Mitt Romney has outspent Newt Gingrich on negative advertising in every state, starting in Iowa, and was the first to go negative every time.
Yet Romney, with absolute conviction, continues to say that the reason he lost South Carolina was that he was outspent by Newt, which is not true.
Last night on Hannity, Romney took the false line about being outspent in South Carolina to a new level, claiming that he lost because he stayed positive and failed to respond to attacks on him (video, at 6:20)(embed added):
Romney: … The mistake I made in South Carolina was just focusing all of my effort on Barack Obama. And at the same time my opponents were going after me and hitting me pretty hard and I was standing above the fray, focusing on…
Hannity: That doesn’t work.
Romney: You know what it didn’t work. So we came to Florida and I said you know, enough is enough. If you’re going to attack me I’m going to respond, and I’m going to answer the attacks with truth. And if you don’t like that why that’s just the way it’s going to be.
It’s just not true. It’s not even close to true. It’s not even on the same planet as true.
Romney started attacking Newt in South Carolina even before the New Hampshire primary.
Romney outspent Newt (including SuperPAC spending) 2-1 in South Carolina. As reported by ABC News:
According to sources tracking media buys during the South Carolina primary, Romney and his allies, which include two super PACs, purchased more than $4.6 million of television airtime during the run-up to the state’s Jan. 21 primary. The two pro-Romney super PACs, Restore Our Future and Citizens for a Working America, chipped in millions.
By comparison, the Gingrich campaign and a pro-Gingrich super PAC, Winning Our Future, spent more than of $2.2 million in the state.
Romney also ran attack ads against Rick Santorum.
Watch the video. Romney says what he says with absolute seriousness and righteous indignation.
Nothing short of incredible. But purposeful. Romney has received a lot of negative attention for his over-the-top negative campaign in Florida, where he outspent Newt 5-1, including running ads featuring Nancy Pelosi blackmailing Newt, and false attempts to deny Newt’s role in the Reagan years.
It’s deflection. Romney playing victim, someone who attacked only because attacked. But it’s completely false.
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He’s employing that old ‘repeat a lie often enough’ rule. Just like Zero telling us that he’s turned the economy around when 1.2 million more people dropped out of the labor force last month.
Just like Zero telling us that he’s turned the economy around when 1.2 million more people dropped out of the labor force last month.
The stock market is up after today’s jobs report, as are Obama’s reelection chances on Intrade. Could you please give a link corroborating that 1.2 million people dropped out of the labor force last month? I haven’t found one.
While I was writing my comment, Bill just posted about this. Nevermind; thanks anyway.
Romney is running a totally leftist campaign up to and including accusing the opposition of doing exactly what you are doing. He would make Axelrod proud.
Isn’t it disgusting? I hope the Republican cocktail party is happy with themselves. They’re pushing a pathological liar as our next Presidential candidate.
Sociopathy? Narcissism as part of that? I am so confused. Bobo I or Bobo II?
George Soros: There’s not much difference between Obama and Romney.
Well… can’t really argue with that. Never thought I’d live to see the day I’d agree with George Soros.
Bizarro World indeed.
The Times story doesn’t even begin to cover it. Aside from the media buys, Romney carpet-bombed us Iowans with mailers…sometimes as many as five a day.
Sad that it worked with many Iowans. It backfired here, though. Any thought I had of supporting Romney was buried under the deluge of slime.
Creeper, you live in Iowa? I saw some of those ads when I was in Southern Minnesota. They were disgusting.
By the way, “hi” neighbor.
Hi, Tam. Didn’t realize we were neighbors. I’m in E. Central Iowa…right on the big river.
The mailings were disgusting…and relentless. It went on for weeks. There was never a day without one and five was the record. It felt like we were under assault.
I think Iowans were getting tired of it. Romney, by all rights, should’ve won here. Despite the best efforts of our (now-resigned) state party chairman, Santorum beat him.
I suspect had the campaign gone one any longer Romney’s totals might have been even lower.
OK Professor, hopefully we can look to Newt for leadership on all this but —- Now that Drudge, Coulter, National Review, and much of the “conservative leadership” has exposed itself for what it is, where do we go from here?
I’m OFF the Romney train, and even beyond this election, I’m OFF the “conservative establishment” train. I WILL NOT support either of those in this or future elections. Santorum’s big government/religion-based option is a dead end. Ron Paul’s legalize drugs/ignore the Islamist threat option is a dead end.
