Asked in the October 3 debate what he would do to address the federal budget deficit, Mitt Romney named two specific areas that he would cut: He would repeal Obamacare—which according to the Congressional Budget Office would actually increase the 10-year deficit by $109 billion—and eliminate funding for PBS, which, along with other forms of public media funded through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, gets $445 million from the federal government annually—approximately 0.012 percent of the federal budget.
Here’s Romney addressing moderator Jim Lehrer:
I’m sorry, Jim, I’m going to stop the subsidy to PBS. I’m going to stop other things. I like PBS, I love Big Bird. Actually like you, too. But I’m not going to keep on spending money on things to borrow money from China to pay for.
I think I speak for everyone when I say that Big Bird would be a much bigger loss than Jim Lehrer. But it’s a disturbing spectacle when a journalist moderating a debate between two politicians is reminded by one of them that he has the power to cut off the journalist’s funding. Politicians should not be able to pull the plug on the public’s media—PBS needs a dedicated trust fund that can’t be used as a political prop by candidates.
Says Romney: “But I’m not going to keep on spending money on things to borrow money from China to pay for.”
The borrowing from China is due to the US-China trade imbalance; the US buys more tangible goods from China than China buys from the US, Treasuries not being tangible goods.
The borrowing done by China is a result of US dollars that find their way into China that find nothing to buy in return but US Treasuries.
Since the US dollar is the dominant world reserve currency, and the US economy is becoming less productive of real goods for trade and more financialized, its fictitious financial paper is all that it has to sell.
The US is in the position of having little to back its currency but its war-making capacity.
When I owe you a thousand dollars, this is my problem; when I owe you a million dollars it’s your problem.
The big US debt owed to the world is the world’s problem. The US forgave the tremendous unpayable debts run up by the casino capitalist finance sector; will the world bail out the US unpayable debts in similar fashion? Germany was driven into poverty by war reparation debts after WWI, with repayment to be made from the surplus expected from a nation forced by imposed austerity to reduce its living standards. I see the US as being no less likely than Germany was to end its international debt produced austerity by war making. See the recent movement of US warships toward China.
Too bad Big Bird, or Lehrer, couldn’t find a way to ask the candidates about the failed economic policy of hollowing out US manufacturing capacity, engineered over the decades by the R’s and D’s incentivized outsourcing.
In a real democracy the journalist (i.e. Lehrer) would have asked this follow up question:
“Would you borrow from China to pay for the imperialist military adventures abroad or tax breaks for your mega rich buddies?”
What was Obama’s response in defense of PBS and our social safety net? You guessed it… silence. Actually worse than silence, he rebutted with HIS plans to reduce the deficit!
Was it me or did Obama give off Al Gore vibes last night. I felt he didn’t really want to be re-elected. Obama and the Democrats are in a very difficult predicament. They need to say and do populist things in order to differentiate themselves from the Republicans but that is something they can no longer do. They are beholden to the same moneyed interests that the Republicans front for. Obama missed several great comeback opportunities because they would have pissed off his campaign supporters (Wall Street et al).
I was so disappointed with Obama. At least he should of walked over to Romney and smacked that smirk off his face.
It was the pitying “Oh please!” look that was dreadfully irritating, not to mention insulting to the president’s intelligence, that made me want to switch off. When Romney started to look uncomfortable and swallow hard, (you could see his adam’s apple bobbing up and down), that’s when Obama should have pressed his advantage. His mind didn’t seem to be on the job.
Was this a strategy perhaps, to throw his opponent off guard and then go in for the kill next time?
I am for public funding of PBS and NPR. But I add this. PBS and NPR have certainly never supported zines or the zine community. That’s the bulk of publishing, and the last golden age of publishing before the net took over. How can PBS and NPR miss an entire generation of thousands of publishers, when they cover books in just about every program, and call that fair?
I looked at it this way; I think Obama was in shock. He thought there was going to be a debate, but I saw Mr. Romney giving his hedge fund speech. I saw the Bain speech, which was to be confident, make up things, and do whatever he had to do to make that sale. It’s probably the speech that KB Toys saw before they were eaten alive.
Also, I had a weird flash back to an old Twilight Zone.” TO SERVE MAN.” All those Earth people were falling all over themselves saying that this weird alien would save the planet. I read about people saying Mr. Romney is the winner and he won the debate. So many people said the same thing, that Mr. Romney was”confident and presidential.” Well that was kind of scary, because the content under the veneer was a version of selling ice to Eskimos. President Harding looked presidential too, and he gave us Teapot Dome, among other crony items, which was the worst U.S. scandal until Watergate.
