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Here Alternet does us the favor, instead of just screaming 'Romeny lied', 'Romney lied' all the time, of actually saying what they think he lied about during the first Presidential debate. Let's take a look and see if their claims hold water:
1. An ‘Unelected Board’ Controlling Your Health Care
They call this a Romney lie because the board that is in fact set up by the PPACA is not allowed to ration. But what it can do is determine which treatments and procedures will be paid for. There is no real difference between "rationing" care and deciding what will be paid for, so Romney was not lying, the unelected board is going to control our health care in important ways. Cutting Medicare spending is going to mean less care. There is simply no way of getting around that.
2. Romney's claim to be bipartisan.
They call this a Romney lie because, get this, the Massachusetts Democrats found Romney a pain to work with even if they did pass a bipartisan health care package under him. That Romney drove a hard bargain with the dems does not make it a lie to say that he was bipartisan.
3. Dodd Frank labels banks as "too big to fail."
They call this a Romney lie because Romney doesn't buy their semantics about Dodd Frank. It is a fact that Dodd Frank removes much of the moral hazard from the big banks by having the government step in when they are in trouble. Again, it is not a lie for Romney to say so.
4. Obamacare leads to loss of health care.
They call this a Romney lie because not everyone will lose coverage (I think). But a lot of people will, so, ipso facto, it's not a lie.
5. The failure of the Obama economy.
They call this a lie because they don't think that the Obama economy failed. But a lot of people do, including Romney, so it's not a lie.
6. Obamacare cuts billions from Medicare.
Oh, come on guys we know this one is true. There are cuts to Medicare Advantage. How much more of your crediblity are you going to waste trying to keep that clown in office?
7. Gas prices increased.
No, really? You are really going to try to dispute that? Really? They don't think we should blame this on Obama, you know, because Obama isn't ever responsible for anything. Nevertheless, it's hardly a lie for Romney to voice the opinion that Obama is responsible. Because, you know, he's been the President for 4 freeking years.
8. Health care costs rising under Obama.
Well, they are rising under Obama. But only by $1,700 per family, not $2,500 as Romney claims, so that makes it a Romney lie. How silly.
9. Oil and gas increases only on private land.
Obama is cutting oil and gas permits on federal lands. But again Romney got the figure wrong. Leases have been cut by 37% and not 50% as Romney claims. It's a silly basis on which to claim that Romney lied when he got the main point of the statement right.
10. No tax cuts for the rich.
Romney proposes to cut tax rates and close loopholes. The intent is to leave the level of taxation for the rich the same or higher. They claim that this won't work, that tax rates for the rich will be lower. I think their full of beans since they don't know exactly what Romney's plan will be. In any case it's silly to call Romney's plans for taxes a lie.
So there we have 10 out of 10 of the worst lies, and not a single one of them is actually a lie. Therein we see how silly this business of accusing people of lying all the time has gotten.
10 Most Shameless Romney Debate Lies -- Debunked | Alternet
1. An ‘Unelected Board’ Controlling Your Health Care
They call this a Romney lie because the board that is in fact set up by the PPACA is not allowed to ration. But what it can do is determine which treatments and procedures will be paid for. There is no real difference between "rationing" care and deciding what will be paid for, so Romney was not lying, the unelected board is going to control our health care in important ways. Cutting Medicare spending is going to mean less care. There is simply no way of getting around that.
2. Romney's claim to be bipartisan.
They call this a Romney lie because, get this, the Massachusetts Democrats found Romney a pain to work with even if they did pass a bipartisan health care package under him. That Romney drove a hard bargain with the dems does not make it a lie to say that he was bipartisan.
3. Dodd Frank labels banks as "too big to fail."
They call this a Romney lie because Romney doesn't buy their semantics about Dodd Frank. It is a fact that Dodd Frank removes much of the moral hazard from the big banks by having the government step in when they are in trouble. Again, it is not a lie for Romney to say so.
4. Obamacare leads to loss of health care.
They call this a Romney lie because not everyone will lose coverage (I think). But a lot of people will, so, ipso facto, it's not a lie.
5. The failure of the Obama economy.
They call this a lie because they don't think that the Obama economy failed. But a lot of people do, including Romney, so it's not a lie.
6. Obamacare cuts billions from Medicare.
Oh, come on guys we know this one is true. There are cuts to Medicare Advantage. How much more of your crediblity are you going to waste trying to keep that clown in office?
7. Gas prices increased.
No, really? You are really going to try to dispute that? Really? They don't think we should blame this on Obama, you know, because Obama isn't ever responsible for anything. Nevertheless, it's hardly a lie for Romney to voice the opinion that Obama is responsible. Because, you know, he's been the President for 4 freeking years.
8. Health care costs rising under Obama.
Well, they are rising under Obama. But only by $1,700 per family, not $2,500 as Romney claims, so that makes it a Romney lie. How silly.
9. Oil and gas increases only on private land.
Obama is cutting oil and gas permits on federal lands. But again Romney got the figure wrong. Leases have been cut by 37% and not 50% as Romney claims. It's a silly basis on which to claim that Romney lied when he got the main point of the statement right.
10. No tax cuts for the rich.
Romney proposes to cut tax rates and close loopholes. The intent is to leave the level of taxation for the rich the same or higher. They claim that this won't work, that tax rates for the rich will be lower. I think their full of beans since they don't know exactly what Romney's plan will be. In any case it's silly to call Romney's plans for taxes a lie.
So there we have 10 out of 10 of the worst lies, and not a single one of them is actually a lie. Therein we see how silly this business of accusing people of lying all the time has gotten.
10 Most Shameless Romney Debate Lies -- Debunked | Alternet
