Romney: Obama is turning the US into a European welfare state

[Lars77]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/post/mitt-romney-in-iowa-stop-obama-would-poison-the-very-spirit-of-america/2012/01/02/gIQAoBI2WP_blog.html



Holy shit, sounds like Obama is doing a better job than any progressives realized..

[JustAnotherGen]

1. n/s

There is such a disconnect between what Republicans think and what Liberals to the Left of Democratics think - isn't there?

[Vincardog]

50. n/s I WISH

[phantom power]

2. lol -- if only

[MNBrewer]

12. Exactly what I thought!

[phantom power]

15. The GOP hates us and wants to destroy us no matter what -- let's give them a better reason.

[47of74]

63. me too!

[peace frog]

28. My thought exactly

Alas, if it were only true.

[Cirque du So-What]

39. Close to my own thoughts

which went - verbatim - 'we should BE so lucky!'

[bikebloke]

47. Beat me to it.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

48. Verbatim.

[HopeHoops]

3. Yo, Romney - take off your hairpiece and go fuck yourself.

Betting on Romney is easy - all you have to do is flip a coin to see whether he's flip or flop on an issue.

[trusty elf]

4. ........

[IMG][/IMG]

[kenfrequed]

5. It would be funny...

If it weren't such a lying, pathetic, pile of nonsense. Most Americans would probably favor a little European socialism tossed into their system.

[Turbineguy]

6. Remember:

Every day come out with something really fucking stupid. It's the only way you can win over the republican voters.

[The Wizard]

7. Will the gentleman from

Massachusetts kindly provide an example, like a health care mandate.

[marmar]

8. I wish....

[progressoid]

49. Me too...

[LeftishBrit]

9. Wouldn't be a bad idea in this Europaean's humble opinion

But we must not be complacent ourselves, and must fight to preserve ours!

[HughBeaumont]

10. No he's NOT.

If we're talking economic policy, nothing at all has changed since the Bewsh Administration, and for fuckers like Romney, they're doing just fine and dandy, thanks.

Fucking Christ. This idiot would say this if Joe Liebermann were in office. "All Demuhcraps is THA DEVUL!!"

[yurbud]

11. Does he realize this will get MORE votes for Obama?

[yurbud]

13. we should help Romney with more great talking points:

Obama won't start more wars--I will.

Obama will try to raise taxes on the rich and make it harder for corporations to pay no taxes--I will make sure only working people pay taxes.

Obama will prosecute the Wall Street executives whose fraud caused the crash of our and the world economy--I won't.

Obama will fund education and make it easier for kids to go to college--I won't.

And so on.

Now if we could just get Obama to be all the things conservatives claim he is.

[stockholmer]

14. Unfortunately, the banksters are doing their damnedest to destroy most of my EU neighbors' ones

AUSTERITY kills.

[treestar]

16. Progressives just have to read the right wing media

In order to realize they are winning!

[Loge23]

17. Republican platform for 2012

"JUST MAKE SHIT UP!"

[liberal N proud]

27. Republicans don't need no stinking facts

They have FOX

[Amonester]

33. The same as the platform for 2008, 2004, 2000, all the way

back to 1980, only worse shit up at each stop.

[Blue_Tires]

18. We need a better soccer team to reach that level...

[Prophet 451]

19. And that's a problem because...?

Wingers seem to have this idea that not letting people starve to death is somehow cheating.

[Roland99]

20. and the problem with Europe is that it was trying to follow what the Repukes have made America!

risky and unregulated investment vehicles
privatizing profits
socializing losses

[xxqqqzme]

21. mittens is the very definition of 'lame'

"...Romney, who has been rather punchy on the campaign trail this past week, playfully introduced his wife as “my girlfriend.”..."

What a SCAMP!

[raouldukelives]

22. They love socialism.

As long as its for building weapons to kill people or bailing out Wall St. They only get peeved when it's used to protect the environment or the less fortunate.

[freshwest]

23. Yay! WTG, comrade! That's my Obama!

[Frosty1]

24. Newt says Mitt is a liar!

LOL

[liberal N proud]

25. Really? Where?

They throw these one liners out there without ever backing them up with facts.

WHY? - Because there are no facts to back it up.

[KamaAina]

26. If only Mittens had the power of 'iahklu (effective dreaming)

like George Orr in the Ursula LeGuin classic The Lathe of Heaven.