Where do we go from here? What organizations, what websites are there to replace them. Let’s have an INSURRECTION!!!
“I’m OFF the “conservative establishment” train.”
Good for you, but make that “off the Republican establishment train”, for big government and legalized drugs are not conservative values.
“Where do we go from here? What organizations, what websites are there to replace them.”
Research your local Tea Party and get active. If there isn’t one, form one. Look up local and statewide conservative candidates and support them.
“Let’s have an INSURRECTION!!!”
Keep it a ‘Legal’ Insurrection. Heh. See what I did there?
Yes, this, “throw out the baby with the bath water,” thinking could ensure another four years of Nobama to finish the wrecking of the country. All this because the fat whiny guy just ain’t measuring up to expectations.
If the Newt folks are this upset at this stage of the campaign, how will they fare IF by some reason he does garner the nomination then faces the DNC/superpacs following the convention?
I gotta tell ya, whining just ain’t gonna get us on a path to victory…
I’ve supported conservative policies since before Reagan was president and before Newt Gingrich was in the US Congress, but if it’s necessary to your argument to redefine that support as ‘whining’, by all means, do what you have to. We’ll judge your argument accordingly.
I think the Republican Party at the national level is content to let Obama have this election. Maybe they really do lack the ideas, creativity, and seriousness of purpose to turn our current economic mess around. Maybe that’s why they’ve slimed all the newer voices that have started to bubble up.
I’ve previously suggested that, although the GOP Establishment wouldn’t mind defeating Obama, their game within a game is to position Jeb Bush for 2016.
Another Bush? Count me out.
The public ain’t ready for another Texan no matter where he resides today. Jeb might well be the smartest one of the bunch but nationally is a non-contender. Besides, the country might be totally wrecked by then aka Greece.
It’s not that he’s a Texan.
Since the topic of this post is myth and misrepresentation as a campaign technique, regardless of preconceived notions or political correctness the information at this link has to be considered. You can bet the Axelrod team will be arguing it (if they aren’t already behind setting up this site): http://www.mormonwiki.org/Lying_for_the_Lord
I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again: I wouldn’t vote for that liar if my life depended on it.
There’s something else that needs to be said: Hannity is as gullible & trusting a fool as I’ve ever seen. He rightfully criticized the media for not vetting President Obama. Now that it’s a GOP candidate, he’s turned a blind eye, saying he trusts Mitt.
What a dupe. No wonder stations are dropping him left & right.
An intellectual giant Hannity is not.
On the other hand, Sean is being fair to NEWt, which I appreciate very much.
I agree that not calling Romney out on his ridiculous lies, eg he was outspent in SC by NEwt, is a failure.
But Sean asks NEwt questions and give NEwt the time to ANSWER the questions, and Sean doesn’t badger Newt and ask gotcha questions all the time. Or maybe ever.
NO one’s perfect.
But Sean was ringing the warning bell about Obama when no one else was, or perhaps some very few were.
I appreciate Sean and while we’re at it, I appreciate Greta for the same reasons. She asks a question and then she lets the guest ANSWER.
Hannity is so busy with his shows, he may not have time for research. But he also tries to give “conservatives” or Republicans at least, the chance to get their message out in a positive light.
Even when challenging, he seems to do it politely with time for the candidate to give his spin. That might be OK for what his show is, but bold false claims like that one by Mitt need to be confronted. In the face of a big money brutal and dishonest Romney assault on the conservative Newt, how can Hannity let that “poor me” defense by Mitt slide by?
Imagine if Hannity had stated LI’s facts in Romney’s face … it could have been devastating. But maybe there were conditions in place before the interview. Murdoch is out for Romney already.
“No wonder stations are dropping him left & right.”
Good to hear. His mind-numbing abuse of the word “literally” turned me off long ago.
I’m shocked by this behavior. Just shocked.
King Romney says he was “standing above the fray” … he and his henchmen only outspent Newt 2:1 in SC. So in FL they stepped it up, outspent him 5:1 and had Drudge help spread the lie that Gingrich was not part of the Reagan era, and that he resigned in SHAME.
Those were false claims, but we know Mitt will never do anything “in shame” … he has none. He can’t admit he tortured poor Seamus, he blurts out he doesn’t care about poor people.
And now I wonder if “I like to fire people” wasn’t a blatant appeal for the Trump endorsement. “Hey Donald, look at me, I like to fire people too!”
Vote Romney .. the man without shame.
