right, if I understood her correctly. What she said about all this “legit and illegit rape”——–it’s all about a plan to shut down abortions, all of them, even in the case of “incest and rape”. I don’t know quite know how to explain this—-but this thinking is nothing new—-comes from the hard right religious whackos—–the “2 seeds” thinking—–that a woman does not become pregnant unless she also releases “a seed” of sort, rewriting basic biology of course but that has never bothered them. And so there is the implication that a woman does not become pregnant unless she was an eager participant, to put it delicately. So there is no pregnancy from “legit” rape, so no need for any abortions—-ever. It’s the woman’s fault if she gets pregnant——always—-under every kind of circumstance. So no need for an abortion—ever And Ryan shares those Akin blurted out views—-said there is no one more pro-life than he—- with his “personhood” views etc. He took that first step with Akin by co-sponsoring the “redefine rape” legislation. It’s all about shutting down abortion—-period. Other than having far right nutty religious beliefs, a woman would have to be crazy voting for this Repub ticket.
All I’m going to say on this [today anyway
] is I bet there are many Republican women, even some of these jokers’ wives, who became pregnant who were not ‘eager participants’!
I’ve never heard this explanation. Thank you for posting.
Couldn’t figure out how these these rightwing men got such screwy ideas about pregnancy, but now I get it. Women can only get pregnant if they enjoy themselves. Geez Louise.
President Obama welcomes the admission of women to the Augusta National Golf Club, his spokesman said today.
Obama “thinks it was too long in coming, but obviously thinks it’s the right thing to do,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney.
After years of criticism about the club’s membership policies, Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne said today that former secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and business executive Darla Moore will be the club’s first female members. Augusta is best known as the home of The Masters, one of professional golf’s four major tournaments for men.
Obama and his Republican rival, Mitt Romney, had a rare point of agreement that Augusta should allow women in its membership. Romney congratulated Rice and Augusta in a post on Twitter.
(Contributing: Catalina Camia)
They keep trying to elevate Romney to be equivalent to President Obama. Even if Romney was a legitimate candidate, there is still only one President at a time. They shouldn’t try to match up a wannabe with the sitting incumbent in stature – and it’s doubly insulting when the challenger is so corrupt and inept as Romney. It should be up to Romney to rise to the level of the sitting incumbent – not the other way around or an artificial propping up of the unworthy.
I see that “Rape is rape” is trending on Twitter.
SMH
Cash on hand numbers below/
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79906.html
The Democratic group Majority PAC will unload this week on Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock for endorsing plans to privatize Social Security and Medicare, strategists for the group tell me.
Majority PAC has reserved airtime in the Hoosier State starting tomorrow and is set to run an ad that accuses the GOP nominee of, essentially, betraying the Greatest Generation.
“They fought for us, paid into Social Security and Medicare, every paycheck,” the ad begins, showing grainy footage of the World War II era.
Then the attack starts in earnest: “But Richard Mourdock thinks Social Security and Mediacre are unconstitutional. Mourdock wants to cut Social Security benefits and raise the retirement age. Mourdock even said a plan that essentially ends Medicare doesn’t go far enough. The Mourdock way: the wrong way for Indiana.”
The plan that Mourdock said doesn’t go far enough is, naturally, the Paul Ryan budget, so consider this the latest instance of Ryan’s entitlement reform proposals becoming fodder in a major down-ballot race. Recent internal polling for groups aligned with both parties have found Mourdock in a close race with Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/08/majority-pac-bombards-mourdock-on-social-security-132622.html
Pretty good! Now, more of these, ten fold!
I think most of the Republican Party feel the way Rep. Todd Adkins, including Romney and Ryan. This shows how radical & extreme the Republicans have become.
I like to describe them as repressive – not radical. For example, the repressive right.
I find it more accurate. Would love for that to catch on.
Of course they do. Atkin didn’t get the memo to keep quiet about it. This is an extreme statement among many that the has made in the past. Yet, he won a three-way primary race. Maybe the other two split the vote to allow him to get in. I doubt it cause he was already a sitting congressman in the House with RAyn.
RAyn… good one Cookemom!
Excuse me for being blunt but from what I can discern, Akin and his ilk think that a womans reproductive biology is like a mans.
They think that and “egg”, like “sperm”, is only presented when pleasure is associated with sex.
Rush Limbaugh thinking that the more you have sex, the more birth control pills you need is also consistent with this ignorant view.
If you try to peer into their little uneducated minds, that almost makes sense.
If I’m right, the fact that they want to write legislation based on their stupidity is downright criminal.
