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[PhoenixDark]

Actually it's likely totally true and he probably wasn't involved in the day to day operations but that's meaningless. Most Americans have no idea what the life of an executive involves so if there are documents that say he was running the company for those three years then that's what he should have stated.

If he was a passive owner, I think this wouldn't be a big story; Fact Check is actually standing by their defense of Romney, based on this very argument. But it begs the question whether the majority stock holder, president, and chairmen of the company attended any meetings with the board of directors. I'd imagine he did.

Regardless, Romney's general claim that he left the company in 1999 is clearly false

 

[eznark]

If he was a passive owner, I think this wouldn't be a big story; Fact Check is actually standing by their defense of Romney, based on this very argument. But it begs the question whether the majority stock holder, president, and chairmen of the company attended any meetings with the board of directors. I'd imagine he did.

Regardless, Romney's general claim that he left the company in 1999 is clearly false

My guess is quarterly board meetings and votes on acquisitions. So quasi-passive. That said, I'm guessing he first said 1999 (whenever he did so) because he wanted to focus his attention on his time with the IOC.

 

[eznark]

Lou Holtth is pretty awesome.

OFFENSIVE

 

[Jackson50]

GOP controls the majority of state houses, House and a better than even shot at taking the Senate. Yeah, that party is totally dead. Libertarian party time!





No shit. You're supposed to be dumping all of this baggage in bits and pieces on the road to your actual run.

Makes me wonder just how incredibly incompetent the MA democratic party was when he won office. Though, they were pretty intertwined with the Bulger mess at the time I believe so they were probably just ducking and covering.

Didn't you receive the invitation? January 21st, 2013, at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Be there or be square.

 

[The Technomancer]

If he was a passive owner, I think this wouldn't be a big story; Fact Check is actually standing by their defense of Romney, based on this very argument. But it begs the question whether the majority stock holder, president, and chairmen of the company attended any meetings with the board of directors. I'd imagine he did.

Regardless, Romney's general claim that he left the company in 1999 is clearly false

And, as one article I read pointed out, if the president, chairman, and sole stockholder actually did have no hands-on involvement with the company for three years then that is its own can of worms. It would play into the image of Romney as a person who made his money without doing honest hard work.

 

[Officerrob]

My guess is quarterly board meetings and votes on acquisitions. So quasi-passive. That said, I'm guessing he first said 1999 (whenever he did so) because he wanted to focus his attention on his time with the IOC.

He also wanted to have a date as far in the past as possible where he could no longer be held accountable for jobs lost under Bain.

 

[TacticalFox88]

And, as one article I read pointed out, if the president, chairman, and sole stockholder actually did have no hands-on involvement with the company for three years then that is its own can of worms. It would play into the image of Romney as a person who made his money without doing honest hard work.

So, he'd be fucked either way? Delicious.

 

[eznark]

He also wanted to have a date as far in the past as possible where he could no longer be held accountable for jobs lost under Bain.

How many jobs were lost from 1999-2002 in Bain held companies?

 

[DeathbyVolcano]

Do people actually think this is a story? It's going to fly by everyone's heads and no one will give a shit a week from now.

 

[Tim-E]

The Romney camp's response is laughable

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.co...utes-report-he-misled-on-bain-departure-date/

And, as one article I read pointed out, if the president, chairman, and sole stockholder actually did have no hands-on involvement with the company for three years then that is its own can of worms. It would play into the image of Romney as a person who made his money without doing honest hard work.

Yep, in 2001 & 2002 he earned at least $100k as Bain's "executive" not including his invsetments according to some state financial disclosure forms, so if what he's saying is true, he's admitting to getting paid a salary for a job he wasn't doing. Granted, I wouldn't be surprised if he legitmately didn't notice he was receiving that $100k because that's chump change to him.

Do people actually think this is a story? It's going to fly by everyone's heads and no one will give a shit a week from now.

The Obama camp is already running with it. If the news media won't make it a story, then they will add it to their Romney narrative. It adds another bullet point for them to bring up when they talk about Bain.

 

[Tim-E]

How many jobs were lost from 1999-2002 in Bain held companies?

From one of the Obama campaign websites:
Ampad declared bankruptcy in 2000.
Dade Behring declared bankruptcy in 2002.
GST Steel declared bankruptcy in 2001.
Stage Stores declared bankruptcy in 2000.

