I hate to bother you with a question like this so late in the election cycle, but I am an undecided voter –in Florida (Lakeland, to be exact). Not only that, I'm the guy whose court case on behalf of Theresa 'Terri' Schiavo almost won [losing a close 4-3 split decision, and scaring the daylights out of liberals: SC03-2420 (Fla. Feb.23, 2003), denied 4-3 on rehearing—see below in the “SOURCES:” section - in red-font with yellow highlighting -for citations], which was, most say, a “miracle,” since I'm not a lawyer. (Non-lawyers usually can't represent anyone else in court, but I found a loophole.) I did better in court than either Jeb Bush or Schiavo's own family. – For the record, I also opposed Jeb Bush's “Terri's Law” case, on other grounds, which probably made conservatives nervous too. (Google me, my email address, & my phone number if you doubt this –or see “SOURCES:” below for links to The Fla. Supreme Court's website to verify my claims.)

So, what this means to you is that not only is my vote important (more-so, as I'm a 'Florida' voter), but as I'm a “high-profile” personality in politics, and have allies on both sides of the isle, I might influence others, so I hope you see that I'm not wasting your time here.

Anyhow, I've narrowed my vote for the Presidential ticket down to six (6) parties, those listed in the “To” line, above, but I'd like some clarification from each of you on where you stand on the issues, before I make my decision; would that be ok? So, seeing 1 week 'til “Election Day,” I'm hustling to give you time to respond –all of you. (I'm copying my own State & Fed representatives & local press, in case they want to weigh in, and I'm copying Dr. Ron Paul, because I'm using him as an 'good' example of when it's “OK” to flip-flop—to illustrate a point, because I'm concerned with a lot of waffling of recent.)

@ OBAMA / BIDEN:

First off, thank you, Mr. President and VP Biden for your support for keeping certain college loans at 3.4%, as opposed to the plan to let them go to 6.8%. Also, thank you for using Executive Order to effect a “Pay As You Earn” program, that caps monthly federal student loan repayment at 10% of monthly discretionary income, instead of the previous 15% under “Income Based Repayment.” I don't know HOW you did this, as I thought Separation of Powers prohibited anyone other than the Legislature from passing laws. (I've got a bunch of degrees with high honours, and deep in college debt, with no good job in sight, so this touches me.)

viz: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/10/25/fact-sheet-help-americans-manage-student-loan-debt

VP Joe Biden was also honest enough to admit to an FSU student, recently, that loan & grant subsidies have resulted in tuition inflation (see quote below), but what has he done to fix the problem? Nothing. Furthermore, American 'college loan' debt has now surpassed Credit Card debt for the 1^st time ever –and college tuition keeps climbing FAR faster than inflation, even though American Higher Education keeps slipping farther behind other nations, so this meteoric rise in tuition is NOT justified. This has occurred on both your watch, and that of all previous Presidents: Your intentions are good, but what your administration has done is a “drop in the bucket.” – I am NOT impressed.

@ ROMNEY / RYAN:

Rep. Paul Ryan, you are very smart, and, like VP Biden, have acknowledged how excess loan & grant monies have distorted the Free Market & caused tuition inflation: THANK YOU! (Colleges jack up tuition because they know students can afford more!) BUT YOU HAVE FLIP-FLOPPED on the subject of loans. (See all 4 quotes below, to verify my claims.) – With all due respect, Paul: You also said: “and we need to have a system of viable student loans to be able to do this.” If you want me to vote for you and your running mate, I'd appreciate clarification on why you're saying 2 different things, here: To be clear, you were right in the 1^st two quotes: Cutting Pell Grants & Student Loans was the RIGHT plan; Why did you waffle??

Gov. Romney, you are quoted below that, opposing excessive Student Loans debt (good), but still OK with allowing Pell Grants to increase with the “rate of inflation,” eh? I have not forgotten your “economic” skill in rescuing the Olympics a while back, which is a good skill in addressing “tuition inflation.” However, while everyone knows that your state, Massachusetts, has top-notch Public Education & Higher Education, the cost of tuition is (just as in EVERY other state) unbearably high. Even though American colleges were the best in the world in the 1950's, nonetheless, college was affordable back then, but it is not now. (I know it's partly a Federal problem, since influx of Federal monies bid up tuition inflation, but your state still did not have to cave in to the temptation to raise tuition when quality of higher ed has not risen that dramatically.) So I am likewise NOT IMPRESSED with your accomplishments here.

