Obama: Romney's “A Bullshitter”

[trailmonkee]

Source: Buzzfeed/rolling stone

It's no secret that there is no love lost between President Barack Obama and his Republican rival, and in an interview with Rolling Stone, the president made that even clearer.

Douglas Brinkley recounts an episode at the close of his interview with Obama, in which the president called Romney a

"bullshitter"

As excerpted by Mike Allen:

"We arrived at the Oval Office for our 45-minute interview ... on the morning of October 11th. ... As we left the Oval Office, executive editor Eric Bates told Obama that he had asked his six-year-old if there was anything she wanted him to say to the president. ... [S]he said, 'Tell him: You can do it.' Obama grinned. ... 'You know, kids have good instincts,' Obama offered. 'They look at the other guy and say, "Well, that's a bullshitter, I can tell."

Read more: http://www.buzzfeed.com/zekejmiller/obama-romneys-a-bullshitter

---

Beautiful Thank You Mr. President

[Roland99]

1. In a few hours, the M$M will have Obama saying something like...

the kid was a bullshitter or having said "bullshit" to the kid and they'll be all aghast.

[KeepItReal]

2. We hold these truths to be self evident, Mr. President

Kids know what's up.

[speedoo]

5. My new favorite pic.

Really love it.

[whathehell]

12. So Cute!!

Can anyone imagine kids doing that with Romney?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

20. Hell, even Mitt's grandson likes Obama

[lastlib]

22. That's definitely a Romnulan hugging Mitt--I didn't know they hugged anything.

[RoccoR5955]

45. He's not a Romulan. That's an insult.

He's Ferrengi, through and through. All he thinks about is money. He knows how to swindle and steal it better than most. AFAIC, that's Ferrengi.

[whathehell]

68. Yep...I think kids have an instinct for good people,

Unfortunately for the cute little guy, we don't get to pick our relatives.

[Marie Marie]

74. Anybody else notice that Willard gives his kids a much heartier hug than he ever gives to Ann?

She hugs him while he stands there stiffly with his hands by his side. At least that is what I've seen in a couple of pictures.

[George II]

32. No, but if "you people" DID do that with him he'd wind up bathing in Purell

[whathehell]

67. Indeed, although I suspect the the "probability" of anyone doing that to him is low! n/t

[drm604]

6. Great Picture!

[Coyotl]

83. Great Picture!

[whathehell]

13. So true.

This picture is cute as hell, and you just KNOW you'd never see anything like it with Mitt.

[TahitiNut]

51. That's just a FABULOUS photo! Those kids are THRILLED!

What an EXCELLENT photo of how GENUINE that man is!

[Chemisse]

57. This is so so sweet. What a great guy he is.

Someday, when all the racist furor over the first black president is a thing of the past, Obama will be regarded very fondly as one of the greatest men to ever hold this office.

[KeepItReal]

64. Truly. As a man he is so remarkable.

It just shows you folks' true colors when they demean and disrepect him.

[wordpix]

79. nice! (wonder what the kids would do if Romney the Robot visited)

[onehandle]

3. Wow! I just wanted him to call him a liar. Bravo, Current and Future President Obama. nt

[LibDemAlways]

4. Watching Rmoney in the debates, that was the

first word that came to mind. Obama nailed it.

[renegade000]

7. so i don't know if you guys know this

but based on my understanding, "bullshit" actually is becoming the proper philosophical term for
a particular type of deception: http://www.amazon.com/Bullshit-Harry-G-Frankfurt/dp/0691122946

that is, it's distinct from a lie, in which the teller knows the truth but states the opposite. a
bullshitter simply says stuff he or she doesn't have any evidence for as if it were certain truth.

[toby jo]

38. oh thanks, renegade. LOL Now we know.

[Ztolkins]

42. That is actually a great essay

[Hugabear]

8. Can you believe that the right-wingers are outraged over this?

Neil Boortz called it "classless" on his show this morning. I can only imagine how the likes of Hannity, Limbaugh, and others will react.

This coming from the same crowd who applauded Cheney saying "Fuck you" to a member of Congress.

[whathehell]

10. Yes, so much less "classy", apparently, than Rush calling Sandra Fluke a "slut".

[cui bono]

27. You don't really think that anything they say is genuine do you?

Or heartfelt? Or full of integrity?

