Instead of taking responsibility for his bullying, Mitt Romney is accusing President Obama’s campaign of planting the story.
Here is the video from Mediaite:
Romney was asked by Fox News host Neil Cavuto if the he thought the Obama campaign planted the bullying story, and he answered, “Well, I think you’re going to find, throughout this campaign season, that the president’s team will be doing everything in their power to try and hold up very shiny objects many of them will be with regards to me…”
According to Romney, this was all an evil Obama plot to distract the American people, but the facts don’t support his claims. While political folks and conspiracy theorists alike are speculating that Obama’s announced support for same sex marriage was choreographed, the reality is that Vice President Biden’s comments got the president to make his announcement a little ahead of schedule. CNN reported that Obama wasn’t supposed to make his support publicly known until his appearance next week on The View.
If this was a diabolical setup, the Obama campaign managed to set up an unscheduled network news interview, have the Washington Post get the entire story including background research and interviews with Romney associates in about 48 hours, and have the finished story appear the morning paper after the unscheduled interview ran.
This was no plot by Obama.
In both the interviews that Romney has given to Fox News he has never denied that he bullied his fellow student, nor has he taken specific responsibility for his actions. By claiming he doesn’t remember the incident, but not denying it, Romney is admitting his guilt without taking responsibility.
Mitt Romney can try to blame President Obama for this story, but a real leader would be blaming himself. Romney’s own decisions and actions created the story. Would the revelations that Mitt Romney was a bully mean as much if Romney supported same sex marriage? Probably not.
Romney could have taken this opportunity to show America that he has the character of a leader by using his own actions as a teachable moment about bullying. Instead he has decided to concoct a wild conspiracy theory and blame President Obama.
The right doesn’t get it. They are trying to play off Obama’s support for gay marriage, and Mitt Romney’s history of bullying as just politics, but it is so much more than that. Just politics is coming up with a conspiracy theory in order for a candidate to dodge responsibility for their own actions. Just politics is Mitt Romney claiming not to remember an incident that he clearly does remember.
Were laws that forbade women from voting and owning property just politics? How about Jim Crow laws? Were those just politics too? Mitt Romney’s history of bullying touches two important issues in our society today, bullying and civil rights.
The last two days have revealed the character of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. Obama stood up for what is right, while Romney has made excuses and denied responsibility for his wrongs. One of these men has the character of a president, and the other held a boy down who he suspected to be gay and cut his hair.
One man is currently responsible for leading our country. The other a wanna be president who can’t even take responsibility for his own actions.
PoliticusUSA
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Jen
May. 10th, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Batta bing batta BOOM!
‘Nuff said.
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Sarah Jones
May. 10th, 2012 at 7:52 pm
I’m unclear on Mitt’s point. Even if the Obama campaign had the WaPo on payroll and dug up this story, in what way does that suggest that Romney did not do this?
We know for a fact that Romney did these things.
This is just like a Republican to get mad at something negative reported about him, and think he can hide behind blaming someone else for what he did.
Was it political when Breitbart et al set Weiner up? You bet it was – they went after him on purpose with a vengeance. Did that mean that the public gave Weiner a pass on what he did?
And, to bring this home, the Obama campaign did not plant this story, nor were they behind it. The Obama campaign gets more negative press than Romney does (statistically). It’s called vetting by the press.
Get used to it, Romney. It’s how we do things here in America.
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Shiva (Moderator)
May. 10th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
To heack with Weiner, he was a huge loss but small taters compared to ACORN. I wonder what the GOP would do if the Dems did that to them
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Sarah Jones
May. 10th, 2012 at 8:44 pm
I’d like to find out:-)
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Leisa S
May. 10th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
What? Rmoney (not a typo) lied? Oh, well, at least he didn’t tie the kid to the top of his car for a 10 hour journey.