That’s probably why I flashed on “TO SERVE MAN.” An alien from another planet arrives on Earth with a book which everyone falls in love with because its title is “To Serve Man.” Sadly, we learned at the end of the show that it was really a cookbook.
I’m sorry, but the subtext of Mr. Romney’s hedge fund pseudo debate speech is that scary cook book, and I’m afraid that any semblence of our remaining democratic republic would be bundled, fried and served hot by a man named Romney.
Why the sniping at Harding? He had nothing to do with Teapot Dome, any more than Grant had anything to do with the much worse corruption of his administration. The Sinclairs were pikers compared to Exxon, BP, and the other oil giants feeding at the Bush/Obama trough. Democrats exalt Wilson who jailed Debs and hundreds of others for political dissent. Harding promptly freed them all, and even that one act qualifies him as perhaps our *best* (as well as our first black) president!
I think the real problem is that it was impossible to believe that anyone could lie s0 consistently and Obama was in shock. That is not really to excused the physical appearance that Obama had; however, Most of the people watching the debate (I hope) know enough about what Romney has been about in his almost 10-12 years of trying to be President that they know who, and what he is. I thought one of the strong points Obama made at the end, is that sometime you have to say NO–that is a trait that I don’t find in any part of Romney’s made up. So-called independent voters forget that it is not the man you are electing, but the party–particularly the right-wing of the GOP. They call like to say that they have a Congressional leader as “Speaker of the House” he isn’t even the leader of his own party, much less the “House”, ask the “Tea-Party” wing. Also, it is pretty difficult to explain that the “Debt Ceiling” is not money we are budgeting to spend, but money that has already been spent.
Just remember that the “debate” has been owned by the two major parties for some time. They in secret hash out how it is going to run, who will be the moderator, what questions will be asked. So for Jim Leher to ask such a question as FreeSpirit mentions would be unthinkable to such a stenographer to power. He would never hazard that at all. As over the years FAIR has shown that PBS bends any which way to make sure Republicans and their ethos ruled in the area of new, economics and war.
Hi Shane Mage:
Mr. Harding’s qualifications: were that he “looked presidential.” I was comparing that to so many saying that about Mr. Romney. The way a person looks should not mean anything unless you are central casting. : ) Those who say he won the debate are not talking at all about the content. : )
The fact that Mr. Harding had an Attorney General, the Interior Secretay and the Secretary of the Navy all involved in securing Teapot Dome and Elk Hills without competitive bids was shady, and they all made a lot of money. He spent a lot of time playing cards with those three guys, so I wonder what they talked about? : )
He did originally support the Bonus Bill, but then changed his mind. Not a real friend for the working guy , was he. I don’t think I’m sniping; I really think he was a waste of time and accomplished nothing; he did play a lot of cards with his friends though. : )
Mr. Harding seemed more interested in spending time his crony friends then he did in the presidency.. Maybe that’s because he inherited a newpaper and had others do the work on his paper; maybe he had no clueas to what a president did. Perhaps he only changed his address from Ohio to D.C. and did not change his mindset as to what a president could be.
I always rated him as a major FAIL. : )
I have plenty of contempt for PBS, but also a clear recognition that they do a lot of very special programming. I’m not talking about the Corporate News Hour with Jim Lehrer. And another commenter has already made the point, but it bears repeating. What Romney didn’t say: I’m not going to borrow from China to pay for PBS and NPR, but the military juggernaut Eisenhower warned about; yeah, sure. And pardon the irony.
As far as I am personally concerned the PBS news programs can be cut. They are only the highbrow versions of MSM news. But to cut Sesame Street, Bill Moyers, Masterpiece theatre, my god who can dare cut Wallander! I love him! But if PBS goes, that really means CPB. The Reps have been after it since Clinton era. This means Pacifica stations and Democracy Now will lose about 15% of their funding. This could topple Pacifica et al and that is what they are really after not that well-fed out-of-touch white-centric blimp (Lehrer) who couldn’t even call Romney on his silver-spoon brazen and arrogant lies.