[nineteen50]

29. He is absolutely right the financial corporate welfare state.

[JDPriestly]

30. The article doesn't say whethier Romney actually listed any examples

of Obama policies that were European.

Mandatory purchase of for-profit health insurance -- not European, not at all. Their health insurance companies are almost entirely non-profit or government-run.

Investment in infrastructure: repairing roads and schools is as American as it comes. In fact, Eisenhower did his part to build the interstates, so it can be said that a lot of our infrastructure investment in the past was not just American, it was Republican American.

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq -- a Republican started those.

What in the world is Romney talking about? Obama has been hampered by a Republican House for the past years or so.

A lot of hot air. That's all Romney is about.

[HughBeaumont]

45. Typical of our ever-inquisitive "Fourth Estate".

They pretty much let deluded bubble-dwellers like Romney say this and not call him out.

I sometimes wonder why a Republican . . . well, any of them, let's be quite frank . . . is never taken to task for their blatantly false statements. Would a reporter who, you know, does his/her job and not just say "OK, then, sir" get fired if they dare question the corporate favorite by asking them anything you just asked?

[freshwest]

65. Because the media owners are GOP, too? Just sayin'

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

31. Whever the RepubliCONs use that word "welfare," it is their dog whistle to get their

racist minions out to vote. It's so ridiculous and pathetic!

Between them calling Obama a socialist and some here on DU calling him a Wall Street enabler who is worse than Bush, I'd conclude that the president must be doing a fantastic job!

[Martin Eden]

32. Repukes want to turn the US into a Welfare State ...

... without the welfare.

[eppur_se_muova]

34. He says that like it's a bad thing ...

I wish ! It would save me the trouble of moving to Europe.

[freshwest]

67. Yes, I can hardly wait for this to happen.

[JaneQPublic]

35. Clinton's Welfare Reform Act of 1996

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare#United_States

In 1996, under the Bill Clinton administration, Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, which gave control of the welfare system back to the states. Because welfare is no longer under the control of the federal government, there are basic requirements the states need to meet with regards to welfare services.

Still, most states offer basic assistance, such as health care, food stamps, child care assistance, unemployment, cash aid, and housing assistance. After reforms, which President Clinton said would "end welfare as we know it,"[20] amounts from the federal government were given out in a flat rate per state based on population.[24] Each state must meet certain criteria to ensure recipients are being encouraged to work themselves out of welfare.

The new program is called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).[23] It encourages states to require some sort of employment search in exchange for providing funds to individuals, and imposes a five-year lifetime limit on cash assistance.[20][23][25] The bill restricts welfare from most legal immigrants and increased financial assistance for child care.[25] The federal government also maintains an emergency $2 billion TANF fund to assist states that may have rising unemployment.[23]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare#United_States

The bottom line: Romney and all other GOPers who use the Welfare dog whistle are making caca up out of whole cloth just to mobilize their base to the polls. Any reputable fact-checker would smack them for it.

[a2liberal]

36. oh how I wish that were true (n/t)

[Ed Suspicious]

37. I wish! n/t

[harun]

38. We wish... Problem with U.S. Socialism is the electorate isn't invited to the party!

Our commune is 1%'rs only, rest need not apply.

[NewImproved Deal]

40. As if...

A crony hedge-fund entity as wantonly parasitic, speculative and anti-social as Romney's Bain typifies the "Free" Market...

[Historic NY]

41. Leave it to the old fomage eater himself.........

[rocktivity]

42. Will he be fighting to recover the welfare payments the banksters got?

rocktivity

[Doctor_J]

43. A splendid opportunity for the president

"If by that remark, Willard means he believes 50 million Americans without access to health care is a GOOD thing, then we'll agree to disagree. If he means putting seniors back into poverty, like they were before Social Security, would be a good thing, we'll agree to disagree. If he means seniors should have to pay exorbitant rates for medical care, the way they did before Medicare, would be a good thing, we'll agree to disagree"

Too bad our president isn't a fan of SS, Medicare, or health care for all, and isn't a fighter.

