Scientists and Mormons for Obama October 22, 2012October 21, 2012 TO KNOW HIM IS TO REJECT HIM The three states that know Mitt best are Massachusetts, Michigan, and Utah. What does it say about the former governor of Massachusetts that he left office with a 34% approval rating — during good economic times? What does it say that he trails in the Michigan polls, where his Dad was a beloved governor? What does it say that the Salt Lake Tribune has rejected him? . . . Politicians routinely tailor their words to suit an audience. Romney, though, is shameless, lavishing vastly diverse audiences with words, any words, they would trade their votes to hear. More troubling, Romney has repeatedly refused to share specifics of his radical plan to simultaneously reduce the debt, get rid of Obamacare (or, as he now says, only part of it), make a voucher program of Medicare, slash taxes and spending, and thereby create millions of new jobs. To claim, as Romney does, that he would offset his tax and spending cuts (except for billions more for the military) by doing away with tax deductions and exemptions is utterly meaningless without identifying which and how many would get the ax. Absent those specifics, his promise of a balanced budget simply does not pencil out. . . . . . . our endorsement must go to the incumbent, a competent leader who, against tough odds, has guided the country through catastrophe and set a course that, while rocky, is pointing toward a brighter day. The president has earned a second term. Romney, in whatever guise, does not deserve a first. One can admire Mr. Romney’s intelligence and drive and still not want him to realize his ultimate ambition. A MORMON FOR OBAMA Kristina McCormack: “I’m a quintessential secular humanist, but I agree with this religious woman — ‘My Take: Hard truths matter; I’m Mormon, and I’m voting for Obama‘ — hard truths do matter. Unless we are honest with ourselves about where we are, we cannot make a wise choice about our next step.” ISRAELIS FOR OBAMA Watch. Just two minutes. Send to all your Jewish friends to send to theirs. (Seriously: this is how minds change.) And as many Jews “believe in” science and have respect for Nobel laureates, send them this, too: SCIENTISTS FOR OBAMA Specifically, 68 Nobel Prize winners. Read their open letter to the American public, here. . . . President Obama understands the key role science has played in building a prosperous America, has delivered on his promise to renew our faith in science-based decision making and has championed investment in science and technology research that is the engine of our economy. He has built strong programs to educate young Americans in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and programs to provide Americans the training they need to keep pace with a technology-driven economy. His opponent supports a budget that, if implemented, would devastate a long tradition of support for public research and investment in science at a time when this country’s future depends, as never before, on innovation. . . . What does it say that when you Google the term “SCIENTISTS FOR ROMNEY” (using the quotation marks) you get 8 hits, but that when you Google “SCIENTISTS FOR OBAMA” (again, using the quotation marks) you get 55,000? # Enjoy tonight’s debate. I assume the President will mention that 17 of Romney’s 24 foreign policy advisers served under George W. Bush. So it’s not just Bush’s disastrous economic vision Romney hopes to reprise — job creation through tax cuts for the wealthy — but his foreign policy as well.