Sorry TOD men but are guys generally this clueless on how the female reproductive process works?
Obama/Biden 2012
Scumbag republicans are what occurs when DUMB parents don’t sign the permission slip that says: YOUR CHILD NEEDS SOME BLOODY SEX EDUCATION RIGHT NOW.
No, is the shortest answer, but I fully understand and empathize with the obvious need for the question. In fact, it’s at the root of the theme of this tweet, sent to several, btw:
Bobfr,
Thank you for the answer that I was hoping for:)
Obama/Biden 2012
Thank you for this explanation, which helped me understand where the RWNJ men are coming from (like dotster’s above).
From now on when I hear a RWNJ male speak, I’ll understand that his perspective is from an ejaculation point of view only. Thus, women only need birth control (pills) when a man ejaculates, and eggs are released in the same way that sperm are released.
Living in California my entire life, I didn’t realize that some areas of the country don’t have sex education. And Lord help those home-schooled children whose parents don’t include in their child’s ciriculum.
Garap a Mop Grace, not all men are “clueless on how the female reproductive process workd.” I am a man and I am totally disgusted with the views of these right wingers like Rush Limbaugh, Todd Akin and Paul Ryan.
PBO responds to OPSEC Education Fund (anti-Obama SEAL PAC):
“I don’t take these folks too seriously. One of their members is a birther who denies I was born here, despite evidence to the contrary. You’ve got another who was a tea party candidate in a recent election,” Obama said. “This kind of stuff springs up before election time.”
Also:
And PolitiFact’s rating:
Why the fuck would Politifact rate racist birther BS as false? They need to quit pretending they’re “non-partisan.”
Because, they are parsing, who did the leaks thingy!
I bet those leaks came from a Republican.
Love the POTUS response.
Ed Rendell needs to be put out to pasture…..
He has no clue what he is talking about. He just said Ryan wanted to use the 716 billion to pay down the debt.
No Ed…..you are wrong.
Amen. That guy is a piece of work.
Thank goodness, no one takes him seriously.
And then Michael Steele used our Talking points and said Robney wanted to put that money back into Medicare, to strengthen it.
See?
But Rev. Al did not say one word about that .
And he went to break and Him and Michael Steele were buddy buddy.
Strange.
“Rape is rape.”
Women for Obama – time to donate! Our POTUS respects women.
WooHoo!
Thanks for posting Lis’ tweet.
I think PBO assuaged the fragile egos of the WH press corps today while reminding them of their duty to call BS on RR lies (so many, every day).
Surpisingly (not), crickets from @MarkKnoller on today’s network lead stories. As Romneybot140 would say, “Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.”
Hey LL…..There was a song from the 1950s…..that went….Like: I don’t much about biology, history and some other courses. It played in one of my used to be favorite movies…..Witness…..That song should be front and center for these TBGOPers that just hate for the public to get educated and learn.
WVEC interview with the President-
http://www.wvec.com/news/President-Obama-exclusive-interview–166797386.html
How ironic that not too long ago, Boehner refers to some in his party as knuckledraggers. Lo and behold, as if on cue, one shows up to confirm it..
LOL Hadn’t heard that word in an age until this morning when one of my men friends remarked about how this country will never get anywhere with those knukledraggers around.
Did I miss this earlier? I’ve been flitting in and out…. Queen Latifah “Where we’re going”
http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=71ed4329ff45160de88cf2
At the end it says ‘Vote Nov. 4th” so I’m guessing it’s not new. It’s music with pics of the Os and past campaign.
That was great….maybe chips can convert it to a youtube video
I wish I knew how to do that. I wouldn’t mind learning if no special equipment was needed. ‘Poor’ Chips gets ‘assigned’ all the work. Another thing I wish I knew how to do was cut out key parts of a long video,. Sometimes I find key info, beautifully and succinctly expressed right in the middle of a long, long rambling interview. Drives me nuts when I’m looking for brevity to use as a space filler!
So lemme get this straight: Ryan is “personally” against all abortion.. but not “Romney/Ryan” ~ Ryan “personally” has a budget that he submitted to Congress that would destroy Medicare/Social Security & Medicaid…. but not “Romney/Ryan. So EXACTLY why is Ryan, Romney’s chosen VP candidate? What a lot of hooey these two are pushing. Media- National Media need to get their sh*t together & start seriously Reporting this nonsense.