[rzemanfl]

36. Not to split hairs but I think the exact quote is:

"Go f**k your self." Cheney was such a class act....

[RoccoR5955]

48. I don't think the EXACT quote had asterisks in it

Neither did Cheney's mouth.

[IcyPeas]

37. where was the outrage over coulter's "retard" remark?

where was the outrage of sara palin's shuck and jive remark?

hypocrites!

[antigone382]

50. And let's not mention the numerous photos of Bush giving folks the finger...n/t

[SunSeeker]

53. Sounds like a bunch of bullshitters to me. nt

[wordpix]

80. so outraged but "rape is God's will" is OK

[vdogg]

9. Really wish he hadn't done this.

It's a distraction and now the media is going to be parsing his words instead of continuing to concentrate on the Mourdock (sp?) controversy. Not saying I disagree, but in this atmosphere it isn't the best choice of words.

[whathehell]

11. Oh, hell, I think it's funny, not to mention TRUE.

[The Blue Flower]

14. they already do that, even put words in his mouth

I'm happy for a Harry S. Truman kind of quote from our President.

[BumRushDaShow]

16. The "distraction" will be the whiny rethugs

who have paper thin skin.

They throw red meat to their crazy base 24/7 because that base is nothing but drug-addled zombies. A little red meat to the Dem base is most welcome.

[arcane1]

17. The media does that anyway

Let them spend all day parsing Obama's true words, I say! How much air time has to be devoted to that one asshole and his rape comments, anyway?

[vdogg]

39. If I had my way...

As much as possible. It's really making Romney look like an idiot continuing to endorse that guy. It might help him with his base but I imagine that any progress that he 'may' have made with women will be hurt by this.

[SoFlaJet]

24. Not me...

I'm glad he said it-because it's the truth-the guy IS full of shit. Romney is a soulless lying cretin and I'm GLAD that the democrats aren't afraid to call a spade a spade. Why is it always OK whenever a republican sys whatever the fuck they want with no repercussions and the democratic party must always parse their words and act above it all?You see where THAT got us in the 1st debate? It let Romney back into this race-no, this democrat WANTS his party to call them on their shit because they are fucking scumbags who have done nothing to help this country since before even Bush stole the 2000 election-NOTHING.

I would also like to see the media call the truth out every once in a while when they talk about the still lagging economy. I want them EVERY TIME to parse their points with the fact that the party of obstruction is to blame WHY we haven't created more jobs, not partly to blame but WHOLLY to blame.

[WilliamPitt]

25. Oh for God's sake

[mac56]

28. It's the best possible choice of words.

Leave the hand-wringing and clutching of pearls to others.

[Bucky]

43. I agree and disagree

I think most people kinda get that impression from Romney. I doubt Obama's going to lose any votes over this. It has the added advantage of bringing up the topic of the frequent and casual way Romney goes about making stuff up.

Of course it does give Fox & friends something new to harp on about. But they were gonna harp away anyway. This kind of reminds me of that "on air gaffe" episode of The West Wing. Now it's our job to make sure that Romney's math-denying bullshit becomes a topic of conversation everywhere.

[noiretextatique]

46. it's only a distraction for the rw concern trolls

who don't have a problem with any number of vile comments by the likes of rmoney, limbaugh, akin, coulter, palin, paul, ryan, santorum, savage, etc, etc, etc. if they are so "concerned" perhaps they should do a better job of admonishing their own. until then: fuck 'em all to hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[caseymoz]

52. I assure you . . .

. . . Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon said worse.

I'm just amazed that all this gets around now. The press didn't consider it worth reporting in the past. It was the equivalent of gossip.

But there's really not a lot to like about Romney.

[harun]

55. The Corporate Media hasn't concentrated on a single real issue. This nonsense simply

destracts from nonsense.

[msanthrope]

59. Your concern is noted. Please feel free to share more of your concerns, and enjoy your stay. nt

[treestar]

70. Facepalm

[Rincewind]

82. You are right,

Obama should not have called Willard a bullshitter. The President should have said that Rmoney is a lying son of a bitch who couldn't tell the truth if his worthless ass depended on it. But, with a chuckle, and a smile.

