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politics
Why Can't Republicans Stop Lying?
Matt NegrinPosted: Sep 6th 2008 12:22PM
Filed under: US Elections, Politics, Boston University, Advise & Dissent, MediaAnimated disagreement between coworkers is a venerable tradition often denied to Bright Hall's far-flung, break room-less staff. Advise & Dissent is an attempt to fix that. Click here for past debates.
And here I thought this election might be a little different.
Republican presidential nominee John McCain is airing an ad that claims Barack Obama wants "a tax increase for everyone earning more than $42,000 a year." Pretty serious stuff. But it's not true, and the campaign can't back it up with any credible facts whatsoever.
And in her first national appearance as the fabled maverick's running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin told the country she opposed the famous "Bridge to Nowhere," a $400 million project widely ridiculed for wasteful spending. The only thing wrong with that is that she never backed away from taking the money until it became a clear symbol of pork-barrel spending that drew heated criticism from nearly everyone.
Of course, you would never know these things by reading the spun literature from conservatives, even some on this blog. (Perhaps Republican Joshua Sharp should have done more research and less complaining. Obama's claim that McCain voted with President Bush 90 percent of the time is true.)
Let's start with the first ad. McCain, the Arizona senator, claims in an ad that Obama wants to raise taxes on everyone making more than $42,000 a year. PolitiFact, a widely-lauded nonpartisan fact-checking source, explains that this claim is 100 percent false because it is based on budget resolutions in which Obama voted with Democrats to end Bush's tax cuts to fund programs. The tax cuts apply to the richest people in the country (who Bush courted), but reaches some making $42,000.
"But voting for a budget resolution is quite different from voting for a tax increase," PolitiFact says. "Budget resolutions are nonbinding, don't have the force of law and don't include precise details on taxes or spending. They're different from legislation that raises or lowers tax rates."
That statement starkly contradicts the McCain ad that blares: "The perks are amazing, like a tax increase for everyone earning more than $42,000 a year."
Now, Palin's claim about killing that Bridge to Nowhere nonsense. Palin did kill the plan in September 2007, nearly two years after she had lobbied for the $398 million check. Yet in her stump speeches as McCain's running mate, Sarah Barracuda has proudly proclaimed: "I told the Congress, 'thanks, but no thanks,' on that Bridge to Nowhere.'"
The bridge would have connected Ketchikan, a town of about 8,000 (like the one she was once a mayor of), to an island with just 50 residents, but an airport. It could already be reached by a five-minute ferry ride.
Yet when Palin ran for governor just less than two years ago, she pandered to the residents of Ketchikan and said she fully supported the bridge.
Here are the facts: When Palin killed the project, she had already used most of the money for other transportation projects in Alaska, and it was no longer practical to ask for what was now $329 million to complete the bridge.
"Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport, but the $398 million bridge is not the answer," she said. "Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it's clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island."
Here are some other truths you'll probably enjoy reading about, courtesy of PolitiFact:
More on Taxes: McCain and Palin say they will keep taxes low while Obama wants to raise them. Half-true.
On Palin: McCain says she had "executive experience" in the PTA. False.
On Energy: Obama says McCain opposes higher standards for cars' efficiencies. False.
And here I thought this election might be a little different.
Republican presidential nominee John McCain is airing an ad that claims Barack Obama wants "a tax increase for everyone earning more than $42,000 a year." Pretty serious stuff. But it's not true, and the campaign can't back it up with any credible facts whatsoever.
And in her first national appearance as the fabled maverick's running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin told the country she opposed the famous "Bridge to Nowhere," a $400 million project widely ridiculed for wasteful spending. The only thing wrong with that is that she never backed away from taking the money until it became a clear symbol of pork-barrel spending that drew heated criticism from nearly everyone.
Of course, you would never know these things by reading the spun literature from conservatives, even some on this blog. (Perhaps Republican Joshua Sharp should have done more research and less complaining. Obama's claim that McCain voted with President Bush 90 percent of the time is true.)
Let's start with the first ad. McCain, the Arizona senator, claims in an ad that Obama wants to raise taxes on everyone making more than $42,000 a year. PolitiFact, a widely-lauded nonpartisan fact-checking source, explains that this claim is 100 percent false because it is based on budget resolutions in which Obama voted with Democrats to end Bush's tax cuts to fund programs. The tax cuts apply to the richest people in the country (who Bush courted), but reaches some making $42,000.
"But voting for a budget resolution is quite different from voting for a tax increase," PolitiFact says. "Budget resolutions are nonbinding, don't have the force of law and don't include precise details on taxes or spending. They're different from legislation that raises or lowers tax rates."
