Fact Checking the mendacity of ‘Mittens’

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Time once again for Steve Benen's weekly fact check of the shameless shapeshifter and pathological liar, Willard "Mittens" Romney. Chronicling Mitt's Mendacity, Vol. XXXIII:

First Lady Michelle Obama delivered a beautiful speech
at the Democratic National Convention this week, which was very well
received. There were a few phrases in particular, though, that seemed to
strike a chord.

Referencing her and President Obama's families,
she said, almost in passing, "We learned about honesty and integrity —
that the truth matters, that you don't take shortcuts or play by your
own set of rules, and success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and
square."

Those three words — "the truth matters" — drew a hearty
response. In context, the First Lady wasn't going after anyone in
particular, and she didn't accuse anyone, even indirectly, of
dishonesty. But I suspect people applauded not just because it's
worthwhile maxim, but because this year, it seems clear there are some
who believe the truth doesn't matter.

Consider, for
example, the 33rd installment of my weekly series, chronicling Mitt's
mendacity. This week's list is considerably shorter than usual because
Mitt Romney spent several days out of the public eye, preparing for next
month's debates. It does not include the media availability he did this
morning (I haven't seen the transcript yet).

1. Mitt
Romney told Fox News this week, "You know, no one in the [Democratic]
convention so far has had the temerity to say that people are better off
in America, because they realize it's not the case."

Actually, it is the case, and nearly every speaker at the Democratic convention has said so.

2.
In the same interview, Romney said he rejects "the decision of the
president to slash our military by a trillion dollars over this decade."

That's demonstrably false.

3.
Romney went on to say "there's no question" President Obama took "work
out of welfare" and "waived the work requirement in welfare."

I continue to believe this is as blatant a lie
as any modern presidential candidate has told. It simply has no
connection to our plane of reality, but Romney keeps repeating it.

4.
Asked about the president's rescue of the American auto industry,
Romney told Fox, "Well, my view from the beginning was that the auto
companies needed to go through a managed bankruptcy. And ultimately,
that's what the president did."

Romney can take credit for Obama's policy, or he can condemn Obama's policy, but to do both is obviously dishonest (and more than a little ridiculous).

5. In his weekly podcast, Romney boasted, "I have a plan to create 12 million new jobs."

Putting
aside the pesky detail that Romney doesn't actually have a specific
jobs plan, the fact remains that if we do nothing, we're on track to create 12 million new American jobs over the next four years anyway.

Continue reading Chronicling Mitt's Mendacity, Vol. XXXIII.

Previous editions of Chronicling Mitt's Mendacity: Vol. I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII,XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI, XXVII, XXVIII, XXIX, XXX, XXXI, XXXII