 

[eznark]

From one of the Obama campaign websites:
Ampad declared bankruptcy in 2000.
Dade Behring declared bankruptcy in 2002.
GST Steel declared bankruptcy in 2001.
Stage Stores declared bankruptcy in 2000.

So what were the net job losses though?

 

[Tim-E]

So what were the net job losses though?

The numbers the Obama campaign has listed:

Ampad = 1,500 jobs
Dade Behring = 2,937 jobs
GST Steel = 750 jobs
Stage Stores = 5,794 jobs

= 10,981 jobs total

 

[eznark]

The numbers the Obama campaign has listed:

Ampad = 1,500 jobs
Dade Behring = 2,937 jobs
GST Steel = 750 jobs
Stage Stores = 5,794 jobs

Well yeah, I'm asking net. Were jobs added elsewhere in the portfolio? And is Obama's campaign really the only source of this information? Going bankrupt doesn't immediately lead to the end of all jobs.

 

[Tim-E]

Well yeah, I'm asking net. Were jobs added elsewhere in the portfolio? And is Obama's campaign really the only source of this information? Going bankrupt doesn't immediately lead to the end of all jobs.

I know but that's all I was aware of off the top of my head. I'm sure there are other more detailed sources, but I'm at work so I'm not able to go digging around too much.

 

[Aaron Strife]

Do people actually think this is a story? It's going to fly by everyone's heads and no one will give a shit a week from now.

Politico's pushing the idea that Romney may have committed a federal felony by filing false reports saying he left in 1999.

If that panned out, I think that'd be too big for the media to ignore.

 

[Officerrob]

The Obama campaign is hitting this hard:

Mitt Romney either lied in federal filings that show he worked at Bain Capital through 2002 and could be guilty of a felony, or has lied to the American people in saying he left the company in 1999, the Obama campaign is arguing in light of news reports on the firm’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

[Allard]

Politico's pushing the idea that Romney may have committed a federal felony by filing false reports saying he left in 1999.

If that panned out, I think that'd be too big for the media to ignore.

Yeah we know he probably didn't commit a felony, but just the implication is enough to ignite news controversy that puts him on the defensive. He either admits he actually was acting president of Bain during those years (which is likely the real truth he has been lying about which in itself becomes a story that keeps on giving for Obama) or he lied on SEC papers (the less likely scenario) and he becomes a criminal.

Either way he is woefully incompetent, how the hell do you run for office as often as he has and not realize this kind of crap would eventually come back to bite him in the ass on the larger stage?

 

[Baraka in the White House]

Might as well try and run with it. It's gonna be that kind of election.

 

[eznark]

Yeah we know he probably didn't commit a felony, but just the implication is enough to ignite news controversy that puts him on the defensive.

Politics!

 

[Officerrob]

Politics!

100% politics and insanely sloppy by the Romney campaign

 

[Tim-E]

The Obama campaign is hitting this hard:

I don't see this dying down. The office of the President is basically able to get on the news with anything it wants, and if they want to hammer this, they're able to get it noticed.

 

[kehs]

The Obama campaign is hitting this hard:

I can't believe Obama campaign is stooping to "show me the birth certificate" levels of attacks.

 

[Tim-E]

I can't believe Obama campaign is stooping to "show me the birth certificate" levels of attacks.

What else would you expect from a Muslim Kenyan Socialist?

 

[Loudninja]

Like I said this is all Romney's fault.

A lie he told finally caught up with him.

 

[Allard]

Politics!

Without a doubt, but I have gotten tired of Romney's constant lies on the campaign trail with little repercussion so it would be nice for one to stick to him finally.

 

[Aaron Strife]

I can't believe Obama campaign is stooping to "show me the birth certificate" levels of attacks.

Have we seen Mitt Romney's birth certificate yet? How about his dad's?

 

[Blergmeister]

I can't believe Obama campaign is stooping to "show me the birth certificate" levels of attacks.

This is the opposite of that! Opposite in that the problem is due to the documentation we have versus the documentation we don't!

 

[Tim-E]

Have we seen Mitt Romney's birth certificate yet? How about his dad's?

Evidence suggests that Romney is not a human and is, in fact, a robot, therefore we need to see some papers before we let him become President.