Like his boss, Ryan is willing to put aside his personal beliefs in favor of his core belief that he should be elected.
lol, I like that explanation.. very good FiredUp
Just like Ryan claimed he did during GW Bush? Funny, Romney attacked Santorum when Santorum said that he took one for the Team. So now, flip flopper Romney is flipping for the TEAM…….He was last year and early 2012 severely CONservative. Today….Romney doesn’t want to be as severely CONservative as his Hard Rightie…..Paul Davis Ryan?
Excellent question, sherijr! I wish people like you who post comments at TOD had the opportunity to ask questions of these politicians. Americans would be much better informed than they are now. The “National Media” has totally failed this country.
thank you nath… I agree the media has completely failed us.. and even worse they seem to be quite proud of themselves.
I’m going to watch our President and FLOTUS talk about their romance on Entertainment Tonight.
hopefruit2 it will be tomorrow night. I guess.
No, it’s coming up right after the commercial break. Stay put and you’ll see it!
File this under You Can’t Make This Up:
“Campaign aides are determined to overcome perceptions that Mr. Romney is stiff, aloof and distant. So they have built one of the most intricate set pieces ever designed for a convention — a $2.5 million Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired theatrical stage. From its dark-wood finish to the brightly glowing high-resolution screens in the rafters that look like skylights, every aspect of the stage has been designed to convey warmth, approachability and openness.”
http://nyti.ms/SKvHXu
They still cannot make the base love Mitt, so they hope they’ll fall in love with the show and the scenery.
The Fab Four sang: Money Can’t Me Love. You Romney…..lots of money……oh, but hard to Love?
Also my question is regarding Greg Sargent’s commentary: What about the Obama campaign is being dishonest? He writes that one campaign is being more dishonest than the other… which suggests they’re both being dishonest.
There is one campaign which is lying everyday, it is not contest. And we all know which one it is, the media knows which one also, but they try to act like it’s both campaigns. Mitt Romney is a bold face liar, and so is Paul Ryan. And they are proud of it.
Boom! Exactly right anniebella.
That’s the absolute truth, Anniebella!
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama have dinner at a Mintwood Place restaurant in Adams Morgan neighborhood in Washington with winners of a campaign contest, Monday, Aug. 20, 2012.
http://www.daylife.com/photo/097vdnbfsF5r2?__site=daylife&q=obama
http://www.daylife.com/photo/096oeOQ2vO4kb?__site=daylife&q=obama
This is your government at work for you!
—————————————————————-
Resources for Americans Affected by the Drought
The Obama Administration is taking all-hands-on-deck approach to one of the worst droughts in more than fifty years. Learn where you can find help.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/drought
Throughout much of the country, communities are struggling with one of the worst droughts to strike the U.S. in decades. The lack of rain and high temperatures have done considerable damage to crops — particularly those in the Midwest.
To meet the challenge, The U.S. Department of Agriculture is coordinating the response to help farmers, ranchers, and small businesses wrestling with this crisis.
- Help for Farmers and Ranchers
- Help for Small Businesses
[see the article for details]
Fact sheet here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/08/07/fact-sheet-president-obama-leading-administration-wide-drought-response
This pics for you Chips
http://www.daylife.com/photo/020r169bH1dE9?__site=daylife
[Scampering off to look for cover!]
Our PBO and FLOTUS interview on CBS’ Entertainment tonight is coming up now – right after the commercial break. Please tune in.
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/08/20/dinner-with-barack-michelle/
Paul Ryan is NOT a foot soldier in the GOP WAR ON WOMEN.
Ryan is a GENERAL of the GOP War on Women.
Yes, Ryan was a sponsor of the HR3.
Yes, Ryan tried to REDEFINE RAPE.
Yes, Ryan is a sponsor of the Personhood Amendment
Yes, Ryan believes in NO EXCEPTIONS with abortion.
Yes, Ryan is a sponsor of the FEDERAL attempt to invade women’s bodies with forced ultrasounds.
Paul Ryan – a GENERAL in the GOP WAR ON WOMEN.
THIS!!
Someone should turn this into a great graphic, so it can be tweeted all over creation!!!
the new yorker mag offers a list of questions for candidates (since the msm can’t seem to ask anything but softy-sweety questions).
‘So here’s a test: Are you a Republican politician who would desperately like to distance yourself from Akin? Answer these seven simple questions first.’
Read more http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/closeread/2012/08/seven-questions-for-gopers-abandoning-akin.html#ixzz248KDyzYP
The next time someone in the media or a Republican claims how divisive and mean PBO is, this Baltimore Sun reporter has made a good inventory of all the RW nut job politicians. How dare they lecture our classy and respectful President when they are positively bonkers.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-schaller-akin-20120821,0,3822974.column
ALL RAPE IS FORCIBLE!