That statement starkly contradicts the McCain ad that blares: "The perks are amazing, like a tax increase for everyone earning more than $42,000 a year."
Now, Palin's claim about killing that Bridge to Nowhere nonsense. Palin did kill the plan in September 2007, nearly two years after she had lobbied for the $398 million check. Yet in her stump speeches as McCain's running mate, Sarah Barracuda has proudly proclaimed: "I told the Congress, 'thanks, but no thanks,' on that Bridge to Nowhere.'"
The bridge would have connected Ketchikan, a town of about 8,000 (like the one she was once a mayor of), to an island with just 50 residents, but an airport. It could already be reached by a five-minute ferry ride.
Yet when Palin ran for governor just less than two years ago, she pandered to the residents of Ketchikan and said she fully supported the bridge.
Here are the facts: When Palin killed the project, she had already used most of the money for other transportation projects in Alaska, and it was no longer practical to ask for what was now $329 million to complete the bridge.
"Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport, but the $398 million bridge is not the answer," she said. "Despite the work of our congressional delegation, we are about $329 million short of full funding for the bridge project, and it's clear that Congress has little interest in spending any more money on a bridge between Ketchikan and Gravina Island."
Here are some other truths you'll probably enjoy reading about, courtesy of PolitiFact:
More on Taxes: McCain and Palin say they will keep taxes low while Obama wants to raise them. Half-true.
On Palin: McCain says she had "executive experience" in the PTA. False.
On Energy: Obama says McCain opposes higher standards for cars' efficiencies. False.
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Escalonz
1:21PM 1:21PM Sep 6th 2008
Why Can't Republicans Stop Lying?
_________________________________
Same reason Democrats can't stop lying
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hall
11:38AM 11:38AM Sep 7th 2008
They have to lie, if they told the truth they would all be in prison, OJ did not kill antbody did he.
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BOB JOHNSON
1:57PM 1:57PM Sep 6th 2008
When republicans stop lying,the currently mis-lead
will stop voting republican.
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Nancy
2:14PM 2:14PM Sep 6th 2008
I have been asking myself this question for 30 years.
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Mary Ohlson
4:14PM 4:14PM Sep 6th 2008
McCain ^ Palin--King and Queen of the LIARS CLUB
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lia
6:28PM 6:28PM Sep 6th 2008
Last year I gave up my membership in the republican party, because of the underhanded scheming and outright manipulation of the electorate. I could no longer stand the move toward religious right-wing extremism. The last 8 - 10 years have been the most malicious campaigning yet. republican operatives don't care if what they put out there isn't true they will say it anyway. It is very sad. The neo-con powers will do anything and say anything to keep control over our country.
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shelia
9:16PM 9:16PM Sep 6th 2008
It amazes me, the depth of deception people are willing to go just to win. There is no way, anyone with a drop of common sense could vote for McCain/palin. She is setting a horrible example to her children in showing no integrity and he is a prime example of what a bad mid-;ife crisis will do for you.
Obama/Biden 08 and 12
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Roger Hall
9:18AM 9:18AM Sep 7th 2008
If they told the truth they would not be elected, and most would be in prision, does anyone believe we are trying to bring freedom to Iraq or is just a way to get their oil cheaper. OJ did not kill anyone did he?
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Dom Enow
12:29AM 12:29AM Sep 7th 2008
McCain fathered a black baby!
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Escalonz
4:26PM 4:26PM Sep 7th 2008
McCain fathered a black baby!
And your source?
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jerry d. dudek
10:29AM 10:29AM Sep 7th 2008
Republicans realize that if you say the same thing over and over, whether it's true or not, voters will believe it (John Kerry's military career, ie). With all the radio righties to be their propaganda ministers, regretably it works.
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Bart
10:42AM 10:42AM Sep 7th 2008
http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2008/09/why-does-todd-palin-hate-ameri-001107.php
Why Does Todd Palin Hate America?
Kola Boof | Posted September 3, 2008 12:55 AM
... the Alaskan Independent Party--a party that promotes "secession" from the United States as one of its most virally public, if not written, agendas--lists Palin's husband, Todd, as not only a two-time member of said Anti-American political party, but also as a currently "Non-Committed" voter.
(If your wife is a sitting Republican Governor, then why not at least register a party affiliation?)
... For those of you who don't know what AIP stands for; let me reprint this mission statement of the party's founder, Joe Volger:
"I'm an Alaskan, not an American...I've got no use for America or her damned institutions. The fires of hell are glaciers compared to my hate for America and her government."