 

[eznark]

Without a doubt, but I have gotten tired of Romney's constant lies on the campaign trail with little repercussion so it would be nice for one to stick to him finally.

So you aren't tired of the lies, you're just pissed it isn't your guy doing the lying.

 

[thefro]

Yeah we know he probably didn't commit a felony, but just the implication is enough to ignite news controversy that puts him on the defensive. He either admits he actually was acting president of Bain during those years (which is likely the real truth he has been lying about which in itself becomes a story that keeps on giving for Obama) or he lied on SEC papers (the less likely scenario) and he becomes a criminal.

Yep, he's in a dilemma now and either answer (or the third choice, flip-flop have it both ways answer) feeds into an existing Obama campaign narrative that they've been solely building up over the last few months.

 

[Loudninja]

TPM alert!

Sununu: Obama Camp Must Think Romney’s ‘Superman’

The Obama campaign must think Mitt Romney is Superman. He was, in reality, rescuing the Olympics by working in Utah 24/7 for the years the Obama campaign also alleges he was running Bain Capital. Even though the Obama campaign may be wrong about his involvement in Bain Capital, it shows that even they can admit Mitt Romney is a great leader.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/romney-surrogate-sununu-obama-camp-must-think-romneys

 

[Tim-E]

TPM alert!

Sununu: Obama Camp Must Think Romney’s ‘Superman’

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/romney-surrogate-sununu-obama-camp-must-think-romneys

I'd love it if the Romney camp ran with the "I did two jobs at once!" line to reinforce how strong of a leader he truly is.

 

[Aaron Strife]

Evidence suggests that Romney is not a human and is, in fact, a robot, therefore we need to see some papers before we let him become President.

Rombot's a good candidate on paper, I suppose.

 

[Allard]

So you aren't tired of the lies, you're just pissed it isn't your guy doing the lying.

Not sure what you are implying. I'm tired of the lies period, but its becomes status quo in politics; I always cheer for lies actually sticking to a politician as it shows the general population willing to be repulsed at the act. I actually get more pissed when I see people in the democratic party lying then I do the opposition just because I think it looks worse on me for trying to support them, but media wise its been a very 1 way street in terms of exposing the lies on each side so it would be nice for even just once an out right lie actually stuck to Romney for once.

 

[Baraka in the White House]

So you aren't tired of the lies, you're just pissed it isn't your guy doing the lying.

 

[Aaron Strife]

Harry Reid was a boxer once

“He not only couldn’t be confirmed as a cabinet secretary, he couldn’t be confirmed as dog catcher,” Reid told reporters at a Capitol press briefing, in response to a question from TPM. “Because a dog catcher, you’re at least going to want to look at his income tax returns.”

“The long report that we have in the Boston Globe today indicates that, as one of his own employees said, it doesn’t make sense,” Reid continued. “He said he left Bain to go to the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and stopped any association with Bain. But his SEC filings indicated that he was Chief Executive Officer, sole stockholder, and ran the corporation for at least 3 more years. And that’s why people who say there’s been advertisements where businesses were closed, people laid off - and he says oh I wasn’t there, I left in 1999. As his own operative said, it doesn’t make sense. And it doesn’t.”

 

[AlteredBeast]

So you aren't tired of the lies, you're just pissed it isn't your guy doing the lying.

This is why I dislike politics. I heard Biden giving a speech today on CNN and was impressed that he at least called Romney a family man who believed in what he said (probably as much as a slight against him as a compliment). But then at the same time, both candidates are focused more on optics than on policy, especially Romney, but not limited to him.

I am starting to get burned out and can't wait for the election to get over. Hopefully Pres. Obama and the Dem Senate can get things done for the better in this next 4 years.

 

[Jackson50]

Evidence suggests that Romney is not a human and is, in fact, a robot, therefore we need to see some papers before we let him become President.

A robot manufactured in the United States satisfies the Constitutional requirement. This is a moot point.

 

[Tim-E]

A robot manufactured in the United States satisfies the Constitutional requirement. This is a moot point.

The constitution needs to be amended to allow only humans to run for public office!

 

[Clevinger]

This new controversy over Romney's Bain departure is gonna blow up.

So that means he was still there when they invested in a company that disposes of aborted fetuses. Oops.

I'm sure this will be a big deal to the religious right.

Spoiler

lol

 

[Loudninja]

So that means he was still there when they invested in a company that disposes of aborted fetuses. Oops.

