Slog
News & ArtsFriday, July 13, 2012
2012 Mitt Romney Demands an Apology from President Obama
Posted by Paul Constant on Fri, Jul 13, 2012 at 3:45 PM
(UPDATE: This post was originally published as a live-Slog as information slowly trickled in through various news outlets. I've rewritten it into a more traditional post, but if you're looking for the original live-Slog, you can find it after the jump.)
Mitt Romney just did five short interviews with five media outlets. His messages were apparently pretty much the same in all the interviews: He says he had no role in Bain Capital after 1999, except for the fact that he was still a shareholder. He did not address why he was listed as “sole stockholder, chairman of the board, chief executive officer, and president” of Bain Capital through 2002, and why Bain continued to list him as such in SEC filings. So he basically dodged the issue with the same arguments his campaign and Bain has been making for the last two days. Today's statements directly contradict statements made by Romney in the past, and they directly contradict a press release issued by Bain in 1999 that claimed Romney went part-time when he moved to Utah.
Further, Romney insisted that he was only going to release two years' worth of tax returns, saying that's all he has to do in order to comply with the law. Two years, Romney says, is "all that's necessary for people to understand something about my finances."
But mostly, Romney attacked the president, demanding an apology from President Obama for a surrogate's claims that Romney may have committed a felony. Again, he didn't provide any proof that those allegations are untrue, he simply asked for an apology. This is the same thing his campaign did to the Boston Globe this morning. It's obvious that Romney's trying to turn the story into a grudge match, rather than a discussion about his resumé. (It's also obvious that Romney is pissed off. He didn't go red-faced in any of the interview I've seen yet, but if you watch his cadence and his body language in any of those interviews, you can see that he's going nuclear deep down inside. For a Mormon, this is the equivalent of a temper tantrum.) So basically, nothing's changed, and Romney managed to fuck up five much-anticipated media appearances. I expect this story to continue all weekend, especially on the Sunday morning news shows.
ORIGINAL POST 3:10 PM: The five Mitt Romney interviews just went live all at once, and the internet is just starting to digest them. Time for a live-Slog!
3:14 PM: Romney has announced that he is only going to release two years' worth of tax returns, saying he has complied with the law. He says, "That's all that's necessary for people to understand something about my finances."
3:15 PM: Sounds like Romney's official line on the Bain deal is that he had no role in Bain Capital after 1999, but he was still a shareholder. This doesn't explain those SEC filings.
3:18 PM: Here's Romney demanding that President Obama apologize for Obama surrogate Stephanie Cutter suggesting that Romney committed a felony:
Asked by Crawford whether he believes Mr. Obama owes him an apology for Cutter's remarks, Romney said, "Absolutely - my goodness!
"What kind of president would have a campaign that says something like that about the nominee of another party?" Romney said. "This is reckless and absurd on his part, and it's something that's beneath his dignity. I hope he recognizes that even fellow Democrats have said that.
"Look - the president needs to talk about the direction he'd take the country, and stop these kinds of ads and attacks that are so disparate from what the American people want to talk about," Romney concluded, adding later that the president "has demeaned the leadership which he should be bringing to this country."
7
@4 Doesn't matter. It's a pro-forma dander job, with the talking points for the right-wing propagandists. Expect it repeated a zillion times on the Sunday morning news-interview shows.
8
There has got to be some pretty juicy stuff in those Romney tax returns for McCain to have chosen Sarah Palin for V.P.
instead of Mittens; They did the opposition research, saw the tax returns and then picked her?
this is gonna be good.
instead of Mittens; They did the opposition research, saw the tax returns and then picked her?
this is gonna be good.
9
Sadly, this is the kind of behavior that appeals to the GOP base. Somehow these people turn everything - even committing a felony - into an opportunity to play the victim.
10
@6 it buys them time through the weekend to think of something else to haplessly fling against the wall on Monday.
12
Can the IRS audit still audit those returns, regardless of whether or not he releases them?
I think I observed here earlier in the year when lots of folks were thinking Romney would be unbeatable if he gets through the primaries that Obama's last few political opponents tended to self-destruct. Jack Ryan, you'll recall, got exposed as a frequenter of swingers clubs--all legal, by the way--and McCain, well, you remember him in 2008. You could even say Hilary kind of self-destructed, with that 3:00 AM phone call commercial and a few other things. Now it's Romney's turn.
