In debate #3, should Obama just call Romney a Liar?

[demwing]

Instead of playing with terms like "Romnesia" and "malarkey," should Obama borrow from Joseph Welch's famous "Have you no decency, Sir?" remark to McCarthy, and flat out ask Romney if he has no honesty left? Is your campaign nothing more than a series of lies to the American people?

All anyone would talk about for the next week is the word liar, and whether Romney was one.

What say you all? Would the return on the investment pay off, or not?

[MFM008]

1. you hit on something Ive been thinking of

and thats that within the first 2 minutes of Romneys first diatribe he will call the Prez a liar somehow. Misleading, not truthful, dishonest yada yada. Watch it will happen.

[demwing]

11. I agree

its the typical Repuke maneuver - accuse the other guy of your sins.

I'd like to see the Pres say this out the door , to Romney's FACE. You want to Romney implode? No one talks to him like that. but the President of the United States could. No problem...

[fleur-de-lisa]

2. I'm okay with the 'no decency' comment . . .

but not calling him a liar. That seems kind of low class to me, and not something the POTUS is likely to say.

[Drahthaardogs]

21. What about

"Governor Romney, it has been evident throughout your campaign that you have a real problem with the truth" ?

[doc03]

3. I don't if you heard but Josh Mandel called called Sherrod

Brown a liar in their debate a couple days ago.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

4. VERY risky.

But I would love to see it.

[sadbear]

5. He does need to goad Tagg, whatever it takes.

[demwing]

7. Agreed, maybe the guy will lose control

and rush the stage!

Holy crap I hope I witness that IF it happens.

[bluestate10]

6. The President should fact check Romney with clear language.

The President can't bite his tongue, the President must use clear words and images that everyday men and women can immediately grasp.

[H2O Man]

8. no

[demwing]

13. why?

you've been around, I'd love to hear your reasons.

[H2O Man]

16. He doesn't need to.

What he needs to do is demonstrate that Romney is either (1) a liar, or (2) dangerously ignorant, on as many foreign policy issues as possible.

Calling him a liar is unnecessary. Sticking the sword in and watching Mitt squirm is the superior tactic -- and it allows the audience to conclude Romney is either a liar, or just plain old dangerously ignorant. And that is key: the best debators always bring the audience into as active of participation as possible .... even if the live audience is not asking questions, or has been told not to clap or cheer .... and the larger audience is watching the debate on their television.

Again, what President Obama should (and will) do is "allow" the audience to participate, by filling in the blanks.

{For a great example of this tactic, though in a much different context, see chapter 14 of the classic book "Malcolm X Speaks" (Grove;1965) It is an extended confrontation that Malcolm delighted in during a radio debate with an "expert." Malcolm never calls the fool a "liar," but does far, far worse by exposing each and every error the guy claims as fact. And in doing so, Malcolm allows -- actually, demands -- audience participation. A thing of beauty!}

[reflection]

9. I would paint him as a swaggering blowhard on foreign policy.

Invoke memories of Bush. And tie it in with his Bushie advisors.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. The rethug Josh Mandel called Sherrod Brown a "liar"

in their last debate for OH Senator. I don't know if it went over well. Of course Sherrod had some choice words.

But it would devolve into childishness. I wouldn't put it past Rmoney to throw the Hail Mary pass and do such a thing, but I think it would backfire big time.

[rock]

12. No

"You're a liar" assumes facts not in evidence. "You're wrong" does not. Or even "that's incorrect." Obama is after all the president and a Democratic one at that!

[demwing]

14. is it wrong to call a liar a liar?

does that somehow demean a person, to call out a liar?

[fleur-de-lisa]

23. It's below the office of the Presidency.

There are so many other ways to call out Robme's falsehoods without resorting to name calling.

[rock]

30. Remember when

Rep. Joe Wilson called Obama a liar during an address. Look it up on youtube. Then tell me how very presidential the SOS Wilson looked.

[demwing]

31. There's a CLEAR difference

between calling out a proven liar in a debate, and yelling the false accusation: "You Lie" during a speech, and I don't need to look anything up on YouTube to understand that.

[Warpy]

15. Well, that would be rude

He can, however, characterize some of the more blatant Republican fantasies as outright lies and get away with it.

In fact, it's high time we all did that.

[demwing]

17. What if

Obama said something like this:

"Governor, it's one thing to get the facts wrong, it's another thing to keep getting the facts wrong after you know the truth. In the first case, it's just ignorance. In the second, case, it's dishonesty. I'll let the voters decide where that last comment landed."

[ProudProgressiveNow]

19. That works.

[Warpy]

22. Perfect.

he's a smart man. He'll likely think of something similar.

[davidpdx]

32. That is much more tactful then calling him a liar

I think the president needs to keep a respectful tone, but still be somewhat forceful. That would accomplish the goal.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

18. Semantics can be used used effectively...

fantasy land, alternate universe, delusional, untrue, fabricated, twilight zone, etc.

[randome]

24. Yes.

Calling Romney a liar is like calling a Republican an extremist. It's what they do. We need to differentiate ourselves and communicate more intelligently or it simply looks like there is no difference between Republicans and Democrats.

What Obama should do is point out that Romney is awkward talking in public. He says something then disowns his statements the next day. That would have more of an effect that simply saying, "Liar!"

[NICO9000]

20. Maybe he could take Tagg's advice and take a swing at him!

I don't think the President is the type of guy who would call somebody a liar to their face. I would love an "at long last sir, have you no decency" moment though. The Mittbot's circuits would probably explode!

[Zambero]

25. No, just let the facts speak for itself

If Obama conveys this message in a convincing, clear, and foreceful enough manner, viewers will be able to reach that conclusion for themselves.

[Ken Burch]

26. I'd go with having him shout "You Lie!" as Romney is talking

He won't...but it would be great.

[B Calm]

27. Should do it early in the debate,

that way you get him all flustered and pissed off.

[DinahMoeHum]

28. NO. Saying "that's not true" is far better. . .

because,
when you call somebody a liar, the burden is on YOU to prove it.
When you say "that's not true", you've thrown the burden of proof back to your accuser.

[pokerfan]

29. No

he should say, "Everything that man just told you? Complete bullshit!"

[reusrename]

33. no, he should call him a con artist

The only folks who are still being fooled are those who actually want to be conned.

That's how a good con man runs runs a scam.