You people are actually funny.You have every reason in the book why Obama got his ass handed to him- except the one that matters.You say Mitt lied.He bullied.It was the moderator.It was the altitude.It was this,that,or the other thing.How about this…..Obama cant run on his record.Period!He is promising 4 more years of the same.Forget about Mitt.Gumby should be able to beat this guy.I have heard everyone yelling at the president this week on the left.Trying to instruct him in what he should of said.What happened to the lord and savior?The most brilliant politician of all time?Your damn right he needs your help.He never had a clue,but you voted him in.Now you are pissed the opposition makes him look like a fool?HE IS a fool people!!!!I told you I told you i told you Mitt would mop the floor with him.Wait till you see what Ryan does with the VP.The man who never saw a fact…….he could remember.And the next debate will see BAM trying to get tough and mean.Cant work folks.He has a four year record now that is a nightmare.Mitt will win two and three going away.Gumby could win.
Why is no one talking about Chris Mathews and Rachel M. admitting MSNBC is in the corner for BAM?Telling him to listen to them for his talking points.After all “they have their knives out”What a joke.You cant make this stuff up.
And by the way…Mitt does not look presidential.He sounds it.He loves this country.He is not running for the job of president to apologize for it.
I may be wrong but I still see a Mitt landslide.
Meanwhile…as Michael E takes his victory lap, pumping his fist in the air as he yells,
“I told you I told you i told you” [sic],…….
How about this….let’s get back to the [original] point of the FAIR article –
Mitt “Tar Baby” [his words-not mine]Romney likes to “Fire Journalists Asking [Him] Questions”. While Romney spent a great deal of time hyperventilating over how he would “reach out across to the aisle” [i.e. the Democratic Party] in his administration, his aggressive behavior [he did “mop the floor”, as Michael E likes to say, with Lehrer] at the debate shows us “people” what a lie that is. As Michael E suggests, us “people” DO have “every reason in the book” to believe this – “Mitt lied. He bullied.” But more importantly, he turned the “debate” into a Romney infomercial – he dominated the “debate” by silencing the moderator….
Hyperventilating control-freak Millionaire Mitt Romney, so addicted to the adrenaline of his arrogant sense of privileged self-entitlement, revealed to 60 million people the diseased verticalized thought process [people like him live in a static dualistic world of “superiors” and “inferiors”, where ideas are either dominating or must be dominated] that guides him and his friends like corporate tyrant Robert Murray [of Murray Energy – who uses coercion to use other peoples’ money {i.e., his workers} to fund Republican causes].
For the captains of the corporate elite like Romney, co-operation or co-existence with other ideas or points of view is impossible…and that Romney infomercial “performance”
should be a wake-up call to exactly how he would dominate America if he were elected….
by deceit, by distortion of his oppostions point of view, by rhetorical bludgeoning of that opposition into acquiesance and silence…and if that doesn’t work – he [just like his college buddy Bibi Netanyahu] will not hesitate to use coercion and violence…
When Romney was being considered as the GOP candidate in 2007, I described his looks to someone who didn’t know him as someone from Central Casting. After getting to know him, even back then, his looks became an irritation to me. In this election he has proven himself to be a total farce, a flip-flopper, etch-a-sketch person with no moral exactitude. Sure, he is a Bishop in the Mormom church, but that may just mean that he only has to serve that part of his life if (God forbid) he becomes president and not the concept of the U.S. Constitution.
I don’t think President Obama did that badly, he was just up against someone who hurled so many lies in a row that it was stunning to fight against. The President was respectful and I hope that Romney was given the rope to hang himself.
After the first few minutes of the “debate” I turned to my fellow watchers and said, “what’s he on?” Romney; not Obama. Throughout the debate Romney was jittery, animated and hyper-verbal. To date, he hasn’t been any of those things on the campaign trail. Why did he have such a strange personality change so quickly? Did he just suddenly decide that running for President was such great fun that he was giddy? Or was he like the proverbial sophmore who got an invitation to the Sr. Prom and just lost it in the abundant joy? Or, as I began this post, did Ann drop some potion into his water because she really does believe it is “his turn to be president and a little life in him might help.” As for Obama, he must have been as shocked as the rest of us to see the sudden change in Mittens. I think he was afraid to look at him for fear he was morphing into some extraterrestial being. Seriously, Obama stuck to the facts and supported his arguments, something that Romney has yet to do. Indeed, facts are difficult to present when you’re lying. It would have been inappropriate for Obama to “jump all over Romney and his lies” as some have suggested he should have. No one wants a donnybrook for a debate. Jim Lehrer is a nice man who should have quit 4 years ago. As for not funding Big Bird? Mitt just wants commercials so kids can be fed nonsense about the free market and become consumers. You know, more money for Mitt and his friends.
