Politics.. Where Lying Happens

Ohio used to allow eligible voters to vote up to 3 days before Election Day (e.g., if Election day is on a Monday, voters can vote starting the previous Friday, and over the weekend).  In 2011, the GOP-led state legislature eliminated this ability, but federal law still allowed active-duty military personnel to vote three days early.

President Obama’s campaign filed a lawsuit, asking a federal court to “restore in-person early voting for all Ohioans during the three days prior to Election Day – a right exercised by an estimated 93,000 Ohioans in the last presidential election.” You with me?  Obama said that instead of allowing only active-duty military voters to vote up to three days before Election Day, Ohio should allow all eligible voters in Ohio to vote up to three days before Election Day – including active duty troops.

Romney then attacked this lawsuit, posting to Facebook:

“President Obama’s lawsuit claiming it is unconstitutional for Ohio to allow servicemen and women extended early voting privileges during the state’s early voting period is an outrage. The brave men and women of our military make tremendous sacrifices to protect and defend our freedoms, and we should do everything we can to protect their fundamental right to vote. I stand with the fifteen military groups that are defending the rights of military voters, and if I’m entrusted to be the commander-in-chief, I’ll work to protect the voting rights of our military, not undermine them.”

To Recap: Obama tried to make it easier for everybody in Ohio to vote; Romney said he was attacking military troops’ voting rights.  According to Politico, “Romney’s spokesman, Ryan Williams, in an interview Saturday could point to no place in Obama’s lawsuit that seeks to restrict the rights of military voters.”

This is what’s absolutely maddening in today’s politics.  People can just say whatever the fuck they want and it won’t matter if they have evidence or are lying through their teeth; it’s in the public eye and a good amount of people won’t educate themselves to what’s real and what’s not. Regardless of your political affiliations, can’t we all agree that flat-out lies cannot be allowed as an effective campaign tool? Am I taking fucking crazy pills over here?