Before I forget, I'd like to know the views of all the candidates on allowing Student Loans to be eligible for Bankruptcy proceedings without the near-impossible “Undue Hardship” standard. The reason I'm asking is NOT to get a “free handout,” but rather, if the US Dept of Ed knew students could obtain bankruptcy, they would no longer make $1.22 for every dollar of defaulted loan, but instead, they'd lose money on bad loans –and they'd pressure Congress to LOWER the Loan Limits on Student Loans, and, as VP Candidates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan have both admitted, the lower availability of easy loan monies would cause college tuition to drop, since, of course, colleges would know students could not take out deep loans. So, knowing this, why haven't any of you “major party” candidate advocated returning Bankruptcy (and other standard consumer protections) that everyone else has, even credit Card users or even Donald Trump, who has filed bankruptcy FOUR times?

Also, since students are NOT even told their loans lack bankruptcy when they take out the loan, this is like me selling YOU a car with bad brakes but not even telling you about this. (Why haven't any of you made an outcry about this obvious inequity?)

Pres. Obama, please take a look at this portion of your website. I have some questions for you:

“WHAT PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS DONE...Committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose [and abortion]...WHAT MITT ROMNEY WOULD DO...Backed a bill to outlaw all abortions – even in cases of rape or incest.”

* http://www.barackobama.com/our-rights/

(“ROLLING BACK WOMEN'S RIGHTS,” BarackObama.com)

Question—With all due respect, Mr. President: We may disagree on policies and particulars, but why do you make claims that everybody knows to be false? While Rep. Paul Ryan may have this view, and only support abortion in a case to save the life of the mother, Gov. Romney has never taken this position. Even the “liberal” St. Pete Times' “PolitiFact” agrees—Observe:

“The ad from the Obama campaign said Romney "backed a bill that outlaws all abortions, even in cases of rape and incest."...In its effort to appeal to women, the Obama campaign has twisted Romney's position to a ridiculous degree. We rate the claim Pants on Fire.”

* http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jul/25/barack-obama/romney-abortion-rape-incest/

(“Obama ad says Romney opposed abortion, even in cases of rape and incest,” PolitiFact)

“President Obama, through a campaign tweet, pegged Paul Ryan as supporting a ban on abortions, "even in cases of rape or incest." [line-break] Ryan does oppose those exceptions. Obama’s Twitter claim misfires in saying Ryan supports banning "all" abortions. He has supported an exception when a mother’s life is at stake. [line-break] That’s an important detail that is left out. We rate Obama’s claim Half True.”

* http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2012/aug/17/barack-obama/obama-says-ryan-supports-banning-all-abortions/

(“Obama says Ryan supports banning all abortions,” PolitiFact)

Pres. Obama: Although you're not as “pro-life” as I'd like, I'm glad that even the Pro-Life Action League admits that: “President Obama has declared his intention to reduce abortion.” (“Pro-Life Action League Tells Obama, “Abortion Is Not Health Care”: Group to Protest Health Care Speech at A.M.A. Meeting,” by League Staff, June 16, 2009: http://prolifeaction.org/hotline/2009/pr90615/ )

I also appreciate your speech at Notre Dame, where you supported “the need to reduce unwanted pregnancies and encourage adoptions...[and that] Obama called for each side to stop dehumanizing the other.” (“At Notre Dame, Obama tackles abortion debate,” by John McCormick & Manya A. Brachear, LA TIMES, May 18, 2009: http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/18/nation/na-obama-notre18 )

But, Mr. President, besides a lot of flip-flopping that you (and other candidates) regularly do, bearing false testimony about your brethren here is NOT presidential, and I'd like you (or your staff) to explain this to me, ok? (If it was a mistake, I'm not going to crucify you, but inquiring minds would like to know.) Speaking of which...

While I don't like any candidate “flip-flopping,” I will give you credit for an honest change of mind, because you admitted to your flip-flop, and explained your change of heart here, OK?