I think I observed here earlier in the year when lots of folks were thinking Romney would be unbeatable if he gets through the primaries that Obama's last few political opponents tended to self-destruct. Jack Ryan, you'll recall, got exposed as a frequenter of swingers clubs--all legal, by the way--and McCain, well, you remember him in 2008. You could even say Hilary kind of self-destructed, with that 3:00 AM phone call commercial and a few other things. Now it's Romney's turn.
13
Well, if Romney’s a felon, by all means, prosecute him.
I think the DOJ works for Obama. Doesn’t it?
The chief law enforcement officer shouldn’t encourage his surrogates to accuse people of criminal activity unless he’s prepared to back those accusations up with the full force of his office.
Seems like Obama’s got to prosecute or Romney should be looking for damages for slander. (I mean, he either broke the law, or he didn’t. Right?)
You can’t just go around accusing people of criminal behavior whenever you like.
This isn’t Chicago.
I think the DOJ works for Obama. Doesn’t it?
The chief law enforcement officer shouldn’t encourage his surrogates to accuse people of criminal activity unless he’s prepared to back those accusations up with the full force of his office.
Seems like Obama’s got to prosecute or Romney should be looking for damages for slander. (I mean, he either broke the law, or he didn’t. Right?)
You can’t just go around accusing people of criminal behavior whenever you like.
This isn’t Chicago.
14
Ho-lee shit. He's even more petulant and entitled than Dubya was. This whole multi-channel media offensive ultimately boils down to "How dare you question me?". Obama is going to mop the floor with this guy. The debates this fall are going to be a scream.
15
@9 Once again, this is NOT about peeling votes from the GOP base away from Romney. We all know that they are going to vote for whoever has the (R) next to their name.
All the hand-wringing and "well, this isn't going to convince any Republicans to vote for Obama" is stupid. They were never going to vote for Obama anyway.
All the hand-wringing and "well, this isn't going to convince any Republicans to vote for Obama" is stupid. They were never going to vote for Obama anyway.
16
@13 The available evidence strongly suggests that Romney lied about his role at Bain at some point, but it's only criminal if he lied to the SEC (and if this is the case, the statue of limitations has likely expired, so criminal charges are unlikely on those grounds, if not due to the political shitstorm that would ensue). When given the opportunity to clarify the matter, Romney has chosen to demand an apology from the president.
Good luck with this one.
Good luck with this one.
17
@13 actually it is in Obama's best interest currently to point it out and not prosecute. Let people do the research and allow the truth to unveil itself. To actually go ahead and prosecute would be easily spun by the right as an abuse of executive power against his political rival.
18
@16 & 17
Yes. But the problem is that Obama's spokesperson called Romney a "Felon". She didn't draw attention to an interesting impropriety that may be difficult to explain. She directly accused him of criminal activity. You do see the problem with that don't you?
Yes. But the problem is that Obama's spokesperson called Romney a "Felon". She didn't draw attention to an interesting impropriety that may be difficult to explain. She directly accused him of criminal activity. You do see the problem with that don't you?
19
Loving how Obama has Romney on the defense. And I love how Obama has turned Romney's experience at Bain into a liability -- and a potential scandal.
Looks like the Swiftboating is being done to the Repubs this time around rather than to the Dems.
Looks like the Swiftboating is being done to the Repubs this time around rather than to the Dems.
20
@13: For a public figure such as Romney to prove defamation in this case, he'd have to prove "actual malice," meaning that Ms. Cutter knew the statement to be false and said it anyway. Since Cutter's statement was that Romney was either lying to the SEC or to the American People, and if it's the former then he committed a felony, he really doesn't have a leg to stand on. What's more, since truth is always a defense against charges of defamation, Romney would be putting himself in the position of having to prove not just his innocence, but that a reasonable person could never have questioned his innocence.
I do not think he wants to have that day in court.
I do not think he wants to have that day in court.
21
She reached too far. She should have called him a liar. Instead she called him a Felon. By doing so she has put her boss in the awkward position of having to back her up (and enforce the law), walk her statement back, or dodge the subject (which by the end of the weekend will be her accusation).
22
By doing so she has put her boss in the awkward position of having to back her up (and enforce the law), walk her statement back, or dodge the subject (which by the end of the weekend will be her accusation).
Yep. Obama is in a totally awkward position. No way he can recover.
Yep. Obama is in a totally awkward position. No way he can recover.