Seriously, this would have been a non-story if he’d just taken responsibility, said he was sorry and had felt guilty all these years, and changed the subject to something like the economy. But no. Not only doesn’t he do those things, he says he’s all for gays adopting children but not marrying. Can’t wait to see his next flip flop on THAT bit of stupidity.
Obama, 2012. For the sanity and general welfare of the US.
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Moongal6
May. 10th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
So true. It is horrible that these things happen in younger years. But to deny this act and then plead victimhood? He needed to own up immediately, and he did not.
Instead he blames the Obama campaign. That does not negate the act he committed.
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Ken
May. 11th, 2012 at 11:45 am
On the dog issue, Rmoney was told that what he did with Seamus was illegal, but he said he was unaware of that law. Doesn’t even know, or think about obeying the law. On this incident at Cranapple Prep (sic), he committed assault with a deadly weapon, and should have been tried and sent to prison for 20 yrs. He was 18 then. Now, he is trying to bribe the other men involved in this incident. He knows this thing is true, and unless he comes clean on it, and apologizes to the family of the victim (now deceased), this is going to grab him by the short-hairs right up to the election. This is not what we nee as a president.
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Reynardine
May. 11th, 2012 at 8:07 pm
Far from apologizing to the family of the deceased, Rott Mimney’s campaign appears to have pressured his sisters to come foreward to ABC and Fox and deny their brother ever told them of such a thing. Now, maybe he did not: he might have been too ashamed. They were not witnesses, in any case; those who were there do not deny it (though they may yet, if the Rottenue comes down on them hard enough). But it appears that we have the standard bully’s defense: more bullying, to shut the witnesses up.
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SinghX
May. 10th, 2012 at 8:34 pm
It’s a fairness question and Romeny can’t see or get used to it; so how would he govern if he can’t see how peoples lives are effected by inequality? Where/what/when/how is his going to explain his basic concept of “fairness” in the way he plans to govern? That’s what Americans want to hear…
Of course, there was a timing element element involved; isn’t this is what goes on in an election cycle?
There was no “surprise” or “got’cha” conspiracy by the Dems, but a concise, precise answer given to the issue of character on who is going to beat up the little guy and who is going to defend’em.
Romeny just gave the Dems the match to light up his “personality” and put it on display…I’m sure there’s more to come become, just like more and more came out on Palin, Rand Paul, and all the other republicans who run on “family values”.
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Jj5306
May. 10th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Even if the Easter Bunny planted the story, they didn’t commit the act, now did they, lying jackass?
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Jj5306
May. 10th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
What you did was a HATE CRIME, A FELONY, PUNISHABLE BY JAIL TIME. AND YOU WANT TO BE PRESIDENT. You are a terrible person.
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larry Silveira
May. 10th, 2012 at 11:06 pm
Too bad he can’t be punished now. Don’t vote for him and he will be punished in a way.
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Helen
May. 11th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Jj5306, You are spot on! He is unfit to be walking the streets, let alone living in OUR White House. What a delusional nut case.
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David Starkey, Dallas, TX U.S.A.
May. 10th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
YOU CAN’T “PLANT” TRUTH!
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john cairns
May. 10th, 2012 at 9:54 pm
The disturbing thing, someone questioned him on air-no video-he chuckled about it then denied remembering the incident. Kind of creepy.
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larry Silveira
May. 10th, 2012 at 10:56 pm
You stated the pure truth. Romney is just plain BAD for America.
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Elizabeth
May. 10th, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Normally such childhood behavior would be apologized for, with some modicum of sincerity, and then be gone. Not here, and your laugh is another indicator. I have no doubt Mr. Romney remembers fondly. He is a bully and if you start looking at his career with that in mind, I think he has continued to be a bully.
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g
May. 12th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
It’s funny, because Romney could have put it behind him with a heartfelt response. His denial and his complaints about it have kept it in play.
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Jon
May. 11th, 2012 at 3:11 am
because it is such a ridicules thing that democrats are trying to distract people away from all the dirt that is being pulled up on Obama.
