GOP Lies
AJ Robinson

I find it very sad to be able to make this list, as I was once a Republican. To paraphrase Reagan, I didn’t leave the GOP, it left me. As the election is drawing close, I feel the need to voice my opinion regarding Romney’s whoppers. I wish I could be kind here, and dignified, but I just can’t. The man has waffled and flip-flopped and outright lied too many times for me to be dainty; especially given the media’s chronic spinelessness in calling him on them!

So, here goes.

First off, he’s changed his positions on, well, just about everything! John Kerry changed his position regarding funding the Iraq War and he was forever labeled a flip-flopper. Why not Romney? How many times has he said something only to have someone from his campaign “clarify” or “walk it back” a day or even hours later? How many screw ups is this man going to be allowed before someone, anyone, calls him on it? Yeah, he’s like Reagan in that they’re both Teflon-coated!

Healthcare: he charges the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) of taking over the healthcare system. Really; I’m sorry, I must have missed that takeover? Checkups are now covered, pre-existing conditions are now covered, women’s health issues are covered, and kids can stay on their parents’ insurance until they’re 25. Oh, and insurance companies must spend most, I think it is 80% of your premiums on actual healthcare or you get a refund!

That’s some takeover. Oh, and let’s remember, the system is based on the one he created for Massachusetts.

Women: where to start? Numerous GOP candidates have made outrageous statements regarding women, and Romney has not distanced himself from any of them. When Rush Limbaugh made the most insulting statements regarding a woman testifying before Congress on the subject of access to birth control, what did Romney say? He said he wouldn’t have used those words! And then there’s the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. To date, Romney has yet to take a position on it. He’s also committed to de-funding and eventually getting rid of Planned Parenthood. Now, okay, if you’re opposed to abortion, I can understand that, but, Planned Parenthood also does a lot more for women than just that. Yet, that’s unimportant to Romney. When asked where women should go to get birth control and other healthcare if Planned Parenthood is eliminated, he said: go someplace else.

Is that really so?

When it comes to business, people say Romney is a job creator who’ll stand up to China. Really, are you sure? Let’s look at his record. When he was governor of Massachusetts, it fell to 47th in jobs, barely above Louisiana and that was following Katrina! So, that makes Romney a what, Category 5 Bad Governor? And then there’s Bain. Everyone talks about the jobs created by Bain, or that Bain destroyed or outsourced jobs after Romney left. He still has eight million invested in the company; I’d call him a major stockholder. And don’t bring up the lame excuse of the blind trust! Romney himself said that was a joke. He also hides his money in Swiss Bank accounts and the Caymans. This is the act of a loyal American? Also, what about his infamous 47% speech? So, people who pay payroll taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes, and everything else are lazy and irresponsible? I used to pay federal income taxes; I wish I still did, it’d mean my income was higher. He also praised China for the way it handles workers: young girls in dorms with a bathroom at the end of the hall, paid a few dollars a day, and no benefits.

Have you heard about some of those companies? They had to put up nets to keep the workers from committing suicide by jumping off the buildings. Treat the symptom, ignore the underlying problem. This is the business model Romney admires?

Really, can that be so?

Taxes and Spending: First off, the GOP can’t claim to be the party of fiscal responsibility, not after nearly doubling the deficit under Georgie Bush. And now they claim they’ll be tough on spending? The Ryan Budget (and that would be the same Ryan who’s Romney’s running mate) would slash education, meals on wheels, food stamps, school lunch programs, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security – all in the name of giving the rich another tax cut! Supposedly, it’s needed so the so-called job creators will create jobs. Really, how can I believe that? They got huge tax cuts from Georgie; where are the jobs? Romney wants to give a 20% across the board tax cut. He now pays (at least based on the TWO tax returns he’s released) about 13% in taxes. So, what, that means he’d end up paying zero? No, he says he’ll close loopholes and get rid of deductions. Of course, he won’t give details! We just have to trust him on this – like with his tax returns.

Really, you don’t say?