How Do You Fight A Lie?

Some would call it a stroke of political genius. Others underhanded and patently unethical, but no matter how you score Mitt Romney's debate performance this week, the facts had nothing to do with it. The man has long had a reputation as a political shape shifter, but the size and scope of what he did this week goes beyond words. Oh some may say I may have a case of sour grapes, the fact is I thought Romney won the debate hands down and have said so. The issue I raise is that the man took command of the debate stage last Wednesday by introducing 80 million Americans to a man that doesn't exist. He took advantage of the millions of Americans known as "low information voters", and fed them exactly what he thought they wanted to hear. Then when the debate ended and everybody had changed the channel, his advisers came out to "clarify" what Governor Romney meant about this, and what Governor Romney meant about that.

A good example of what I mean,  Romney said his health plan covers pre-existing conditions. However, unlike the Presidents plan that covers them in all cases, he conveniently left out the part where his plan only covers pre-existing conditions if you already have insurance, and have had it since birth, oh details, details, details. That is not just misleading, IT'S A LIE! It's not a gaff, not a misstatement, not a poor choice of words, it was a political calculation to lie to an audience of 80 million people, and worry about the fact checkers later, which in this case were his own people just minutes after the debate ended.

After his win Wednesday, his 47% comment went from being "inelegantly stated" to a complete retraction of the comments. Once again changing his tune to shield himself from any criticism he no doubt knows will be tossed his way in the next debate. He can say he is for 100% of Americans until he's blue, the fact is he got caught behind closed doors with a room full of rich like minded conservatives, and told us what he really thinks. We are a nation of makers and takers. A full 47% of this country are deadbeats, victims, and dependents hooked on the government dole, and don't pay federal income tax. Strong words from a man who keeps most of his money in offshore accounts around the world so he doesn't have to pay federal income tax. In fact, he wants to abolish the estate tax so the haves and have mores like him, can pass their money to their kids without having to pay taxes on that!

So the question remains, how do you fight a lie? Well, a good place to start is to call him out on the alternate universe he wants the American people to hear, and the reality of what he really stands for. I'm not going to re litigate the first debate, but Obama better damn well start countering some of Romney's nonsense if wants to regain some credibility for his "Forward" campaign. Look up, not down, look at Romney and say "who the hell are you?" How can you stand here and bold face lie to the American people? Are you so ethically bankrupt that you feel this is the only way you can win? The man is a politically expedient chameleon, and for the legions of "low information voters" out there, that's a dangerous thing.