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Shiva (Moderator)
May. 11th, 2012 at 6:53 am
What dirt? do you really think something that will last a couple days distracts anyone from dirt on either side? Thats pretty funny
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Jim H.
May. 11th, 2012 at 9:56 am
What dirt? Do you mean the puppy stew that a six-year-old Barack Obama ate with his daddy in another country, something that was mentioned in a book the president wrote years ago?
Or do you mean the inane conspiracy theories that surround Birthers, teleprompters, Islamophobes, etc?
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Helen
May. 11th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
Jon, give it up.
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Helen
May. 11th, 2012 at 1:35 pm
That’s right, John. If he can’t remember ‘High School’ events … well…why keep writing? He does, and he is a bald faced LIAR. Such personality flaws. Shame on him! A sewer-rat in a 3 pc. silk suit.
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Victoria Lamb, MSHA
May. 15th, 2012 at 6:52 pm
He chuckled the same way about poor Seamus, too. At first I thought it was nervousness (and perhaps it was) but I agree, it is quite creepy.
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Gremlin
May. 10th, 2012 at 9:57 pm
Romney just went from annoying and unelectable to hateful and abhorrent. These are actually hate crimes. Romney should be taken to court and forced to address the family of this boy. I am an artist, have always been a little goth, a little out of the average–have worn my hair over my eyes–would he find a posse and cut my hair? Is the truth that he is just a Bully?
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larry Silveira
May. 10th, 2012 at 11:07 pm
You’ve got that right.
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Cha
May. 10th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Why not..willard lies about everything. And, that fucking neil cavuto is a coward. The facts scare the shit outta him.
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larry Silveira
May. 10th, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Cavuto is just a paid mouth piece for the wrong way for America. I’m shocked at the Un-American policies of the GREEDY OXYMORON PARTY. They are a dangerous party for America and the world. Look at what dumb ass Bush and his brain Cheney did to our country and the world in general.
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Joe Markowitz
May. 10th, 2012 at 11:49 pm
This guy is way too thin-skinned to be president. Among other problems.
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Paman Miner
May. 11th, 2012 at 12:52 am
I watched the Ad by president Obama that said that several instances of the economy being at a new awfulness happened before he took office. This was true, a truth-telling.
Trolls on the comments page were jumping on Obama saying HE didn’t take credit for anything.
Bunch of rubbish! Who takes credit for something they din’t do? But the trolls were thick.
This story is also true. Not only doe Romney NOT fess up, he blames president Obama!!!
This is the big difference in the two. And in their followers!
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Ken
May. 11th, 2012 at 11:55 am
This shows his true character (he has none). And, look at him trying to take credit for the auto-bail out. Obama will chew him up during a debate on this. I think Jon Stewart came up a bit where Rmoney said his father marched with MLK in the sixties (rmoney was portrayed as a small boy in knickers walking along side of Mr. King.) and that ultimately led to the civil rights bill done by LBJ. So extrapolating that, Rmoney could say that it was him that gave the blacks civil rights, and led to the first African-American President. Obama got Osama bin Ladin, so Rmoney is responsible for getting OBL. Sounds like what mittens would do.
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Jon
May. 11th, 2012 at 3:09 am
Wow, people here are being so retarded. You have no idea if Romney even did it and are all speculating. He did say he didn’t remember doing that, and you accuse him just because of that??? Also he apologized for things that he might have done to hurt others, and that did not mean he did that act that WHO ever might be accusing him. Which by the way, if it is true why wont the individual come forward and say it to the public so we all know?? Cause it isn’t TRUE. And if he did do it, stop being stupid and look at your own damn childhood, you did stupid stuff too that you regret….. and you did stuff that I’m sure you forgot about.
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Shiva (Moderator)
May. 11th, 2012 at 6:54 am
Why do you ignore the fact that his school chums have come out and said he did it? The very people that were involved with him.