23
@18, No, she didn't:
It's only a felony if he lied to the SEC.
“Either Mitt Romney, through his own words and his own signature, was misrepresenting his position at Bain to the SEC, which is a felony, or he was misrepresenting his position at Bain to the American people to avoid responsibility for some of the consequences of his investment,” said Obama deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter.
It's only a felony if he lied to the SEC.
25
@16 and 17,
Mr. Troll conveniently ignores the fact that an accusation of slander would require Romney to prove that he isn't a criminal. It's an affirmative civil action, which means that he doesn't have a chance in hell of winning a civil suit for slander.
Moreover, Cutter never stated that Romney is a felon. She said that there were two possibilities: that he lied to the SEC (which is a felony) or that he's lying to the American people, which makes him merely untrustworthy. Her statements are clearly statements of belief, not meant to be fact, levied against a public figure and thus do not qualify as slander or defamation.
That won't stop moronic conservatives from lying their asses off, however.
Mr. Troll conveniently ignores the fact that an accusation of slander would require Romney to prove that he isn't a criminal. It's an affirmative civil action, which means that he doesn't have a chance in hell of winning a civil suit for slander.
Moreover, Cutter never stated that Romney is a felon. She said that there were two possibilities: that he lied to the SEC (which is a felony) or that he's lying to the American people, which makes him merely untrustworthy. Her statements are clearly statements of belief, not meant to be fact, levied against a public figure and thus do not qualify as slander or defamation.
That won't stop moronic conservatives from lying their asses off, however.
27
@23
An Obama campaign spokesman sends over this statement from Bob 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."
Sounds like a direct accusation to me.
An Obama campaign spokesman sends over this statement from Bob 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."
Sounds like a direct accusation to me.
28
Republicans, every fucking one of them, including their house faggots, are PATHOLOGICAL LIARS!!!! You simply cannot be a Republifucktard unless you lie. I have yet to meet one I can respect. Fuck you Rmoney and fuck all republishit!!!!!!!!!!!
30
@15: it all makes me wonder who the hell the "undecided voters" are. What's WRONG with those people?
32
@ 27, is that the same person you were DIRECTLY referring to, in your comment @ 18/21? Last I checked, "Bob" was typically a man's name, but you speak about what "she" said and what "her" words meant.
@ 28, I've decided that only someone in considerable mental anguish can say the things that you write. So take care of yourself, okay?
@ 28, I've decided that only someone in considerable mental anguish can say the things that you write. So take care of yourself, okay?
33
@18 - Ms. Cutter a deputy campaign manager, not a spokeswoman. The campaign press secretary is Ben LaBolt, and the campaign spokeswoman is Jen Psaki.
By the way, Jen Psaki's comment on the situation is this, which seems like a straightforward - albeit clearly loaded - factual statement:
The funniest thing is here we have a serial liar being so offended that anyone DARE lie about him. Glass houses, Romney.
By the way, Jen Psaki's comment on the situation is this, which seems like a straightforward - albeit clearly loaded - factual statement:
"If he did violate, if he did mislead the SEC, there could be — that could raise questions, there could be legal questions that are raised about that,” Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said today. “We’re not the ones who can answer that."
The funniest thing is here we have a serial liar being so offended that anyone DARE lie about him. Glass houses, Romney.
34
Here's the facts, jack.
Obama is the titular head of the IRS and SEC.
If he and Axlerod have something to pin on Romney then let it rip. He should be aware of any wrong doing and the IRS already has the tax returns.
What else are we going to find out if he releases his returns...we already know he's a mogul with offshore money...just like the 60 percent of billionaires who register as Democrat liberals.
35
Romney's lied about this sort of thing before.
In 1994, Romney tried to distance himself from the Ampad controversy, since he was on a leave of absence during the initial downsizing. But Wolpow, who came to Bain in 1990 from Drexel Burnham, the infamous junk bond company, says: “I reported directly to Mitt Romney … You can’t be CEO of Bain Capital and say, ‘I really don’t know what my guys were doing.’
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/20…
In 1994, Romney tried to distance himself from the Ampad controversy, since he was on a leave of absence during the initial downsizing. But Wolpow, who came to Bain in 1990 from Drexel Burnham, the infamous junk bond company, says: “I reported directly to Mitt Romney … You can’t be CEO of Bain Capital and say, ‘I really don’t know what my guys were doing.’