“It’s also worth noting that Romney has not denied a change of heart on abortion...In an interview with the conservative blog RedState in September 2006, Romney said, "My position changed during the stem-cell research debate. The provost of Harvard and the head of stem-cell research came into my office and at one point said that stem-cell research was not a moral issue because they killed the embryo at 14 days. And it hit me hard at that very moment that the Roe v. Wade philosophy had cheapened the value of human life. And I said to my chief of staff, who was with me in the meeting, as we came outside, ‘I am no longer content with the description of my position. I want to call myself pro-life.’ "”

* http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/15/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-evolved-significantly-his-position-abo/

(“Mitt Romney evolved significantly in his position on abortion,” PolitiFact)

During the 3^rd Presidential Debate, Gov. Romney said Pres. Obama was wrong to go on an apology tour, but Pres. Obama denied that he went on any “apology tour”:

COMMENTS – BOTH are wrong here: First, Gov. Romney is correct (and Pres. Obama was wrong) in his claims here: “Obama did indeed mention past U.S. flaws in speeches,” which any reasonable listener would infer as Obama apologising. HOWEVER, Pres. Obama is technically right—and Gov. Romney technically wrong: “But in those addresses, Obama never [verbatim] uttered an apology [that is, said: “I'm sorry; I apologise”] for the United States.”

FURTHER COMMENTS: The more important thing, though is that America HAS done a lot of horrendous things, like invading countries that were really no threat, or even if we invaded & “did good,” like removing Saddam Hussein (under the Bush administration) or capturing Osama bin Laden (under the Obama administration), we stayed WAAAY too long in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, and this is wrong on 3 fronts:

So, President Obama was RIGHT to be man enough to apologise for America's many offenses, and Gov. Romney, you were wrong to criticise him, ok?

[Everyone know this is true, but below is a link to CNN to verify – just to be on the safe side.]

* http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/23/politics/fact-check-apology-tour/index.html

(“CNN Fact Check: Obama went on an apology tour, Romney and others say,” By Joe Sterling, CNN,

updated 9:18 AM EDT, Tue October 23, 2012)

“So we rate Paul’s statement True.”

* http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/feb/17/rand-paul/rand-paul-says-zeroing-out-non-military-discretion/

(“The federal government "can cut all of the non-military discretionary spending and not balance the budget.",” PolitiFact)

@ Pres. Obama: See below—you flip-flopped on whether we should raise the Debt Ceiling = not good. But you were honest enough to admit that you regretted having to raise it. You also flip-flopped on whether or not to take money from super PAC's (see below), which, in my opinion, tends to 'corrupt,' Democracy if used in excess, but you were also honest enough to admit you want to stop them, so I'm not going to hold it against you if you took advantage of something in order to keep from wasting the opportunity.

However, see below that: You flip-flopped on whether or not a US President has the power to authorize an attack (on say, Lybia) if there was no imminent threat to the U.S. Here, you offered no good reason for changing your mind to that of the 'War Hawks,' and have gone back on your word to get us out of these unauthorised foreign conflict.

What gives, Mr. President??

Also, troubling is the fact you flip-flopped on “ObamaCare”: You were against it before you were for it. Remember? (If you forget, see below, for citations to your visit to the Ellen DeGeneres show when you were running against former Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.)

You never explained why you changed your mind – I find that very disingenuous. (Did apologise for your flop, and explain why you changed your mind? Did I miss something?)

PRO: “Silent on the DC ban [line-break] In the months leading up to the Supreme Court decision, Obama did, in fact, skirt the issue of whether he though the DC gun ban was constitutional. Instead, he repeatedly said he believed the Second Amendment protected an individual's right to bear arms, but that it does not preclude local governments from enacting "common sense" laws to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and children.”

* http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2008/jul/08/john-mccain/obama-consistently-on-the-fence/

(“Obama consistently on the fence [on Second Amendment],” PolitiFact)

CON: “"I am not in favor of concealed weapons," Obama said. "I think that creates a potential atmosphere where more innocent people could (get shot during) altercations."”

* http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_560181.html#axzz2Aom327Uv

(“Candidates' gun control positions may figure in Pa. Vote,” By Mike Wereschagin and David M. Brown, Published: Wednesday, April 2, 2008)

* http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-helmke/barack-obama-i-am-not-in_b_170033.html

See also: “Barack Obama: "I Am Not In Favor Of Concealed Weapons",” by Paul Helmke, Huffington Post, Feb. 25, 2009)

“Too many convictions, not necessarily federal, have been found to be in error, but only after years of incarcerating innocent people who later were released on DNA evidence. Rich people when guilty are rarely found guilty and sentenced to death.”

