In the aftermath of the Romney ads twisting President Obama's words concerning business owners in America, the President's campaign has already responded with three ads. The first on Thursday, Mitt Romney: Saying Anything to Get Elected, followed yesterday by Tampered (as in "Romney Tampered with the evidence?"), and finally today with Always.
Even with this hard push back, some people lamented in the two diaries that I wrote, that the ads wouldn't be seen by enough people to make a difference. Why can't they broadcast them to the entire country? Well, worry no longer. Tonight, Lewis Black appeared on the popular The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and gave one of his commentaries in his Back in Black segment.
Of course, this is one of those performances that you actually have to see Lewis Black perform with all his outrage and indignation. However, I know there are those who just can't watch the video, so the transcript is below the video.
Transcript
The presidential campaign is in full swing, and every day brings another bland stump speech full of namby pamby platitudes.
Video of President Obama Speaking: Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business, you didn't build that. The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together.
Most Americans hear that and they fall asleep. But not the Romney campaign. They got right to work making this.
Video of men and women, narrator speaking: People who've worked hard, started a business and created jobs, can't believe what President Obama's saying about them.
Woman holding iPad watching video of President Obama saying: If you've got a business, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen..
Woman #1: Ohhhhh.
Man #1: Unbelievable.
Man #2: What an insult.
Woman #2: I'm outraged.
Woman #3: I can't believe he said that.
I can't believe it either, because he didn't just say that. (applause)
Campaigns have finally arrived in the 21st Century. They can produce bullshit at the same rate as actual bulls. If Romney can slow down for a minute, he'd realize he's attacking Obama for something that he agrees with.
Video of Romney speaking at 2002 Olympics: You Olympians however know that you didn't get her solely on your own power. For most of you, loving parents, sisters or brothers, encouraged your hopes. Coaches guided. Communities built venues and organized competitions. All Olympians stand on the shoulders of those who lifted them.
So to be clear, running a business is something you do all by yourself. Running a 4-minute mile ... that takes a village. (laughter and applause)
But, as long as your ad is fast, it doesn't matter if it's wrong. Just ask this guy in a Romney ad who says he built his business without any help.
Video of Jack Gilchrist speaking: My father's hands didn't build this company? My hands didn't build this company? My sons didn't spend time building this company? With hard work and a little bit of luck, we built this business.
Oh Yeah! They did it with just hard work, a little bit of luck and almost a million bucks in tax free government loans.
On Screen: Copy of Article by John DiStaso: "...Gilchrist Metal received $800,000 in tax-exempt revenue bonds"
But mostly hard work. And Romney's not the only one treating this campaign like a year-long "opposite day."
On Screen: "What rights would Romney deny? Adopting children together" Then big red "DENIED" appears over words.
Obama's accusing Romney of discriminating against Gays who want to adopt kids, when what Romney actually said was this.
Romney Speaking (Omaha, NE, May 10): In my state, individuals of the same sex were able to adopt children. In my view, that's something which people have the right to do.
Look! You don't need to lie to make Romney look anti-gay. It's unnecessary. That's like Katy Perry adding fireworks to her breasts. We were already looking at them. (laughter and applause)
But the Romney campaign understands that the key to any good lie is specificity.
Romney Ad, visual of burning money, Narrator saying words printed on screen: So where did the Obama stimulus money go? Electric cars from Finland.
Electric cars from Finland? I'd say that you can't make that shit up, BUT they did!
On Screen Politifact.com Truth Meter: "...the money did not come from the stimulus...that program predates the Obama Administration...taxpayer dollars only went for work done in America."
The money didn't come from the stimulus. The loan program was started by Bush and it wasn't for building electric cars from Finland. It was for engineering jobs in the U.S., but the point is ... electric cars from Finland? Arghhh, Socialists!
If you're watching these ads and wondering, are they allowed to lie? Here's a tip: YESSSSS!
[PLAYED TWO ADS FROM EACH CAMPAIGN WITH QUESTIONABLE CLAIMS.]
Obama Ad On Screen: "MITT ROMNEY ON IMMIGRATION: THE GOP'S MOST EXTREME CANDIDATE" While your hear debate question, "What about arresting, should there being agressive seek them out, find them and arrest them like Sheriff Arpaio Advocates?" Romney responds, "You know, I think you see a model here in Arizona." On Screen: "WHAT IS THE ARIZONA MODEL?" Under Screen: "OUT OF CONTEXT, ROMNEY NOT REFERRING TO SB 1070."
Romney Ad On Screen words the narrator is speaking: "Since Obama took full control of Washington, Every Single Day more than 1,500 of our jobs have been lost." Under Screen: "POLITIFACT: MOSTLY FALSE. USES MISLEADING TIME FRAME."
Obama Ad On Screen words the narrator is speaking: Romney left Massachusetts One Billion dollars in debt. Under Screen: "POLITIFACT: FALSE. CHERRY-PICKS HIGHEST NUMBER FROM RANGE."
Romney Ad narrator speaking: "For his first interview as President, Barack Obama chose Arab T.V. for an apology." POLITIFACT: MOSTLY FALSE. OBAMA NEVER "APOLOGIZED"."
Wow! It's enough to make you lose faith in this great country. Is there anything we still hold to a standard of truth?
Brian Williams on NBC Night News, April 27, 2012: The maker of the chocolate, hazelnut spread Nutella has been running ads claiming spreading the stuff on toast is a healthy way to start your kids off in the morning. ... Today the Nutella folks back-tracked on the ads, and agreed to a $3 million dollar settlement for false claims.
First, no one deserves that money because anyone who believes that melted chocolate nut cream was a healthy way to start the day, is an idiot. (laughter and applause)
And second. America's back, baby. You may not need to be honest to be president, but if we're going to spread you on toast, you damn well better be telling the truth. Nutella 2012!
Is it any wonder that studies show that people who watch
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, or no news at all, are better informed than people who get their information from
Fox News? Did Lewis Black call out the Obama Campaign for false advertising in this segment? Yes. I counted three (the anti-gay adoption one, and two in the fast run through near the end). On balance, though, Lewis Black just did a big favor to President Obama's campaign by showing the outrageous hypocrisy and political malpractice the Romney campaign has been committing. Of course, the right will watch Black's monologue and say, "See, Obama does it too." Yes, there have been questionable interpretations of some of the facts stated by the Obama campaign. However, compared to the out and out lies and twisting of President Obama's words that the Romney campaign has resorted to, there is no comparison.
Thank you, Lewis Black! President Obama's campaign may not have the resources to air the three ads I linked to at the beginning of this diary in every state in this country, but The Daily Show with Jon Stewart has a huge national following, and this will help a lot.