Vote Romney .. a better character assassin than Obama
Vote Romney … a bolder liar than Obama
Vote Romney … Soros says he’s as good as Obama
well, Romney would be much better than Obama, but we’ll need to build a conservative congress.
Romney seems to have a habit of not taking responsibility for his scorch earth tactics. Even Wolf Blitzer caught him in the last debate claiming he knew nothing about his own attack ad.
Time for Romney to find his big boy pants and man up. If you’re going to use negative attack ads, then own it.
[…] Here is why. […]
In the video linked here, Gingrich talked about the campaign thus far and says he is going to stay focused on being The Truth Campaign:
http://www.therightscoop.com/newt-talks-florida-loss-and-how-he-is-changing-as-a-result/
This is what the tax-paying, law-abiding, common-sense, God-fearing silent (or rather silenced) majority want.
This is what they have resonated with in Gingrich when he is on-message.
Keep it up, Newt! You are speaking our hearts and minds. Keep speaking ‘truth to power.’ Be our voice and champion.
Help us restore the good freedom and virtue of our nation, that our forefathers designed with reason, honest thought, inspiration through prayer, by aligning with God’s Holy Law and Word, and have kept and maintained with their sacrifices and sometimes their own blood.
Freedom comes from Truth. There is no freedom where truth is not welcome, tolerated and honored.
This is probably the only time in my life that I will agree with George Soros. There is little if any difference between Romney and Obama.
Team Romney pulled out the stops in Florida. The week before voting we received 2 to 3 advertisements by mail, and at least 2 calls from the Romney troops attacking Newt, compared with 2 calls during that week from the pro-Newt people and one from the pro-Santorum gang. So yes, I would agree that the 5:1 ratio is correct.
The cultists even sent out e-mails to Floridians after he won to try to intimidate us into submission. I hit reply and responded drop dead. Then I hit unsubscribe. It felt great.
Well now that Romney is not afraid of Newt Gingrich anymore, the once front runner Trump is not in the race (see video), only four candidates are left and all will be staying in, time for those one on one debates between all of you.
February is the time. C’mon Romney.
AP interview where Romney says no to Gingrich debate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLyTONYl3sY
Poor Willard the Victim.
In debates, he claims that it’s all the liberals’ fault in Massachusetts that he passed liberal legislation and appointed liberal judges. It’s all the liberals’ fault that Romneycare became liberal.
And now he blames Newt and everyone but himself for slanderous attack ads that he began and continues to run and take full advantage of.
I once had some respect for the man but that has since changed. I now have zero respect for Willard.
If Willard is crowned the nominee, the election will come down to a choice between two lying zeroes.
Gee, was it also the fault of Massachusetts that he supported Paul Tsonga, donated to Democrats and said he was not going to embrace Reaganism?
Yes, the Massachusetts liberals — or maybe even The Newt himself(!) — made Flip “It’s not my fault” Willard take all those liberal positions and actions.
Does anyone remember the late comedian, Flip Wilson and his “The Devil Made Me Do It” routine?
Romney’s nickname should be:
Flip Willard “The Liberals Made Me Do It.”
The above “received 2 to 3 advertisements by mail, and at least 2 calls from the Romney troops attacking Newt” should read: “received 2 to 3 advertisements by mail, and at least 2 calls from the Romney troops attacking Newt A DAY…” My apologies.
THE big story in Florida was Romney attacks. “Who started it” is just another form of attack. Lacking ideas and integrity, Romney blames the victim. Romney has a problem, though: consequences. In the heat of the moment, everyone forgot that tomorrow always arrives.
Romney and the Establishment (sounds like a really bad night-club act) really pulled out all the stops in Florida, and there’s no walking it back. “Tomorrow” is here and the dust is settling; Romney is looking like a liar and a bully. Americans like neither.
Why do you think Santorum (IMHO: bought & paid for by Mittens, Inc.) is suddenly the attacker? That might backfire, too. Santorum has always been seen by many as kind of a whiner.
As for Hannity: he is owned by ClearStation, which is owned by Bain. He doesn’t DARE contradict Lying Mitt.
God help our country.
P.S. I find myself unsubscribing from lots of “conservative” stuff that comes to my inbox. Anyone who supports Romney is being deleted. If nothing else, we’re finding out who’s who.
“Anyone who supports Romney is being deleted. If nothing else, we’re finding out who’s who.”