* http://www.ontheissues.org/2012/Ron_Paul_Crime.htm

“Too many capital convictions have been proven errors. (Apr 2011)”

“Changed opinion to anti-death penalty due to many mistakes. (Sep 2007)”

* http://www.ontheissues.org/ron_paul.htm

(“Ron Paul On the issues,” OnTheIssues.com)

Comments: Dr. Ron Paul flip-flopped on the Death Penalty, but it was only because it has been unfairly applied (discriminating against poor and minorities), but also incorrectly applied (with DNA evidence to prove innocent people have been improperly found guilty and sentenced to death). So, Dr. Paul's “flip-flop” is something that he both admitted to doing, explained, and is justified.

Pro-Life, Pro-Traditional-Marriage, Pro-Second-Amendment, Fiscally Conservative, Anti-illegal-immigration, Pro-Defense, Anti-Nation-Building, Pro-U.S.-sovereignty, For Term Limits, Smaller-Gov't, For state/local control of Higher Ed, Supports support ending the U.S. Dept. of Ed.

http://www.goodeforpresident2012.com/the-issues.html

(“The Issues,” Virgil Goode)

Ibid.

http://www.goodeforpresident2012.com/compare-the-candidates.html

(“Compare the Candidates,” Virgil Goode)

@ GOV. ROMNEY: I don't know enough about Bain Capitol to suggest you may have oppressed workers (a common accusation), so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt here. Also, while ObamaCare (Socialised Medicine) sounds like it may bankrupt us, I won't hold it against you for having “RomneyCare” in Massachusetts, since States' Rights are one thing: National Healthcare is another.

And: I notice (see below) that, in spite of all the rumours, you didn't flip-flop on either TARP or on gay marriage, and so I am thinking that you might be a good, honest President if you get in there.

HOWEVER, you flip-flopped on both Reaganomics as well as the 'no new taxes' pledge. Did you really change your mind, and become conservative, or was it merely politically expediency? (Can we really trust you to not pull a fast one, like most other prior administrations of BOTH political parties, and run up the debt 'til we go bankrupt?)

Same type of question for you: See below—you flip-flopped on Gay Marriage –twice. What gives?

With all due respect, former Gov. Johnson: I am a 'Ron Paul' Republican, and agree with practically all his views—as do you, and I'm VERY impressed at how you managed your state's budget while you were governor of New Mexico, ok? However, 1 or 2 things really trouble me, and my vote is, instead, going to one of the 2 major party candidates –or more likely, former Rep. Virgil Goode, the Constitution Party Candidate –if you don't have a quick change of heart here:

““I support a woman’s right to choose,” Johnson said this week. “I do believe that Israel is an important ally and will remain so in the future…I do believe in [gay] marriage equality.”

* http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/the-daylight-between-paul-johnson

* http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/02/the-daylight-between-paul-and-johnson-113959.html

(“The daylight between Paul and Johnson,” By Maggie Haberman, 2/8/12 10:52 PM EST)

Gov. Johnson and Judge Gray: I'm not prejudiced against gays, and I do believe they deserve all the rights, such as hospital visitation, inheritance, and the same contract benefits offered to married couples at work –but gay marriage is against God's clear standards. Further: Looking at Luke 1:41 and Luke 1:44 of The Holy Bible (you're a Christian, like me, right?), you see the unborn child called a BABY, not a “blob of tissue.”

“41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:”

“44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”

http://www.godvoter.org/2012/Gary-Johnson-ratings.html says you are a Lutheran Christian.

So, with all due respect, Gary, if you want my vote, you're going to have to explain to me how it would be “OK” for the Federal Government to permit killing of babies in the womb (in clear violation of the above -and the 'Thou Shalt Not Kill' mandates in the Old Testament), but somehow the Federal Government can't allow “States' Rights” to permit toddlers being killed—like Casey Anthony did to her daughter, Caylee? Hmm... (Equal Protection issues, eh? Double Standards, we?)

I looked at your campaign website, and I think you would speak up against the oppression of a lot of over-burdened college students, and demand fair treatment. And, as I'm a “Ron Paul” Republican, I also am impressed that you have the courage to stand up to the “War Hawks” in both the Democratic & Republican parties. Remember too, as I said above to Gov. Gary Johnson, I don't hate gays, and I don't hold it against someone for having a gay “orientation,” since this is a temptation—and temptation is NOT sin. However, our actions can be sin, and you seem to stand on the wrong side of both gay marriage and rights of the unborn. (Hey, aren't the unborn just as important as college students or gays? LOL) – So, with all due respect, if you want my vote, you'll have to “flip-flop” at least in regard to abortion, and make a sincere apology.