Ok according to people here Mitt lost…… because he was central casting….Jittery….hyperventilating…a liar…..or even a man drugged with a potion(Elizabeth).And Obama was just an innocent honest man caught in the face of a bullying deranged man?Holy shit what a load of crap.Mitt won …..because he could not loose.He was the football team that starts every series of plays on his opponents 1 yard line.He had a huge huge head start.He started with a massive pad.HE WAS NOT THE PRESIDENT THESE LAST 4 YEARS!The buck stops at the presidents desk.Even gas prices shooting through the roof(and the president cant effect this short term)are dumped on him.Remember the Dems crucifying Bush as gas went over 1 dollar and 50 cents?And of course there are many things he is responsible for.This week we got good jobs news.Well kinda sorta.Truth is people know the figures are rigged.So Obama does not get a bump.
Mitt cant be blamed yet for dime one.YET!!!!! As I said ,with the state of this country …Gumby could beat the standing president.Ceser above says Im taking a victory lap.Not at all.I never thought Obama had any qualification for the job he now holds.On top of that I thought his policies were insane.I told all my liberal friends 4 years ago that gas would be 4 dollars a gallon(in 4 years) if we followed Obamas energy policies.They laughed and danced about.Who is laughing now?Not me…not them.No victory laps- just sadness.
Next one I actually hope that Obama does better.We need to see the difference between these two men articulated in a way that is clear and concise.Take it out of the personality factor.If Obama thinks Mitt mis stated something( even left leaning politifact found he and Obama 50/50 on the truth meter) , he will have his time to say so.Waiting for MSNBC to come up with a spin two days later is not helpful.I hope he gets his head out of his um…..lectern ,and talks about the true state of things, and what he will do for the future.I think he will loose every debate because Mitt and Ryan dont even have to speak.Just point at a graph of the current state of the union ,and then point at Obama and Biden.
Elizabeth your socialist “slip” is showing……..”Nonsense about the free market”?So you think a free market is nonsense?Kind of a slap in the face to our constitution ,and our capitalist way of life.Was that your come out of the closet moment?
Over wrought.Over correcting.Shrill.3 things that describe the lefts response to the debate.
Look to your president.He laughed it off last night
Oh Michael – how slow you are. Or are you? You’ve called me a socialist before and now act as if it’s a revelation and I’ve “come out of the closet.” My point about the “free Market” is that it really isn’t free. It’s very costly when people learn from a very early age to buy, buy, buy. You “need” this or that and by golly the latest fast food is ever so good for you. Perhaps I should have said “marketing” which seems to be attatched to the free market. I had a student who told me I was wearing the wrong shoes because, “whoever heard of Saconys” – before that brand became advertised widely. The next year Sacony was in thanks to the free market marketing and I guess I was hip once again. My point was they little kids can’t differentiate and will buy into anything adults or cute ads tell them to. Just like adults do with the more (or less) sophisticated advertising from politicians who definitely do not have their best interests at heart but do have a product to sell. So instead of listening to facts, many of us go for the glitz and pretty pictures. What loses are truth and the American people. One thing I do know is that I can spot a snake oil salesman when I see one.
Oh why did Lerner allow this insult? Here was the point that all the collective TV transmissions should have gone to a test pattern!
Elizabeth Im not saying that marketing isn’t a load of crud.Or at least it can be.And Im saying that the things our youth find fulfilling seem pretty silly to me too.All that is a given.But a free market is exactly what it says.A FREE-market.Free to make an ass out of yourself by buying a pet rock.Free to buy McDonald’s .Or free to buy a salad at trader Joe’s or a guitar that you use to learn a trade that makes you millions.Freedom.
Inherent in your writing(thought process)is the need for a greater authority to “guide” us along the path to enlightenment.That is what shows you are out of style, and unhip.Come November that will be a foot note in history.We will not make the hop skip and a jump to a central authority.An empowered Fed.More government control in our lives.Or worse…socialism/Marxism ,and so on.That has failed everywhere.We really need not prove we can make it work here.That is the definition of insanity.