It’s confirmed: the Obama campaign enjoys being publicly ridiculed by the Washington Post’s (WaPo) Fact Checker for its over-the-top dishonesty.
Seriously, this is the only explanation we can come up with for why Team Obama keeps makingthese patently false and easily refuted claims. And they’re not little fibs either! They’re great big honkin’ lies like “Hey, you know, Romney could be a felon.”
Anyway, it might be safe to assume at this point that the relationship between the Obama campaign and the Fact Checker is, um, strained (to say the least).
This time around, the WaPo’s Glenn Kessler evaluates Team Obama’s aforementioned “Romney is a felon” charge (which we discussed at great length yesterday on The Blaze) and, as it turns out, the Obama campaign has really blown it on this one.
Here’s the claim from Obama campaign counsel member Robert Bauer:
Romney and Bain claim that he was not involved with Bain, but Bain and its portfolio companies in their required filings under the Securities Exchange Act continuously certified to the Securities and Exchange Commission say precisely the opposite — asserting without qualification that he was a controlling person, fully in charge of Bain, under the Federal securities law.
Under normal circumstances, the question of the truth of this representation would result in an investigation by the SEC into possible criminal, as well as civil, violations of the law.
First, as the Fact Checker notes, SEC documents are public. This is real life, not a movie. Just because they’re — gasp! — little-known SEC documents doesn’t mean that they contain a treasure trove of corporate financial secrets.
But let’s cut back a little on the snark for a minute and look at the facts as they’re presented by Kessler:
One of the SEC documents in question that has received attention in recent days is a Form 13D that was posted by Talking Points Memo. A Form13D is filed when an investor or investment group announces that it has acquired more than five percent of the company.
[…]
Romney is not mentioned in the filing … made at the time of the sale; instead, two Bain executives who sat on the board are listed. Romney is listed in the documents involving the investment fund that made the filing, Bain Capital Fund VI, L.P., which was formed prior to his departure for the Olympics.
… One expert examined this document at our request. He suspected that someone had simply duplicated a filing that had been made many times before, though he acknowledged, “it looks inartful in retrospect.” He pointed out that the titles are basically meaningless, that someone can be listed as a chief executive and actually have no responsibilities whatsoever.
But, but, what about it being a felony? As Obama deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter said yesterday, the SEC filings prove Romney was either “misrepresenting his position” at Bain to the SEC, “which is a felony,” or he was “misrepresenting his position at Bain to the American people.”
Again, we turn to Kessler:
The SEC can bring civil charges for discrepancies in filing 13D documents, but as far as we can tell none has ever been brought for someone listing a misleading title. The more common 13D investigation involves a situation in which investors secretly act in collusion to acquire more than five percent of the stock, but fail to disclose that — or if investors do not make a timely disclosure that their holdings have fallen below five percent.
Moreover, there is a five-year statue [sic] of limitations, though the clock could start from when the SEC becomes aware of the matter. But 12 years have passed since the filing in question. Bringing in a federal prosecutor to examine criminal charges is even a bigger stretch.
Huh. Well, how about that?
Still not convinced? How about this Massachusetts Ballot Law Commission report from 2002 that certifies Romney was eligible to run for governor:
13 Jul
‘Blowing Smoke’: Team Obama‘s ’Felon’ Charge Gets Debunked by the Washington Post
Used to be, in the olden days, a lie could make its way around the globe before the truth could get its pants on.
The WaPo is coming up to the computer-speed in how quickly it shreds Obama’s les.
Obama must hate that.
He depends on a couple of news cycles leading with the lie-as-truth before a tiny correction appears.
Sorry to burst your uninformed ignorant bubble OP, but you are the one that is lying to everyone. Guess what? Bain’s records WERE RELEASED today, and YOUR ENTIRE STORY is BULLSHYT.
http://digg.com/newsbar/topnews/mitt_romney_signed_bain_filings_during_supposed_leave
Enjoy, meathead.
@ Doyle
Snippet from http://www.theblaze.com/stories/the-heat-is-on-media-implies-romney-may-be-a-felon-but-whats-the-full-story/-
“…here’s the kicker, the two Globe reporters fail to mention that the former SEC commissioner they cite as an authority on the subject also happens to be a regular contributor to Democrats.
Seems like a pretty important detail, doesn’t it?
Final thought: Did these reporters really think no one would challenge their article? Considering that we live in an age of instant communication and high-tech research tools, figuring out whether someone (let alone a man running for president) has committed a felony by lying to the SEC isn’t going to be that difficult. Indeed, as of this writing, the Globe’s entire report has been thoroughly debunked and their narrative has been shot to pieces.”
Enjoy meathead…
The right has kept up a continuous barrage of conspiracy theories and outright lies about Barack Obama since he was first nominated for president. They lost any complaining rights they might have had a long time ago.
Romney could clear all this up INSTANTLY by releasing his tax returns for the past twelve years, just as his father did. Heck, he could even limit himself to 1999-2002. But he won’t, because they’ll sink his campaign.
I wonder what the GOP will do if their ship is clearly sinking before they’ve even held their convention? Maybe the Obama team should hold off on the second torpedo until Romney has been officially nominated.
What’s most hilarious is that you all think there is an actual difference to who is the President of the United States of America.
I absolutely dislike having to defend a RINO, liberal/progressive GOP politician, as I wouldn’t vote for them if given a better choice, however, the Obama idol worshippers seem to be out in force nowadays.