[tanyev]

86. Let's see....the media goes crazy and endlessly repeats the idea that Romney is a bullshitter.

.
.
.
.
Nope, don't see a downside.

[GainesT1958]

15. Well, the Scholastic Poll...

Proves once again, this year, that kids indeed know the truth when they see it...and "bullMitt" when they see THAT!

[reflection]

18. Wow. I don't like that.

Not that it's not a million percent true, but I think that sort of language turns off some moderates. Could have been communicated without the vulgarity, and believe me, I like vulgarity sometimes.

[progressivebydesign]

21. Yes, musn't upset the sensibilities of people who would vote the republicans if we offend them.

Ya.. the same party that embraces Ann Coulter, who said the following in the past 48 hours: "the president is a retard" and "Obama, half black, ALL Democrat." Or maybe Dick Cheney with "go fuck yourself" Or maybe just maybe Bush with "that guy's a major league ASSHOLE" over an open mic. Plenty of people voted for him, if I recall. Or perhaps the Romney surrogates that have called the President UnAmerican, "not like us" an Kenyan, Muslim, Socialist, Communist, coke head. Or maybe Romney who dissed 47% of Americans, and worse.

If anyone is going to be turned off by the use of the term "bullshitter" and overlook that other stuff? Then they weren't going to be voting for him anyway.

[reflection]

30. Wish I could agree with that. I really do.

And I pray you are right. I think this was a needless thing. Who knows, maybe he'll pick up a few votes from people who like honesty.

[progressivebydesign]

19. A bullshitter is someone who tells stories.. actually nicer than "liar"

Romney and Ryan lie repeatedly, and it's been fact checked ad nauseam. But bullshitter?? That's like the guy you know at work like likes to tell these TALL tales about anything and everything. You know.. he's late for work, but it's not that he overslept or anything, it's that Ed McMahon was on his front porch with a giant check, cameras, and balloons, but he turned it all down so he could get to work.

That's a bullshitter.

[SCVDem]

23. We should forget

Bush/Cheney and their "world class asshole" comment about a reporter.

[SCVDem]

26. "It's not a lie....

it's just.... bullshit!" Elwood Blues

[George II]

35. In the words of George Costanza:

[Woobergoober]

72. Wtf???

Romney is balls on right, he wants change, he wants to change right back to a Bush
economy. Obama ain't God, but he ain't bad either. Hoora!!

[SoapBox]

29. I thought that it was "MittShit"!

[whathehell]

69. As Martin Bashir once memorably said "Mitt happens".

I think it's great.

All the men, and quite a few of the women in my family use that term.

[Suji to Seoul]

31. Cue RW and GOP demands for an apology, along with self-righteous indignation in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. . .

eom

[callous taoboy]

33. I would love to have a beer with Obama.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

34. aaand we have our Drudge Canned Outrage of the Day

Fetch the smelling salts for all the wingnuts you know.

He's got it front and center on his website.

[Richard D]

40. Now that . . .

. . . is a thing of great beauty.

[MannyGoldstein]

41. On the topic of bullshitters...

The interview's revisionist history of FDR surely qualifies.

The previous depression bottomed out when FDR took office because FDR *made* it bottom out, not because of dumb luck.

[rjlobo422]

44. No shit....

Anybody remember the old game "bullshit?"

Gawd, I knew there was a reason I love this man.

[ashling]

47. Nothing wrong with "bullshit"

after all, he could have said "malarkey"

[bullwinkle428]

49. I guarantee they'll have to roll in the fainting couch for Gretchen Carlson on

"Fox & Fiends" tomorrow morning!

[tanyev]

87. Naw, not for Gretchen. Steve Doocy will need it, though.

And Brian will say, "Huh?"

[blazeKing]

54. This will help Obama with men

Big mistake for Sludge to Red link this....It shows the President is real, not some fake bullshitter like Romney.

[trailmonkee]

73. i think this is great, we have been asking for a straight talker....

And t this comment is classic straight talk....

he should also say 'if anybody doesn't vote for me because i said 'bullshit' they can go fuck themselves"

Or maybe not

[Tree-Hugger]

56. Oh my dear heavens

I have neva, eva heard anything so offensive....well, not since that sweet old man with the bionic heart told Sen Leahy to go fuck himself.