Bain claim he had no involvement after 1999.

Bain Capital: Romney Left In February 1999

Mitt Romney left Bain Capital in February 1999 to run the Olympics and has had absolutely no involvement with the management or investment activities of the firm or with any of its portfolio companies since the day of his departure. Due to the sudden nature of Mr. Romney's departure, he remained the sole stockholder for a time while formal ownership was being documented and transferred to the group of partners who took over management of the firm in 1999. Accordingly, Mr. Romney was reported in various capacities on SEC filings during this period.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/07/bain-responds-128773.html

Yeah I believe that completely.

 

[Tim-E]

But he was still being paid a salary for a job he wasn't actually doing up to three years after this "sudden departure?"

Shocked that Bain would defend Mitt Romney!

 

[AlteredBeast]

Isn't there a fairly big guy with Bain that supports Obama?

 

[Measley]

Bain claim he had no involvement after 1999.

Bain Capital: Romney Left In February 1999

http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/07/bain-responds-128773.html

Yeah I believe that completely.

So a guy who is the president, CEO, and director of the company had no involvement with said company for over 2 years?

Oh boy....

 

[Tim-E]

So a guy who is the president, CEO, and director of the company had no involvement with said company for over 2 years?

Oh boy....

Jeez, guys, don't you know a "quirk in the law" when you see one?!

 

[Clevinger]

Someone dug up a video of Romney accidentally telling the truth in a primary debate where he said he worked at Bain for 25 years. He started in 1977.

bonus points: he said this while explaining how he was a man of constancy.

 

[GhaleonEB]

I'm sure Romney knew there was a good chance he would get a negative response by trotting out the Obamacare line. I refuse to believe he's that daft not to have known.

This is Romney we're talking about. His messaging is about as deft as a dead cat.

Romney stayed at Bain 3 years longer than he claims. 2002 not 1999

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/boston-globe-romney-stayed-at-bain-3-years

Romney campaign says the story is false as Bain has said Romney left in 1999. Only he got paid 100k for being executive, continued investment earnings and formed new joint investments under Bain during that period. So...do we believe these legal SEC filings or not.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/romney-camp-boston-globes-bain-story-not-accurate

The Audacity of Lies should be Romney Campaign's best selling book if he becomes President.

I love how the biggest thing Obama has to work with is recycled Newt Gingrich stuff. I guess that's like the irony of who the original Birther support came from.

Romney is either lying to the public, or lied to the SEC, which is a felony. Which do you think it is?

Do people actually think this is a story? It's going to fly by everyone's heads and no one will give a shit a week from now.

It's ties into a pretty central issue in the campaign. Part of the reason Romney does not want to be associated with Bain during those years is because of many of things they did during that time (outsourcing and bankrupting companies while reaping millions). Romney's team has pushed back on many of Obama's attacks on him by saying, hey, Romney didn't work there at the time. He was busy doing America proud with that whole Olympics thing. Only, that appears to be bullshit, and he was still in charge of the company for years after.

Polls already show clearly that Bain is hurting Romney, with more people now saying his experience with the company is a mark against him than not. And since that's one of Romney's primary planks upon which he's staking his election - his business experience - it's a sort of a big deal. Maybe even a big fucking deal.

Rombot's a good candidate on paper, I suppose.

:lol

Someone dug up a video of Romney accidentally telling the truth in a primary debate where he said he worked at Bain for 25 years. He started in 1977.

bonus points: he said this while explaining how he was a man of constancy.

Whoops!

 

[Manos: The Hans of Fate]

So that means he was still there when they invested in a company that disposes of aborted fetuses. Oops.

I'm sure this will be a big deal to the religious right.

Spoiler

lol

Well they're already aborted, someone has to get rid of them, how else are you going to get an expansion of Shakey's Pizza. An expansion which means more jobs for Americans.

Pro-Aborted Fetus Dumping, Pro-Jobs!

I don't seem Obama dumping fetuses for the economy!

 

[Tim-E]

Well they're already aborted, someone has to get rid of them, how else are you going to get an expansion of Shakey's Pizza. An expansion which means more jobs for Americans.

Pro-Aborted Fetus Dumping, Pro-Jobs!

I don't seem Obama dumping fetuses for the economy!

He's too busy supplying them.