So let’s look at what Fiorina said Wednesday night and see if she really was the “three-alarm fire” of untruthfulness that Rachel Maddow (and many others) are saying she was.
1. “My story, from secretary to CEO, is only possible in this nation.” That’s literally not true; of course it’s possible to go from secretary to CEO in other countries. In fact, according to PolitiFact (I know, I know…not my favorite): “Studies show that we are behind ‘many countries in Europe in terms of the ability of every kid in America to get ahead.’ Nordic countries have particularly higher rates of income mobility than the United States.”
2. “We have come to a pivotal point in our nation’s history where this nation’s possibilities and potential are being crushed by a government grown so big, so powerful, so inept, so corrupt, and a political class that refuses to do anything about it.” Huge lie on every level. For starters, see We Now Have Our Smallest Government in 45 Years — “How small has our public sector really become? Here’s one way to think about it: Compared to our population, it hasn’t been this size since 1968.” As for the concept that it’s “so inept, so corrupt,” etc., that’s just utter crap, no evidence for that whatsoever. Yet Fiorina states it as if it’s a self-evident fact. Yeah, maybe in the Fox/Rush alternate reality bubble, but nowhere else…
3. “Russia is a bad actor, but Vladimir Putin is someone we should not talk to, because the only way he will stop is to sense strength and resolve on the other side, and we have all of that within our control.” This isn’t a lie so much as crazy, stupiud, reckless, etc. Recall that even the sainted Ronald Reagan – and every other president – talked to the “Evil Empire,” the Soviet Union, during the height of the Cold War. Nixon, of course, went to Communist China and met with Mao, responsible for the deaths of tens of millions. Etc, etc. The concept that we’d cut off lines of communication with the leader of the second-largest nuclear power in the world is borderline insane.
4. “Dana, I would like to link these two issues, both of which are incredibly important, Iran and Planned Parenthood…Watch a fully formed fetus on the table, it’s heart beating, it’s legs kicking while someone says we have to keep it alive to harvest its brain.” Now we get into even wilder lies and “Demon Sheep”-level stupidity from Fiorina. First off, Fiorina outright lied about a supposed video “showing the scene Fiorina describes taking place inside a Planned Parenthood facility.” That simply did not happen. Second, Planned Parenthood did nothing illegal, certainly didn’t “sell” body parts for profit or anything like that. Third, linking the Planned Parenthood hysteria with a serious, important nuclear deal with Iran is just…truly beyond crazy. Finally, this shouldn’t even have to be stated, but Fiorina’s demagoguery here is appalling.
5. “We have been talking about [immigration] for 25 years. This is why people are tired of politicians.” Verrrry clever by Fiorina to only go back 25 years on the immigration debate, as if it started in 1990 — AFTER Ronald Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 into law. At the time, the “Immigration and Naturalization Service estimated that about four million undocumented immigrants would apply for legal status through the act and that roughly half of them would be eligible.” That’s right, Ronald Reagan signed an “amnesty” for four million “illegal” immigrants (as right wingers like to call them) nearly 30 years ago, and of course the debate over immigration had been going on for many years prior to that.
6. “President Obama campaigned in 2007 and 2008 on solving the immigration problem. He entered Washington with majorities in the House and the Senate. He could have chosen to do anything to solve this pro — this problem. Instead, he chose to do nothing. Why? because the Democrats don’t want this issue solved.” Lies on all levels here. First off, President Obama absolutely DID try to solve the immigration problem. In fact, he’s been viciously criticized by right wingers for some of his actions in that regard. Second, Democrats absolutely DO want to “solve the immigration problem,” in fact it’s one of the Dems’ top priorities. That’s why, in 2013, the U.S. Senate passed a “sweeping immigration bill,” by a 68-32 vote, with 14 Republicans joining “a united Democratic caucus in supporting the bill, which is backed by the White House and has the potential to become the crowning legislative achievement of President Barack Obama’s second term.” So why hasn’t that bill become law? Because Republicans in the House of Representatives – Bob Goodlatte and John Boehner, primarily – have kept it from even coming to a vote. Why? Because they know it would pass, with overwhelming if not unanimous Democratic support.
7. “Despite those difficult times, we doubled the size of the company, we quadrupled its topline growth rate, we quadrupled its cash flow, we tripled its rate of innovation.” Fiorina’s braggadocio about her tenure at Hewlett-Packard is just laughable. In fact, as “The Fix” noted yesterday, an ad telling voters that “Fiorina laid off 30,000 workers at HP while feathering her own nest (the ad’s narrator says she tripled her salary) and buying a ‘million-dollar yacht’ and ‘five corporate jets'” could “sink Carly Fiorina’s campaign.” Also note that Fiorina was fired from HP in 2005 and “got a severance package worth more than $20 million.”
8. “Problems have festered in Washington for too long. And the potential of this nation is being crushed.” To the extent that’s true, it’s because of Fiorina’s own party’s economic idiocy — including sequestration and fiscal austerity in general — combined with failure to invest in America’s infrastructure, human capital, clean energy, etc, etc. Look in the mirror Carly Fiorina!
So…those are just a few of Fiorina’s “three-alarm fire” moments from Wednesday night’s debate. If this person were in a high school or college class, their teacher would probably give them a “D” or “F,” maybe suspend or expel them for their incessant lies, fabrications, etc. But among the far-right-wing base and the brain-dead corporate media? She’s a winner – ding ding ding! – because…I dunno, she said all that crap with “attitude”…or something? Ugh.
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