“We recognize each person’s right to determine her or his own sexual preferences. We respect the right of all individuals to control their own bodies, including free abortion on demand.”

* http://www.roseanneforpresident2012.us/peace-and-freedom-party/

(“Peace and Freedom Party,” Rosanne Barr)

“Barr’s brother and sister are gay, a fact that she said pushed her to supporting same-sex marriage and other LGBT issues.”

* http://www.projectqatlanta.com/news_articles/view/Roseanne_Barr_delights_in_Atlanta_photos?gid=7319

(“Roseanne Barr delights in Atlanta [photos],” By Matt Hennie | Jan 25, 2011 | 12:09 PM)

Roseanne, you and Cindy are talented people: I have faith in you, and I appreciate your courage to run for President, but you won't get my vote just for being a “cool person,” ok?

Dr. Stein, like I said to Roseanne, I think you are pushing some really good ideas & want to help people, but wait! You're a doctor, and you've taken the Hippocratic Oath: “"Primum non nocere"”—to “First, do no harm” to your patient, right?

“Expand women's access to the "morning after" contraception by lifting the Obama Administration's ban.” * http://www.jillstein.org/issues

(“Where we stand on the issues,” Dr. Jill Stein, MD)

“Maintain abortion rights & provide free birth control. (May 2012)”

* http://www.ontheissues.org/Jill_Stein.htm

(“2012 Presidential Candidates Jill Stein,” OnTheIssues)

“Dr. Jill Stein is a mother, physician, longtime teacher of internal medicine, and pioneering environmental-health advocate.” (“About Jill Stein,” Dr. Jill Stein, MD)

* http://www.jillstein.org/bio * Cf: http://www.jillstein.org/cheri_honkala

With all due respect, I take issue with your stance on abortion, just as with the others, and I'd like you to reconsider your views on abortion and the Roe v. Wade decision, ok? Just as with 'Dred Scott,' the US Supreme Court sent down a 'bad' decision—and just as we would not vote to retain any of the seven (7) justices that voted to uphold Dred Scott, likewise, I find myself at odds with your request for me to vote for you.

To all: I'm not voting early next week, in all likelihood: I'm going to wait until all your campaigns have had a chance to respond, before I vote. Thank you all for your time/effort to clarify these issues. (If you can answer me on all these points, it may help you “reach out” to other voters in the closing week of the election cycle.)

[1] In Re: GORDON WAYNE WATTS (as next friend of THERESA MARIE 'TERRI' SCHIAVO), No. SC03-2420 (Fla. Feb.23, 2003), denied 4-3 on rehearing.

* http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/clerk/dispositions/2005/2/03-2420reh.pdf

* http://www.gordonwatts.com/03-2420reh.pdf

* http://www.gordonwaynewatts.com/03-2420reh.pdf

[2] In Re: JEB BUSH, GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA, ET AL. v. MICHAEL SCHIAVO, GUARDIAN: THERESA SCHIAVO, No. SC04-925 (Fla. Oct.21, 2004), denied 7-0 on rehearing.

* http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/clerk/dispositions/2004/10/04-925reh.pdf

* http://www.gordonwatts.com/04-925reh.pdf

* http://www.gordonwaynewatts.com/04-925reh.pdf

[3] Schiavo ex rel. Schindler v. Schiavo ex rel. Schiavo, 403 F.3d 1223, 2005 WL 648897 (11th Cir. Mar.23, 2005), denied 2-1 on appeal.

* http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200511628.pdf

* http://gordonwatts.com/200511628.pdf

* http://gordonwaynewatts.com/200511628.pdf

To make the liberals happy:

“AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF BY AMICUS GORDON WATTS in support of Appellee, Michael Schiavo’s petition to affirm”:

* http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/pub_info/summaries/briefs/04/04-925/Filed_07-29-2004_AmicusGordonWatts.pdf

* http://gordonwaynewatts.com/SchiavoPhotos/SchiavoAmicus.pdf

* http://gordonwatts.com/SchiavoPhotos/SchiavoAmicus.pdf

“Student: Good morning Mr. Vice President. I was wondering how do you feel about the idea that government subsidies and interference with the free market, for example, by artificially increasing availability of student loans is at least partially responsible for rising tuition costs. And now we're facing a possible student loan bubble and subsequent collapse just as we're coming out of the housing crisis...Biden: By the way, government subsidies have impacted upon rising tuition costs. It's a conundrum here. But if we went the rate your view of the free market route what we would have done is we would have not of done that. We would not have increased pell grants, for example. And there would be 9 million fewer students in college today. [line-break] And there would be hundreds of thousands and millions of students who would not be in college who don't get Pell grants because there was no ability for them to borrow money through Perkins loans and/or have the tax deduction. [line-break] So you are right, in a pure free-market the college tuition would have to be lower because there would be fewer people going to school, they wouldn't have as much coming in.”