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/20…
36
It's looking like he possibly committed perjury in either or both Mass & Utah during the mid 90's -thru-the early 2000's re: residency requirements for the Govenorship race(Mass) or tax rates declared vs taxes paid in Utah.
There is also the true extent of the outsourcing Bain engaged in.
As well as how much involvement he had in the Bain Stericycle holdings (in this case he is hiding his role from the conservative base).
He is deflecting and campaign is a mess w/ no real message.
There is also the true extent of the outsourcing Bain engaged in.
As well as how much involvement he had in the Bain Stericycle holdings (in this case he is hiding his role from the conservative base).
He is deflecting and campaign is a mess w/ no real message.
37
Pretty much everyone wins this thread except for Comrade Mitt "Frenchie" Felon Romney and his paid apologists who showed up here.
Yeah, I said Felon.
Sue me.
Yeah, I said Felon.
Sue me.
39
I think ultimately this won't become a deciding factor in the election. It'll be the economy. But, a side point will be how much Rmoney alligns himself with the far right and alienating the independents.
But knowing him, he'll keep doing what he's doing. And be a let down to the far right and will be too unknown for independents, which will be turned off by that.
But knowing him, he'll keep doing what he's doing. And be a let down to the far right and will be too unknown for independents, which will be turned off by that.
42
So... did Romney lie to the SEC and thereby commit a felony, or did he lie to the public to get out of having to answer for his skeezy business deals? One way or the other, he lied to somebody.
43
@41 should have clarified. The state of the economy. Mitt's story of success is a platonic example of how our system enables greed and rewards it.
I personally think if unemployement is above 8.5 percent Obama is gonna barely win.
I still think the GOP knows they're not going to win this one and decided to let Rmoney embrace his hobby of running for president.
I personally think if unemployement is above 8.5 percent Obama is gonna barely win.
I still think the GOP knows they're not going to win this one and decided to let Rmoney embrace his hobby of running for president.
44
@34- I can't imagine how nicely that would play into your typical right-wing persecution complex. At this point Obama couldn't order an investigation into a murder committed in broad daylight by Romney. The Tea Party asswipes would start blowing things up.
45
I have decide to run as a Republican candidate for President...of Kenya. I think it would be a reasonable exchange between our two nations.
Of course, I will have to deal with Mutava Musyimi.
http://allafrica.com/stories/20120705137…
Well, if that's the way he wants it...then the gloves are off. People of Kenya, I will bring Health Insurance Exchanges and High Speed Rail to your nation!
Of course, I will have to deal with Mutava Musyimi.
Presidential aspirant Mutava Musyimi has said he will vie for the top seat on the Democratic Party ticket despite the opposition from some party officials. He said his running mate will be a woman from the North Rift, Western and Nyanza regions. The Gachoka MP said he has applied in writing to the officials for nomination as the party's flag bearer in the election.
http://allafrica.com/stories/20120705137…
Well, if that's the way he wants it...then the gloves are off. People of Kenya, I will bring Health Insurance Exchanges and High Speed Rail to your nation!
46
One needn't prove a felonious allegation false until compelling evidence of the commission of said felony is first presented...in this country, anyway.
Though, what is Obama gonna apologize for? Sorry you're such a bumblefuck of a candidate who doesn't know how to run a campaign, Mitt?
It just doesn't have the ring of sincerity to it that I think ol' uncle mitty is looking for.
Though, what is Obama gonna apologize for? Sorry you're such a bumblefuck of a candidate who doesn't know how to run a campaign, Mitt?
It just doesn't have the ring of sincerity to it that I think ol' uncle mitty is looking for.
47
So if Rmoney wasn't the CEO in charge of Bain from 1999 to 2002, who was? And why hasn't he or she come forward to clear things up?
48
This story completely destroys Romney's narrative of why he should be president.
His two supposed main successes in life is health care reform while governor of MA and his life as a "job creator".
He already can't argue #1 and the more we know about Bain the more we find out that they destroyed more jobs than they created, especially between 1999 - 2002, when Romney was "part time" CEO of Bain.
He is going to be hammered on this from now until election day.
His two supposed main successes in life is health care reform while governor of MA and his life as a "job creator".
He already can't argue #1 and the more we know about Bain the more we find out that they destroyed more jobs than they created, especially between 1999 - 2002, when Romney was "part time" CEO of Bain.
He is going to be hammered on this from now until election day.
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