Next...

[litlbilly]

58. A bit off topic but i need to post this, hope someone can post it by itself

My boss threatened to fire me and my 7 co-workers if we voted Democratic.
We were pulled into a meeting at our Westinghouse service center in Lake Oswego
Oregon and were told, " If you vote for Dems, your jobs will be gone" I stood up,
told my boss he was full of shit and bet him 1k dollars that if Dems got in, not only would
our jobs be safe, but we would all prosper. Here's what happened: My wife and my
income tripled within a year, we bought our first house, we bought 2 new cars,
I got to golf 3 times a week and we went skiing every weekend during the winter.
Here's the thing, the meeting with our boss was 2 weeks before Bill Clinton was elected.
I am still waiting for the 1k my boss still owes me.

[andym]

60. Exactly right. nt.

[Gregorian]

61. It's not Romney who bothers me.

It's the MILLIONS of people who think he's electable, for lack of a better word.

Like Hitler, one man can only be so destructive. It's the millions of followers and "do nothings" who are the real problem.

We have a huge hole to climb out of in America. The lack of a 4th Estate. Election reform. Health care. Military overspending. Universal education for all. Even after that is all worked out we have decades of healing. I'm not optimistic about pulling out of this nosedive within my lifetime, if ever.

edit- Obama is so cool! He almost makes up for our faults.

[coalition_unwilling]

76. If ever a reply deserved to be an OP of its own, this one surely must qualify. I wish I could

rec your reply 100,000,000,000,000 times and then 1 more for good measure.

I'd like to see Obama drop the 'F' bomb on those assholes. A little 'F-U, MFers' would vault Obama to the top of my all-time favorite list

[november3rd]

62. My kid said that, too!

Only, he's 21 years old!

[Barbara2423]

63. He calls it like he sees it. Love our President.

[Duer 157099]

65. Too bad six-year-olds can't vote

yet

[nyhuskyfan]

66. Actually the beauty of this is...

As the RW flips a gasket over it, all they are doing is putting it in the echo chamber that Romney = Bullshitter. Sort of like Nixon = Crook. Frank Luntz is probably screaming "nooooooo. The frame! The Frame!"

If they ignored it, it would be irrelevant. Whether Obama thought that through all that much, I don't know. I'd lean more towards happy accident than 11-dimensional chess.

[Cha]

71. The President was being too kind..

We all know mitt is a pathological liar. And, he said "kids can have good instincts...." rofl

[mwooldri]

75. Dear bullshit, I must apologize.

being compared to Mr.Romney does a great disservice to all of bullshit. bullshit is useful as fertilizer. unsure about Mr. Romney and his usefulness.

[coalition_unwilling]

77. OT somewhat, but a funny commentary on this: when my Dad dropped out of the

corporate rat race in the early 70s and bought a small dairy farm, an enterprising reporter for an alternative news weekly asked him why.

My father replied, "I prefer cowshit to bullshit."

[Lilma]

78. On Bullshit

I had two copies of Frankfurt's book until I gave one to a friend. I think that President Obama must have read it and was just quoting it. His response was right on!

[BootinUp]

81. Romney built that rep all on his own! nt

[hrmjustin]

84. Thank you Mr. President!

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

85. Rightwing freaking out over this and getting the vapors, but seem to forget

"Go fuck yourself"
--Vice-president Dick Cheney, to Sen Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on the floor of the U.S. Senate

"He's a major league asshole!"
--George W. Bush, on stage at a campaign rally, 2000

"Who is that little chickenshit?"
--President George H.W. Bush, referring to Sen Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.) opposing the decision to go to war in the Persian Gulf

"We will fuck him. Do you hear me? We will fuck him. We will ruin him. Like no one has ever fucked him!"
--Karl Rove, White House Chief of staff, 2003

""Return the calls to those poor dumb bastards ... who I know are our friends. Now do it ... We made the same mistake [Dwight] Eisenhower made, but not as bad as Eisenhower made, because he sucked the Times too much ... G-d damn it, don't talk to them for a while."
--Richard Nixon, telling an aide to avoid the lib'rul media