Amen – just what I am doing. This is NOT going to be over with this nomination race. The lines have been redrawn in the last couple of weeks and they will never be the same again. Fred, Mike Reagan, Sarah Palin, Chuck Norris, and OUR GOOD PROFESSOR are on the right side of the line — we’ll just need our own organizations and websites to continue to fight against those on the other side.
Incredible. Just more utterly verifiable blatant lies.
This has reached the level at of sociopathic.
People are only pointing all Mitt’s lies and deceptions because he’s a Mormon. /sarc
Are we going to replace a liar in chief w a liar in chief? I hope not.
I see that the anti-Newt sites like NRO and Hot Air, are pusing the myth that Newt said Santorum should drop out, as Rick was caring for his hospitalized daughter. As you can see in the links below, Newt suggested Rick drop out on a Sunday Morning show, and it wasn’t until late afternoon that NRO reported that Bella Santorum was in the hospital.
So the untruths about Newt continue to spread. In this case they want to make it look like Gingrich knew Bella was in the hospital when he said Santorum should drop out. It was hours after he said this that NRO even reported she was in the hospital and linked to the CBS story which noted that Santorum’s older daughter told a crowd about Bella’s condition on Sunday afternoon.
To summarize; on Sunday morning, Newt said Santorum should drop out; on Sunday afternoon, Santorums went public about Bella. It’s called a timeline people.
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/289583/santorums-daugher-hospitalized-katrina-trinko
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/289585/gingrich-suggests-santorum-should-quit-race-katrina-trinko
Hannity is a goody two shoes squish who will let Romney lie without calling him on it. Puss ball!
People, people, people! After Romney dropped out of the race in 2008, Hannity (among other media) was bought. Baffles me why no one gets this. http://www.clearchannel.com/MediaAndEntertainment/PressRelease.aspx?PressReleaseID=2233
Pushing Myths is an euphemism for lying…which reminds me of Romney’s propensity for mythologizing = lying.
Romney lied at least seven times in the last Florida debate in Jacksonville, 1/26/12, on CNN:
1. He denied accusing Newt of exaggerating/lying about his part in Reagan’s administration only three days before on Monday night in Tampa.
2. He lied about his own ‘ghetto language’ ad that bore his voice
3. He claimed all his business was run by a blind trust, a tactic that Mitt himself called ‘the oldest ruse in the book’ in a previous campaign.
4. He said he voted for republicans in the past when there was a republican to vote for, but if you look back at the Gingrich ad exposing his lies, it turns out when George H.w. Bush and Buchanan were running, he voted for a liberal democrat.
5. He denied the cost of Romneycare to taxpayers in Massachusetts. “Half of those people got insurance on their own. Others got help in buying the insurance.”
False. In fact, 98% of the additional people insured after Romneycare was passed have it paid for or subsidized by the federal government or Massachusetts government. Of the 412,000 additional people who had health insurance in 2010 who did not have it in June 2006 (pre-reform), only 7K of the 412K (1.7%) had unsubsidized health insurance. The rest were covered through Medicaid, Commonwealth Care, or a program of subsidized care for the unemployed.
6. He denied the impact of Romney care on citizens of Massachusetts. Romneycare has increased the price of healthcare premiums for every citizen of Massachusetts. Premiums have increased by 55 percent since Mitt Romney became Governor, a rate 13 points higher than the national average and the third highest growth rate among the states.
7. He said he lowered taxes in Massachusetts 19 times. Yet he raised fees and corporate taxes twice. No wonder Massachusetts was rated at the bottom of all the states (47-49th) in job and business growth.
Romney’s departures from reality and truth are so frequent, they are disturbing…seemingly pathological. His ads have been based on lies as well.
Quiz question: Who does the Bible say is the ‘father of lies’?
Quiz answer: Satan aka Lucifer
Romney, the $3.00 bill, personified..
lol…
So now that all of you are feeling SO much better after your puke-fest on this thread…
I challenge the Professor to post a PRO-Newt critique of his interview with Hannity.
Tell me, after watching Newt’s interview, why should I overlook Newt’s “victim” claims and give him my support?
No one here needs to tell you why to support newt. If you love your country, it is UP TO YOU to determine whether you can support Newt.
Quit trying to get other people to do your work for you.
Have some cheese with that whine.
Can slime get more slimier ???? is that a word ??? “slimier”
Or i guess slick got slicker ??
This is going to be a battle of 2 committed trained & brainwashed liars.
Obama vs Romney.
WOW. We are in for some mighty porkers.