One thing to get straight right here and now is that Romney has never denied owning Bain, or having legal responsibility during the time being questioned. What he has said is that he didn’t involve himself in any “OPERATIONAL INPUT” during that time, and it has been shown, and proven, that he did not.
The Obama worshipers would have you believe that Romney was lying about everything because he signed some documents related to SEC filings during that time period, or that his name still appeared on company documents after he “left” for the Olympics. What they want to do is mix apples and oranges, making a new type of fruit, and then say it proves their case.
Maybe, just maybe, they should quit drinking the Kool-aid handed out by Obama and his campaign and investigate for themselves exactly what Romney WAS responsible for during the time in question, and what his statements have been in regards to it. THERE IS a difference between the two and none of it made, or makes, Romney into a possible felon.
My take is that the Obama worshipers are trying everything they can to take the spotlight off of Obama’s own possible breaking of the law.
More about this here;
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/guybenson/2012/07/12/democrats_now_claiming_romney_lied_about_his_bain_departure_facts_disagree
Obama needs Romney tied with Bain AFTER Romney left for the Olympics because that’s when Bain saved Sergicycle.
And Sergicycle disposes of medical waste including from abortions.
See?
Obama meant to pull a one-two punch-combination.
He missed on the 1st punch.
You republicans are all dirty traitors, tax cheats, selfish liars and should never be anywhere near the reigns of power. You call yourselves ‘patriots’ and ‘constitutional protectors’ – what a joke – you are nothing but full of shit liars and you are no good citizens. You are stupid people who are trying to steal our country.
You will be remembered this way for all history. Dirty racist nazi collaborators. Your neighbors will beat you in the streets, kick in your teeth and shave your head because you are too stupid to be ashamed in front of your own countrymen.
You a re trash.
Citizen’s United is treason.
Romney’s campaign is funded by foreign countries, and that is treason. The GOP has committed open treason and you are all traitors.
Bush was a criminal who should be in the Hague. Anyone supporting his war crimes is a traitor and a criminal.
The GOP Congress since 2010 is an illegitimate governance because it was paid for by illegal campaign contributions and voter fraud.
The Chamber of Commerce is bought with money from Saudi Arabia, China, Germany and Qatar. Youa re all traitors, any member of the GOP is a traitor to the United States of America and will be treated so in the future. Your treason will be here for all of history to see.
Every American Citizen will hate your guts. You are traitors, each and every one. Every one of your politicians are criminal, liars, thieves, tax cheats and commit treason by accepting bribes form large corporations which deny the vote to US Citizens for the benefit of foreign shareholders.
You are traitors.
Romney is a traitor against the United States of America.
Romney is accepting political contributions from foreign powers who want to enslave the American people like the Chinese do. Anyone who supports him is guilty of treason as defined by the Constitution.
Oh yeah, and he is a felon. Give me Obama anyday over any GOP traitor.
Give me President Obama for 2012, anyday. You are all stupid and base people who have no idea what is really happening here. If you had any sense whatsoever, you would be in the streets, armed, demanding Citizen’s United by overturned by Constitutional Amendment and emergency Presidential Declaration.
I have no respect for you for this reason. You are treasonous trash. You are too stupid to know the people you serve are stealing your own country and your freedoms are next.
And it is not Obama doing it.
When ATT sends armed contractor-military to your door to collect a late bill, you will learn.
Somebody spilled a bottle of krazee on this thread.
Your tinhat delusion is showing tax cheater …
Maybe it is you who are drinking the right’s palin-punch – koolaid?
@great gatsby:
Here in CA a lawyer must say ”allegedly committed a felony,” and not ”a felon.”
Before an arrest, arraignment, trial and GUILTY verdict, no one is ”a felon.”
But Obama and his cohorts in his campaign don’t care about niceties of words and their accurate meanings.
Slime.
They want slime.
Nan G.
they have to be afraid of OBAMA, because that group is coming here to ask for help,
Wow! Someone let the real crazies out on this topic.
How do you argue or debate someone who clearly shows irrational hatred for that which they do not understand?
And calling GOP tax cheaters? Has this person never learned who Timothy Geithner? Or Hilda Solis? Or Tom Daschle? Or Bill Richardson? Or the numerous other VERIFIED tax cheats Obama associated himself with upon commencement of his first term? As of this moment, some 36 officials within the Obama WH still owe for back taxes.
greatgatsby wrote;
Yes, we serve these people. This part ought to tell you all you need to know about this person. They believe that “We, the People” serve the various political parties and the government. Only a person who believes in socialism would suggest such a thing.
And as for taking our freedoms away, the liberal/progressives, including Obama, have done an exceptional job thus far removing freedoms, and if elected back into office, will no doubt double down on his “War on Freedom”.
I would suggest that this ‘greatgatsby’ person wouldn’t be using the language they are if they weren’t hiding behind the anonymity of the internet.
HERE’S TO THE CRAWLING LIBTARDS HERE. bobdol jason gas by
MITT ROMNEY DOESN’T HURT BY WHAT YOU’RE SAYING BECAUSE ,
Y’ALL LEARNED LIES FROM THE OBAMA’S SPEECH CONSTANTLY POUNDING ON YOU TO LEARN THE TWISTED LIES, AND YOU BELIEVED IT, HOW ABOUT THAT you’re crawling like snakes under his feet trying to get away.