[DaveJ]

44. Oh I get it now...

It took me awhile to decipher, but I believe Romney and his ilk, are upset that Obama promotes the message of Hope and Change. Whereas the execution is scoffed at by most Democrats, the message still strikes fear in the hearts of Republicans. As evident by OWS and the general continued desire for change permeating the nation. Romney thinks the American way is to never question authority, and for all Americans to go to business school to learn how to worship the Dollar with blind religious faith. Republicans are concerned that, like Europeans, we will continue to question the system and demand more justice.

[evilhime]

46. What about those

who like the idea of one nation but aren't interested in the rest of the statement? Freedom FROM religion - this country was not founded as a religious entity....

[madrchsod]

51. i thought he is the author of "romney care"? or...

is that someone else?

[Sentath]

53. No, you were right the first time.

He's just having to run on opposing himself.

[Botany]

52. World health care rankings

We have fallen from 32 to 37 .... Mitt is an idiot throwing shit against the wall hoping something
will stick.


1 France
2 Italy
3 San Marino
4 Andorra
5 Malta
6 Singapore
7 Spain
8 Oman
9 Austria
10 Japan
11 Norway
12 Portugal
13 Monaco
14 Greece
15 Iceland
16 Luxembourg
17 Netherlands
18 United Kingdom
19 Ireland
20 Switzerland
21 Belgium
22 Colombia
23 Sweden
24 Cyprus
25 Germany
26 Saudi Arabia
27 United Arab Emirates
28 Israel
29 Morocco
30 Canada
31 Finland
32 Australia
33 Chile
34 Denmark
35 Dominica
36 Costa Rica
37 United States of America

[SmittynMo]

54. Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah!!!

This clown is so full of himself, it makes me sick. Wake up Mitt!!!. You're party is going to lose in November. Making up lies will get you no where.

[liberalmike27]

55. Exactly what I thought

When is that going to happen? I've certainly seen no sign of it!!

[LibDemAlways]

56. That shining city on the hill crap is lifted from Reagan. Mitt is incapable of

an original thought. And if this country is becoming more "European" under Obama I wish he'd provide some examples, because I'm not seeing it. Mass transit sucks. Our infrastructure is falling apart. Millions are uninsured. Education is underfunded. The military is way overfunded. Politicians take care of the 1% at the expense of the 99. The Republican Congress says "no" to anything that might do the ordinary guy some good. Mitt is already living in the kind of America he wants, so I have no idea what he's bitching about.

[RBInMaine]

57. What an absolute total fucking MORON that PHONY PLASTIC FAKE JOKE OF AN ASSHOLE Mitt-The-Shit is.

[TBF]

58. If only!!! nt

[Odin2005]

59. I wish.

[0rganism]

60. Oy! We should be so lucky...

This fascination republicans have with conceptually isolating the USA from the rest of the planet, it's like the teenager who still believes in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny -- okay, y'all had yer fun, but it's time to grow the fuck up already.

[and-justice-for-all]

61. I would be more than pleased if the US followed Europa's lead...

They are not without their problems, but ask a European if they would like to trade Health Care systems with us...you will get a resounding NO.

[JHB]

62. "European welfare state" is one of those conservative hallucinations...

...that they play in their head.

[lunasun]

64. Dear Mr.Romney--"" don't tease me bro "" ....

[MarinCoUSA]

66. Dumb shit Romney channels dumb shit Hannity for the Hate Wingnut Radio election.

N/t

[Lord Magus]

68. European welfare state?

Sounds good to me.

[tclambert]

69. You mean like those countries that always get rated better places to live than the US?

America must not imitate the good ideas of anyone else. If we didn't invent it here, it can't be any good.

[sofa king]

70. Oh, where everyone still has their health, their homes, and a living wage?

I can see why Romney wouldn't want that.

[Vinca]

71. This from a man born with a gold spoon in his mouth.

He thinks hunger is when the chef forgets to garnish the salmon with caviar.

[stillwaiting]

72. What a deliberate liar and propangandist for the elite.

Fuck him!

[kemah]

73. 1% live the European lifestyle

The 1% have such a disdain for the European lifestyle, yet they live it. They get their month paid vacations, get excellent health care, get the best schools, get corporate welfare, pay little in taxes, they stick the bill to the 99% and then complain we are lazy and do not want to work. The Great Depression should be renamed as the Great Vacation according the the GOP mentality.

[Corruption Winz]

74. Ohh, the dirty word..

European. We know the Euro's are ass-backwards, church burning, baby killing fools. We obviously can't let this happen.