* http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/02/06/biden_admits_government_subsidies_have_increased_college_tuition.html

(“Biden Admits Government Subsidies Have Increased College Tuition,” RealClearPolitics.com, Posted on February 6, 2012)

Cf: * http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/06/joe-biden-government-subsidies-raise-college-tuition_n_1257895.html

(“Joe Biden Admits Government Subsidies Add To Rising College Tuition,” Huffington Post, First Posted: 02/ 6/2012 2:48 pm Updated: 02/ 6/2012 2:48 pm)

“Budget: Ryan is the primary author of conservative tax and spending blueprints...Other elements of the budget plan would cut projected spending for Medicaid, which provides health care for the poor, as well as food stamps, student loans and other social programs that Obama and Democrats have pledged to defend. In all, it projects spending cuts of $5.3 trillion over a decade, and would cut future projected deficits substantially. It also envisions a far-reaching overhaul of the tax code of the sort Romney has promised.”

* http://townhall.com/news/politics-elections/2012/08/12/a_look_at_where_paul_ryan_stands_on_the_issues

(“A look at where Paul Ryan stands on the issues,” APNews, Aug 12, 2012)

*** Comments: Good. Students don't NEED to take out huge loans; this induces colleges to raise tuition to match increased borrowing abilities. Besides costing students, it costs taxpayers, since tax dollars either make or guarantee all Federal Student Loans.

“Ryan has also repeatedly voted for or proposed limiting funding and eligibility for Pell grants, which go to low-income college students.”

* http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/13/paul-ryan-on-education-le_n_1773188.html

(“Paul Ryan On Education: Less Federal Control, Student Loan Interest Rates And Vouchers,” By Sarah Butrymowicz, Posted: 08/13/2012 1:26 pm Updated: 08/13/2012 1:26 pm)

*** Comments: Good. Pell Grants also distort the Free Market & bid up tuition inflation, as in easy loans. This also costs taxpayer dollars for no good reason, since colleges simply raise tuition to match increased grant monies.

“The right-wing lawmaker [Paul Ryan] responded:

“…Pell Grants have become unsustainable. It’s all borrowed money…. Look, I worked three jobs to pay off my student loans after college. I didn’t get grants, I got loans, and we need to have a system of viable student loans to be able to do this...”

[skip to 2nd-to-last paragraph] Ryan’s comfortable with these families taking on crushing debts, but student-loan debt nationwide is already nearing the $1 trillion mark — even more than Americans owe on credit cards — which very likely undermines the economy as young workers with disposable income inject less money into the economy and more into banks.”

* http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_10/paul_ryan_and_how_to_lose_the033044.php

(“Paul Ryan and how to lose the future,” By Steve Benen, October 24, 2011 2:40 PM)

*** Comment: Ryan flip-flops on Student Loans. Whaaat!? His position here is OK with crushing debt, which is NOT good.

“Congressman Ryan responded, saying, ”Cause Pell Grants have become unsustainable. It’s all borrowed money…Look, I worked three jobs to pay off my student loans after college. I didn’t get grants, I got loans, and we need to have a system of viable student loans to be able to do this.””

* http://www.kulturekritic.com/2012/08/news/v-p-pick-paul-ryan-once-told-a-student-he-should-work-3-jobs-to-pay-for-college-instead-of-taking-pell-grants/

(“V.P. Pick Paul Ryan Once Told a Student He Should Work 3 Jobs to Pay For College Instead of Taking Pell Grants,” by Denise, August 15, 2012)

*** Comment: Ryan flip-flops on Student Loans. Whaaat!?

“Speaking at the event, hosted by Spanish-language TV station Univision and held at the University of Miami, Romney went against his vice presidential pick. “I care about your education and helping people of modest means get a good education and we’ll continue a Pell grant program,” he said. “The Republican budget called for Pell grants being capped out at their current level. My inclination would be to have them go with the rate of inflation.” [line-break] The rate of inflation was 3 percent in 2011. Romney added that keeping the grants growing at the rate of inflation would help keep college costs down overall. [line-break] “The best thing I can do is not to [say,] ‘Hey, I’ll loan you more money. Here let’s loan you,’” he said. “I don’t want to overwhelm you with debts. I want to make sure you can pay back the debts you’ve already got and that will happen with good jobs.” Romney also spoke of the need for merit pay to attract high-quality teachers...”