Now who is stupid?
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Charles
May. 11th, 2012 at 7:44 am
“Which by the way, if it is true why wont the individual come forward and say it to the public so we all know?? Cause it isn’t TRUE.”
Because he is dead.
You didn’t read the article, yet you’re certain it’s false.
Geniuses like Jon are the reason that Republicans continue to win elections.
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Shiva (Moderator)
May. 11th, 2012 at 8:14 am
and unbeknownst to Jon, the family of the individual is coming out and speaking about this. Jon really needs to catch up with the news instead of using the e-mails that are sent to him daily
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Nefer
May. 11th, 2012 at 8:29 am
“Which by the way, if it is true why wont the individual come forward and say it to the public so we all know?? Cause it isn’t TRUE.”
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No, the victim can’t come forward because the victim is dead! He died in 2004.
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Lori
May. 11th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
“Which by the way, if it is true why wont the individual come forward and say it to the public so we all know??”
Because “the individual” is no longer alive. Makes it just a bit difficult to “come forward.” Ooops.
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Christopher Lines
May. 11th, 2012 at 8:23 am
This is just like the meme that the WH set up the Sandra Fluke, only men at the contraception hearing (oh excuse me, religious liberty hearing), To embarrass the repubs and start the war on women . . .
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Kevin Shinn
May. 11th, 2012 at 8:55 am
I’m thinking I’d like for my head to just go ahead and explode now and so put me out of my misery, but then I recall pitbulls are delicious and so I’ve something tho live for come what may.
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Dan Skinner
May. 11th, 2012 at 9:44 am
Romney… all the chicken crap that can fit in a three-thousand dollar suit.
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Bryan Hughes
May. 11th, 2012 at 10:08 am
What do lawyers and politicians have in common? They both find it their job to lie, conceal, distort the truth and slander everyone. Mitt Romney is the worst of the wrost and proud of it!! I was bullied in High School for the same reason – and I wasn’t even gay!!! – and these people feel they are doing the world a favor!! Isn’t being religious wonderful?!?!
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TWinBalto
May. 11th, 2012 at 11:19 am
Wagging the dog! There are SO many more important issues than this!!!
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Shiva (Moderator)
May. 11th, 2012 at 11:26 am
And so many less important. But all together part of the fabric that makes up this county. Romney cant run from all of them. Every issue is important
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Ken
May. 11th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Who is keeping this alive in the media and trying to bride the ones who came out on this? Romney and the usual MSM who love scandalous issues. Obama is dong nothing but keeping on doing business as usual as Pres. Romney is keeping it alive to distract from things he is going to do. Like add $2.1T to the defense budget without paying for it. Thats 210B a year added to an existing DoD budget of about %600m. One third increase in spending. For what? More wars (Iran) and re-invading Iraq?
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Reynardine
May. 12th, 2012 at 8:33 am
No, it’s not. These small indicia of a peculiar heartlessness are warning signs: of the man who, in the past, emotionlessly ruined businesses and lives, because it was useful and profitable; of the man who will, if installed, carry out the PNAC agenda of pure war around the globe, for the same reason.
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MsJoanbe
May. 12th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
I don’t know, character of a presidential nominee is pretty important to me.
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joe
May. 11th, 2012 at 11:29 am
why is Eddie Munster interviewing Willard about how big a bully he is? oh and everybody knows rich kids like Rmoney are the BIGGEST assholes in any school (see George Dumbya Bush)I went college where they had a lot of Greek organizations and those frat boys were the most asinine adolescents on campus
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Holden
May. 11th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Excellent story. It was so complete and truthful, all I could say to myself after reading it is “why in God’s name would we elect this man to be our next President?” I know I won’t.
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Helen
May. 11th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
Let’s face it. It doesn’t take long for the average person with a brain to recognize SERIOUS character flaws. Mitt Rmoney’s (not a type-o), are mounting by the day. By November, he will have voted himself out of our midst. Good.