So tell me--why isn't the nation in an uproar about the fact that Todd Palin hates America and that his supposedly Oval Office-caliber wife chose him as a husband in the first place? More importantly--why isn't John McCain in an uproar about this blatantly unpatriotic ice fisherman ...?
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Bart
10:44AM 10:44AM Sep 7th 2008
http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2008/09/why-does-todd-palin-hate-ameri-001107.php
Why Does Todd Palin Hate America?
Kola Boof | Posted September 3, 2008 12:55 AM
... the Alaskan Independent Party--a party that promotes "secession" from the United States as one of its most virally public, if not written, agendas--lists Palin's husband, Todd, as not only a two-time member of said Anti-American political party, but also as a currently "Non-Committed" voter.
(If your wife is a sitting Republican Governor, then why not at least register a party affiliation?)
... For those of you who don't know what AIP stands for; let me reprint this mission statement of the party's founder, Joe Volger:
"I'm an Alaskan, not an American...I've got no use for America or her damned institutions. The fires of hell are glaciers compared to my hate for America and her government."
So tell me--why isn't the nation in an uproar about the fact that Todd Palin hates America and that his supposedly Oval Office-caliber wife chose him as a husband in the first place? More importantly--why isn't John McCain in an uproar about this blatantly unpatriotic ice fisherman ...?
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Bart
10:45AM 10:45AM Sep 7th 2008
http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2008/09/why-does-todd-palin-hate-ameri-001107.php
Why Does Todd Palin Hate America?
Kola Boof | Posted September 3, 2008 12:55 AM
... the Alaskan Independent Party--a party that promotes "secession" from the United States as one of its most virally public, if not written, agendas--lists Palin's husband, Todd, as not only a two-time member of said Anti-American political party, but also as a currently "Non-Committed" voter.
(If your wife is a sitting Republican Governor, then why not at least register a party affiliation?)
... For those of you who don't know what AIP stands for; let me reprint this mission statement of the party's founder, Joe Volger:
"I'm an Alaskan, not an American...I've got no use for America or her damned institutions. The fires of hell are glaciers compared to my hate for America and her government."
So tell me--why isn't the nation in an uproar about the fact that Todd Palin hates America and that his supposedly Oval Office-caliber wife chose him as a husband in the first place? More importantly--why isn't John McCain in an uproar about this blatantly unpatriotic ice fisherman ...?
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EliaBledsoe
5:40PM 5:40PM Sep 7th 2008
and where is obanba getting all the money to give to the blacks tthat want him as president? No doubt Opreah will be giing it to him. How sad this election is based on race, blak versus white. Stick to te facts and give MCCain the chance we should have given him during the last election. Vote for the republican ticket and save our country.God lead us on to victory.
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DawnD13
4:21PM 4:21PM Sep 8th 2008
I am 52 years old and have never made even $42,000 s year. If I did, why I just may do something crazy like buy health insurance! If someone is making that much money, they can afford being taxed, they just don't want to be. That, my friends, is greed. In this country, the poor get poorer and the rich get richer. Is this the American Dream?
I'd be glad to pay a fair share if I was making that much.
AND THIS CLAIM ATTRIBUTED TO OBAMA IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE. Moot point.
Just remember the lie and who made it.
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Jen
7:22PM 7:22PM Sep 8th 2008
Will the real Sarah Palin please stand up!!
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robert
3:57PM 3:57PM Sep 18th 2008
it is too convenient that you lying lefties conveniently forget how the left, MSM in complicit collusion with the Democrat party lied all thru the '90's. I wonder if anyone can or will honestly remember how Clinton lied and the whole administration lied about his activities with Monica Lewinski. Remember those activities you lying lefties?? or did you conveniently forget that. I watched thru the '90's how the complicit MSM wrote columns and editorials saying that it was ok to lie and acceptable in certain situations. if it is ok and acceptable, how do you get off condemning the republicans for something you guys practice on a daily basis?? And lets not forget the lies told by the Dems and their willing accomplices in the MSM when the Republicans had the majority in Congress and they did not vote along with the Dems to increase certain benefits, the Dems along with their willing accomplices in the MSM would all say(lie) that the Republicans were cutting the benefits the Dems wanted. Of course this was a lie, but none of you lying lefties would call your own party on this lying. Which makes your now current complaint of republican 'lying' suspect at best and hypocritical at worst. In other words, if you seriously want to eliminate lying in politics, start on your side of the fence. Start with the Democrats, the Lefties, the MSM. Then and only then will you have any credence in the arena of ideas against what you perceive to by 'lying' by the Republicans. Perhaps you have an opposing viewpoint, if so, why tell me and lower my opinion of you?? Thank you
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