Oh, Mittens...

[LewisLegion]

Smell that, Mittens? That's the smell of failure and sweet, sweet justice...

Romney charged with profiteering from auto bailout

[Andrew B]

Is this real? I honestly can't tell.

[Andara Bledin]

I'm withholding judgement on this one.

There are some serious journalists covering the story about his potentially being charged, but nothing on any top or even mid-tier news sites.

I think some people are trying to make a lot of noise so that it does happen (because, if the profiteering charge is true, this really does need to happen), but so far, no official word from the people responsible for actually doing so.

^-.-^

[LewisLegion]

Oooooh, I hope it's true, I hope it's true...

Does that make me an awful person?

[Dreamstalker]

Not at all

[mikoyan29]

I guess it's in the realm of possibility. But I don't see why there would have been a conflict of interest. He had nothing to do with the bailout other than arguing that Chrysler and GM should have went into bankruptcy.

[LewisLegion]

For me, the conflict of interest comes in between him and the American people. The fact that he's lied, manipulated the system for his own selfish gains, used his family to help cover up his greed, broken the law, and all the while trying to put himself out there as squeaky clean and THE choice for fixing the economy? Yeah, do we really want to vote for someone like that?

It's like saying 'sure, I know you're a bank robber, Mister, but here...hold my wallet anyway.'

[lordlundar]

The sad part is that even if charged, this won't affect anything. It's legal for a convicted criminal run for president, the GOP will still endorse him (have you seen how many "rape is a non-issue" GOP loons still getting support?) and there's still enough people who will vote for Romney simply because he's not Obama or a Democrat.

[daleduke17]

So, let's say Romney would not be able to continue to run for President anymore... would that clinch the election for Obama, would Ryan step in, or would something else happen?

[crashhelmet]

So, let's say Romney would not be able to continue to run for President anymore... would that clinch the election for Obama, would Ryan step in, or would something else happen?

Ryan could step in, or anyone else under the Republican banner for that matter. Even if there was no Republican candidate, Obama would still require the 270 Electoral Votes to be re-elected.

It could be what Gary Johnson and the Libertarian party need to get their push. Then again, the people behind VotingForJesus.com could get their way too.

personally, I'd really love that if it came down to Obama beating out Jesus for President. Oh the headlines that would make.

[Mytical]

At this point, if Mitt is disqualified..it would be all over but the mop up. Obama, even if somebody rose to oppose him, would clinch another 4 years.

[bara]

I might be wrong, but wouldnt tax evasion of that magnitude be a felon? Im fairly certain felons cant be President.

Of course, the rules seem to change without notice.

[Nekojin]

I might be wrong, but wouldnt tax evasion of that magnitude be a felon? Im fairly certain felons cant be President.

Of course, the rules seem to change without notice.

Tax evasion is whatever the IRS says it is. They have enormous leeway to prosecute in whatever manner they wish.

[BlaqueKatt]

I guess it's in the realm of possibility. But I don't see why there would have been a conflict of interest. He had nothing to do with the bailout other than arguing that Chrysler and GM should have went into bankruptcy.

He had nothing to do with the bailout, but he profited from it, if he gains the "ultimate position of authority", what's to stop him from authorizing another bailout-after all it would be "good for the(his) economy."

Plus Ann's money was used to purchase controlling interest in Delphi, which once it was purchased demanded taxpayer money(the U.S. Treasury called it extortion), thus raising the value of the stocks.

[HYHYBT]

It's too late for this to knock him off the ballot, and he'd be elected even if he "dropped out" this minute, if more than half the voters mark his name. So why hope that this turns out to be true?

This seems relevant:

“Suppose one reads a story of filthy atrocities in the paper. Then suppose that something turns up suggesting that the story might not be quite true, or not quite so bad as it was made out. Is one's first feeling, 'Thank God, even they aren't quite so bad as that,' or is it a feeling of disappointment, and even a determination to cling to the first story for the sheer pleasure of thinking your enemies are as bad as possible? If it is the second then it is, I am afraid, the first step in a process which, if followed to the end, will make us into devils. You see, one is beginning to wish that black was a little blacker. If we give that wish its head, later on we shall wish to see grey as black, and then to see white itself as black. Finally we shall insist on seeing everything -- God and our friends and ourselves included -- as bad, and not be able to stop doing it: we shall be fixed for ever in a universe of pure hatred.”

Now, if he's done wrong, he should be prosecuted of course.