Anyone who would claim to ‘not remember’ such an event as the attack on this student, is simply lying. But, “I can’t remember” is the legal lie that is used by the guilty in courts of law. How DARE he????
Had he said “Yes, I did it. I was young and foolish, and I was wrong.” That would have cleared it up. But, he lied. He added one more stain to his growing list of character flaws.
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Ron Vanderford
May. 11th, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Consider that his character flaws may be so deeply ingrained that Romney really doesn’t remember the incident whereas his other classmates who participated in it do remeber.
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MsJoanbe
May. 12th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
That’s a very good point. It’s a terrifyingly good point if you ask me.
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Ursomniac
May. 11th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
He didn’t deny it happened – he says he can’t remember. Six witnesses have come forward saying that not only did it happen and he was present but he instigated the entire act. Furthermore, they all state they found the incident abhorrent and that it has bothered them since.
I’m not sure I want a president who – at best – has memory issues, has no empathy for the victim even years after the event, and is apparently completely unfazed by his actions to the point of laughing it off when asked about it. At worst, he’s lying about something that happened decades ago – lacking the courage and morals to even admit that he once did something wrong and expressing regret for it.
How can this person POSSIBLY lead a country with a hugely varied population most of whom live lives that Romney cannot even comprehend? How can he represent the country globally when no one can ever be certain that he’s in any way operating honestly, and won’t “remember” details after the fact?
It seems that he has no understanding of cruelty – not to other human beings, not even to his dog.
This is not the profile of a leader – this is the profile of a monster. Regardless of political affiliation or ideology this is NOT someone who should be put in a leadership position. His morals only extend to what benefits him – no one else matters.
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Scott
May. 12th, 2012 at 7:26 am
Sadly, your list is short on how much of a psychopath the man really is. But your points are all extremely important to what Willard’s true personality is.
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T-Rex
May. 12th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
“How can this person POSSIBLY lead a country with a hugely varied population most of whom live lives that Romney cannot even comprehend?” Well, that’s exactly WHY he is now the Republican standard-bearer: the GOP base doesn’t think we SHOULD have a “hugely varied population.” They want someone to take us back to the good old days when everyone in the country was either white, heterosexual and a believer in male authority, or else invisible. Mitt, with his absolutely conformist mentality, is the perfect man for them. Anyone with a streak of individuality in the GOP is promptly excommunicated; the base has a zero-tolerance policy for heterodoxy. That’s why Gingrich and Perry are out of the race — not for the things that infuriate you or me, but for criticizing “right wing social engineering” or advocating for the children of immigrants.
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Victoria Lamb, MSHA
May. 15th, 2012 at 7:01 pm
So he is a sociopath.
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Scott
May. 12th, 2012 at 7:25 am
Here’s a really shiny object:
Willard Romney has claimed that marriage has always been between a man and a woman.
His grandfather had to FLEE the US because of his multiple wives.
Multiple, as in MORE THAN ONE.
This proves two things. Willard is a liar and Willard can’t count.
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T-Rex
May. 12th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
The irony here is just too thick for words. Romney, who has justified flat-out lies in political ads on the grounds that “the public knows that campaign ads are propaganda” is whining that it’s a dirty trick to release true information about him? Well, three things we always knew about Romney are now confirmed:
A) He is the quintessential conformist, who feels threatened by anything, even a haircut, that seems “different,”
B) He’ll do or say anything to be popular with his buddies, and
C) All bullies are cowards.
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jim Hayes
May. 12th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
He doesn’t remember this, but he remembers going to an auto industry anniversary celebration before he was even born. He brings a whole meaning to selective memory.
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Reynardine
May. 13th, 2012 at 9:05 pm
It appears the Gobs Of Poop party is now retaliating by having Rand Paul call the President gay. Well, dammit, it wasn’t the President tackling cute little blond schoolboys and holding them at knifepoint.
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