Then, in the pivotal first debate, Romney claimed that his health-care plan would cover people with preexisting conditions -- when his own campaign later acknowledged that it wouldn't -- and that his proposed tax cuts would be revenue neutral as he refused to explain how such magical math might work. [See Consortiumnews.com's "Did Romney Win the Debate?"]
Ironically, even as Romney lied about substantial issues, Obama took the brunt of the damage from the first debate when Democrats and progressives joined in denouncing Obama for not denouncing Romney's lies more aggressively.
Now, in the campaign's final days, Romney has come up with a new lie about Obama and the bailed-out automakers, Chrysler and General Motors, as betrayers of American workers because of alleged plans to move manufacturing plants to China.
Romney's comments were followed by an ad, which claimed "Barack Obama says he saved the auto industry, but for who, Ohio or China?" The attack strategy prompted extraordinary denials from Chrysler and GM, deeming the charge that they were planning to shift U.S. jobs abroad as false.
"The ad is cynical campaign politics at its worse," GM spokesman Greg Martin said. "We think creating jobs in the U.S. and repatriating profits back in this country should be a source of bipartisan pride."
However, for whatever reason, Mitt Romney has learned that lying works -- and that it is no cause for shame. Indeed, lying has become one of his defining characteristics, which American voters might want to consider as they cast their ballots on Nov. 6.
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