When the right started boiling over with charges of crony capitalism, regarding a little known auto brand, the Fisker, I ignored it. I have no problem covering Democratic Party scandals, but this one did not smell right, and I was confident that, as more information about the issue came out, the real facts would have little resemblance, if any, to Republican claims. Poor Willard! He etched a scandal and got caught!
“I am ashamed to say that we’re seeing our president hand out money to the businesses of campaign contributors, when he gave money, $500 million in loans to a company called Fisker that makes high-end electric cars, and they make the cars now in Finland. That is wrong and it’s got to stop. That kind of crony capitalism does not create jobs and it does not create jobs here.”
— Mitt Romney, Irwin, Pa., July 17
Hoping to turn attention away from questions about his departure from Bain Capital a decade ago, Mitt Romney has sought to focus attention on what he calls President Barack Obama’s “crony capitalism.”
The Fisker Automotive case keeps coming up, and Romney has now raised the stakes by asserting a connection between the loan and campaign contributors. (Fisker has developed a luxury plug-in electric sedan called the Karma that retails for $108,000, currently manufactured in Finland. It hopes to develop a $50,000 sedan , the Atlantic, that would be manufactured in Delaware.)… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Bend Bulletin>
Picture Credit: Inhabitat
Watch Willard lie:
In fact, the Washington Post gave him four Pinocchios. (It should have been four GWs.)
…Romney said the president gave money to “the businesses of campaign contributors.” Doerr is an important partner at Kleiner, and he has been an advocate for green energy, but it is a stretch to say it is his “business.” In fact, Ray Lane, who contributes mostly to Republicans, is an important Kleiner partner on this deal. Moreover, the money was raised before Obama became president.
Romney said Obama gave “$500 million in loans to a company called Fisker” — but it was a loan originally submitted under the Bush administration for a Bush administration program. He also said “they make cars now in Finland” — technically true, but in a way that suggests the taxpayer money went for that purpose, rather than for jobs and work in the United States.
Finally, Romney makes the leap that because of the “crony capitalism” — not proven — no jobs will be created. The company says jobs have been created, though the venture is still highly uncertain.
Romney’s phrasing has too many weasel words. An ordinary listener would believe that Obama paid off a contributor to build cars in Finland with U.S. taxpayer money, with no hope of U.S. jobs being created. That does not appear to be the case, at least as Romney has framed it.
We usually give some credit for a semblance to the truth, but the net effect of Romney’s words is too much. [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Washington Post>
Picture Credit: Democratic Underground
Rachel Maddow went into detail exposing Willard’s lie, and explained how it reflects the state of his campaign.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Now you know. Just like their now thoroughly debunked Fast and Furious scandal, Willard and the Republican Party are lying to manufacture another scandal. There is a reason Republicans use this tactic. They invent scandals, because they can find no real scandals they can use to distract attention from their own very real scandals. Their haste and sloppiness in crafting this one reflects their level of desperation as well as their incompetence.
20 Responses to “Etching a Scandal”
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Tom honey, you need to find a photo of Rmoney with his head stuffed up his hooha. That, IMHO, would be more accurate depiction than the lying nose pic.
Alice, your wish is my command. It will be in a cartoon within a few days.
That Pinocchio-nose picture of Rmoney was, IMO, spot-on. It actually made me chuckle. And on such a sad day as this, marked once again by senseless gun violence, I could use a chuckle.
As could we all. Thanks!
Is it possible that $Rmoney has ties to Terrorist or Terrorist Networks like Hamas, Hezbollah or the Muslim Brotherhood through his dealings in the Cayman Islands?
He said that the reason for doing business in the Cayman's is because Foreigners can invest in American Companies without having to pay American Taxes.
Is this the reason he won't release the same Tax Returns that he gave to John McCain when he was vetted as a possible VP on the ticket?
We do know that after seeing $Rmoney's returns he chose Sara Palin and now says that she was a better candidate for the VP slot at the time. What's in those returns that would have someone like McCain choose Palin over $Rmoney?
Inquiring minds want to know as do American Citizens.
Have a great day.
"Inquiring minds want to know as do American Citizens." — Now AP, that is amusing! Just tickles my Canuck funny bone. Do I detect a little ruefulness? Ah, Faux Noise, pabulum for the masses, unfortunately.
AP, while anything is possible, I know of no evidence to support that hypothesis.
At this time any accusation made by the Romney gang is suspect from the first out of their mouth- It has been one lie after another- there have been few candidates for leadership of the free world , less qualified than this tax evading , lying , wanna be that is Mutt Romoney– —
I agree, except Seamus would object to the term 'Mutt'.
"Romney said Obama gave “$500 million in loans to a company called Fisker” — but it was a loan originally submitted under the Bush administration for a Bush administration program."
Damage via the Bush administration will take decades to fix…
Before Obama was even nominated, I estimated 50 years.
He won't release his tax returns because they will prove he was at Bain when American jobs were sent to other countries. He doesn't know how to tell the truth.
Edie, it may be nothing more than obvious proof that he has far more in common with the Koch Brothers than he does with us.
After watching the first video, I watched a few more attached to it. I was taken aback, and I suppose I shouldn't have been, but I was taken aback by one brief flash of Rmoney. He was a question which I could not hear but his response was clear: "… to make a profit. (laughing) That's the name of the game."
To make a profit. That is all anything is to him — a game to make a profit! Well from what I know, government is a not-for-profit enterprise. Government takes in money from taxes, fees etc in order to build roads and bridges; to invest in clean energy research; to provide social programmes that support the citizenry; to hire workers to do the government work; to hire police and firefighters to protect it's citizens; to educate its people; and more. This is something that I believe Rmoney does not understand and one of several reasons that he is unfit to be POTUS.
He is twisting Mr Obama's words and ideas, engaging in half truths. When he is exposed, he is like a petulant child, offended. Then he moves on to the next distortion and lie. And all the while, he will not provide his tax returns like others have. If John McCain saw 23 years worth and chose Palin over Rmoney, is it possible that there is something more there? His wife said "…well there will be so many things that will be open again for more attack…". Rmoney is his own worst enemy.
Vote Democratic 2012!!!!! Vote Obama/Biden 2012!!!!!
Indeed. That's why I think the big Republican money may go to House and Senate races.
"Make a profit … that's the name of the game."
For a second I thought you surely must have been watching the movie "Wall Street" and that was Gordon Gekko talking.
But I was wrong, and you were right – it WAS Rmoney's own words.
Oops – forgot to include the link:
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/01/11/402671/romney-any-concern-for-income-inequality-is-about-envy/
Compared to Romney, Gekko was a philanthropist.
Rmoney keeps blaming Pres. Obama for things GW did. Mittens wouldn't know the truth if it bit him on the ass.
He'd know. He just wouldn't tell it or admit it.