Do you think we are THAT stupid?

I have written about political rhetoric before.  In one blog I described the difference between liberal and conservative media this way:

The liberal media use the actual words of conservatives (sometimes out of context, sometimes not) to ridicule their ideas and philosophy. The right-wing media distorts the words (and beliefs) of liberals, and then ridicules them. . . In the language of debate competitions, they “prop up a straw man and knock it down.”

Here is the Romney campaign reaction to President Obama explaining the biggest mistake of his first term:

President Obama believes that millions of Americans have lost their homes, their jobs and their livelihood because he failed to tell a good story.

Cut the Crap

This is a colossal straw man. This is what President Obama actually said:

The mistake of my first term —a couple of years — was thinking that this job was just about getting the policy right. And that’s important, but the nature of this office is also to tell a story to the American people that gives them a sense of unity and purpose and optimism, especially during tough times. It’s funny, when I ran, people said, ‘Well, he can give a great speech, but can he actually manage the job?’ And then in my first two years, I think the notion was, “Well, you know, he’s been juggling and managing a lot of stuff, but where’s the story that tells us where he’s going?’ And I think that was a legitimate criticism.

Romney campaign strategists must think Americans are stupid. This November we will find out if they are right.

I am not defending or promoting either the political right or left.  I am angry about insults to my intelligence.  How do you feel, when your intelligence is insulted?  Send me your examples from both sides.  It’s an election year. We are bombarded.