///

Sharp criticism has done nothing to hold back the Romney campaign from continuing its offensive — in speeches and on the air — because the accuracy of the ads is irrelevant as far as the Republican presidential ticket is concerned. The goal is not to make a legitimate critique, but to portray Obama as willing to give the “undeserving” poor government handouts at the expense of hardworking taxpayers.

///

Obamacare, described in the Romney ad as a “massive new government program that is not for you,” would provide health coverage to a population of over 30 million that is not currently insured: 16.3 percent of this population is black; 30.7 percent is Hispanic; 5.2 percent is Asian-American; and 46.3 percent (less than half) is made up of non-Hispanic whites.

///

The principle media consultant for the pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future, which will be running many of the anti-Obama ads over the next ten weeks, is Larry McCarthy, who produced the original Willie Horton ad.

// much more

Republican attacks on President Obama’s plans for Medicare are growing more heated and inaccurate by the day. Both Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan made statements last week implying that the Affordable Care Act would eviscerate Medicare when in fact the law should shore up the program’s finances.

Both men have also twisted themselves into knots to distance themselves from previous positions, so that voters can no longer believe anything they say. Last week, both insisted that they would save Medicare by pumping a huge amount of money into the program, a bizarre turnaround for supposed fiscal conservatives out to rein in federal spending.

Much more. 

….

Can we stand back and pause a short minute to take in the spectacle of a man who wants to be President of The United States, who wants us to seriously regard him as a paragon of the American civic ideal, declaiming proudly and in public that he has paid his taxes at a third of the rate normally associated with gentlemen of his economic benefit.

Stunning.

Am I supposed to congratulate this man?  Thank him for his good citizenship?  Compliment him for being clever enough to arm himself with enough tax lawyers so that he could legally minimize his obligations?

//

I can’t get over the absurdity of this moment, honestly:  Hey, I never paid less than thirteen percent.  I swear.  And no, you can’t examine my tax returns in any more detail.  But I promise you all, my fellow American citizens, I never once slipped to single digits.  I’m just not that kind of guy.

God.

This republic is just about over, isn’t it?

Cole Nelson, nine months, held by his mother Deborah Nelson, inspects President Barack Obama’s face as during a visit to the Iowa State Fair, Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, in Des Moines, Iowa. The president is on a three-day campaign bus tour through Iowa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

This past weekend, Mitt Romney named Republican congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate, leading everyone to wonder: how will this asshole screw me, personally, if he is elected vice-president in November? Luckily for you, we have answers.

So, here’s how Paul Ryan will screw you if you’re…

… poor.

Under Ryan’s budget, you’ll likely pay more in taxes — people who make less than $30,000 a year will see their effective tax rates go up as tax breaks like the Earned Income Tax Credit are reduced — while receiving even less in services.

See, while you, as a member of the bottom 20% of wage earners, will be paying an average of $159 more in taxes, your boss’ boss, a member of the top 20%, will probably be paying something like $13,907 less —meaning there’s not nearly as much money for income-security programs like unemployment and food stamps (which will receive a 16% cut). Or for Medicaid, which Ryan would cut by a third (potentially kicking out 14 to 27 million people).

///

… a veteran.

Hope you don’t need much in the way of services! The Ryan budget cuts spending on veterans by $11 million. Maybe you can get a job on Stars Earn Stripes?

… a woman.

Ryan voted against the Lily Ledbetter fair pay act, co-sponsored legislation declaring that “human life shall be deemed to begin with fertilization” and has voted to defund Planned Parenthood several times.

… a student.

If you’re on a Pell Grant, you might lose it — eligibility will be tightened — and even if you don’t, it’ll be worth less: the Ryan budget wouldn’t let the grants keep pace with inflation. And if you’re on student loans, Ryan would double the interest rate you’re paying, from 3.4 percent to 6.8.

… an old person.

Actually, if you’re old right this minute, you’re not necessarily screwed: the Ryan Budget’s big Medicare overhaul doesn’t affect current old people, just future old people. (In a weird coincidence, current old people vote at much higher rates than future old people.)

But if you’re planning on being an old person? Instead of being enrolled in Medicare automatically, you’ll be given a voucher that will likely cover some, but not all, of your health-care costs, and you’ll end up paying about $6,000 more a year than you would have under the current system. The idea is that you’ll be taking personal responsibility for your health, and make smarter choices, like dying early.

///

… a single mom paying her way through college with wages from her low-income job, assisted by student loans and Pell Grants.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Hahahaha. Hahaha. Sorry.

…rich.

He won’t! You’re set. Have fun.

 

Thank you for being the man that you are, thank you for fighting for us, thank you for making sure that my baby nephew can get health care, thank you for showing what real decency, honor, courage, intelligence, grace under fire and pure goodness of the heart looks like.

Happy Birthday, Mr. President. Here’s to four more years at the White House and many many more happy years with Michelle and the girls.

(All photos are the work of the brilliant Pete Souza, with some help from AP. I’ll open this thread for comments so we can have a little party. I’m sorry if I won’t have the time to moderate and approve all comments, it’s not personal, I promise. Please keep it nice and don’t feed any trolls. And feel free to share this with the world. Thanks).

So, 51 reasons to vote for Barack Obama.

*

1. Because he knows where we need to go.

2. Because you can always see the wheels spinning.

3. Because he brought everyone back from Iraq.

4. Because these kids no longer have to live in the shadows. 

5. Because Joe Biden is a BFD.

6. And so is Michelle. 

7. Because he understands that war is horror.

8. And he takes the fallen with him.

9. And the wounded too.

10. Because he loves the troops.

11. And they love him.

12. Because in Obama’s America, everyone is included.

13.  Because he loves #youpeople.

14. And so is Michelle.

15. Even worse, she is always trying to hug #youpeople.

16. Because every day he reads 10 letters from #youpeople.

17. Because Bin Laden is dead.

18. And GM is alive.

19. Because Bo rides inside.

20. Because Warren Buffett’ secretary shouldn’t pay higher tax rate than Warren Buffett.

21. Because do tell. 

22. And gay people should be able to get married.

23. Because #youpeople really want Mitt Romney to pick the next Supreme Court justice??

24. Because damn straight ObamaCare!

25. And being a woman is no longer a Pre-Existing condition.

26. Because he’s a kickass, badass Commander-in-Chief.

27. And do respect the swagger!

28. Because when he goes overseas, let’s say to Ireland, this is the only kind of #ObamaShambles you see.

29. Or in Brazil.

30. Or India.

31. Because facts are as stubborn as he is. 

32. Because he’ll protect us from our biggest foe: THE SOVIET UNION.

33. Because he owns the ‘I killed Bin Laden’ lane (H/O to Jon Stewart).

34. Because without him, what’s gonna happen to the poor Teleprompter!!

35. Because yea, he’s cute.

36. And elegant.

37. And funny.

38. Because kids just know.

39. And they cling to him.

40. And women flirt with him.

41. Because I’m sorry, but we need to see much more of this gray sweater.

42. And we need to shop for new shirts.

43. And we really need more time to find out whether Hawaii is in the US.

44. Because there’s a lot of sex going on in this White House.

45. Because he doesn’t take any decision without serious and long deliberation.

46. Because for him, compassion is an existing condition.

47. And his heart just keeps growing.

48. Because *this* is the guy you want to continue answering the 3am phone call.

49. Because he was born to sit there.

50. Because the arc of the moral universe is still very long.

51. And because we have to keep bend it towards justice.