* http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/24/mitt-romney-breaks-from-r_n_1909098.html

(“Mitt Romney Breaks From Ryan Budget On Pell Grants: Education In The Election,” By Sarah Butrymowicz, Posted: 09/24/2012 9:25 am Updated: 09/24/2012 9:25 am)

*** Comments: Partly-good: Romney does not understand the need to reduce excessive “grant” expenditures (which bid up the CO$T of college), but he's brave enough to oppose so-called “good” Student Loans, which are also not really helpful, since they only benefit the colleges –not the student.)

“"Look, I worked three jobs to pay off my student loans after college," House Budget Committee Chairman Paul D. Ryan said last week at a town hall meeting in his native Wisconsin. "I didn't get grants, I got loans, and we need to have a system of viable student loans to be able to do this."”

* http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/25/nation/la-na-occupy-student-loans-20111026

(“Student loans add to angst at Occupy Wall Street,” By Geraldine Baum, Los Angeles Times, October 25, 2011)

*** Comment: Ryan flip-flops on Student Loans. Whaaat!?

“"Nobody likes to be tagged as having increased the debt limit for the United States by a trillion dollars. As president, you start realizing, you know what, we can't play around with this stuff. . . . (Raising the limit is) important for the country." [line-break] -- President Barack Obama, April 15, 2011 [line-break] Obama's not unique in using the debt ceiling vote for partisan posturing. But on the Flip-O-Meter, he still earns a Full Flop.”

* http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/apr/29/barack-obama/obama-regrets-2006-vote-against-raising-debt-limit/

(“Obama regrets 2006 vote against raising the debt limit,” PolitiFact)

“Our ruling [line-break] We don’t take a position on the merits of a flip. We’re just interested in whether a person’s position has changed. In this case, Obama and his campaign have gone from refusing to fundraise for super PACs to declaring that senior officials will attend and speak at Priorities USA fundraising events. We respect that the president himself won’t participate, and that he still plans to fight the role of special interest money in campaigns, but that’s a major reversal of position, and we rate it a Full Flop.”

* http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/feb/07/barack-obama/obama-campaign-says-officials-will-now-appear-supe/

(“On fundraising for super PACs,” PolitiFact)

Comments: While Pres. Obama flip-flopped, I also respect him for opposing special interest influence in campaigns; Contributions are OK, but excess rich PAC influences distort Democracy. Pres. Obama may not have been wrong to take advantage of PAC contributions, even if the concept is flawed.

“In 2007, Obama was adamant that the president did not have the power to authorize an attack if there was no imminent threat to the U.S. But now he has authorized just such an action. Full Flop.”

* http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/mar/23/barack-obama/barack-obamas-libya-intervention-flip-flop-what-he/

(“Is Barack Obama's Libya intervention a flip-flop from what he said in 2007?,” PolitiFact)

“During the 2008 presidential campaign, Obama expressed opposition to a mandate requiring all Americans to buy health care insurance. In a Feb. 28, 2008, interview on the Ellen DeGeneres show, Obama sought to distinguish himself from then-candidate Hillary Clinton by saying, "Both of us want to provide health care to all Americans. There’s a slight difference, and her plan is a good one. But, she mandates that everybody buy health care. [line-break] "She’d have the government force every individual to buy insurance and I don’t have such a mandate because I don’t think the problem is that people don’t want health insurance, it’s that they can’t afford it," Obama said. "So, I focus more on lowering costs. This is a modest difference. But, it’s one that she’s tried to elevate, arguing that because I don’t force people to buy health care that I’m not insuring everybody. Well, if things were that easy, I could mandate everybody to buy a house, and that would solve the problem of homelessness. It doesn't."”

* http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/06/28/individual-health-care-insurance-mandate-has-long-checkered-past/

(“Individual health care insurance mandate has roots two decades long,” Published June 28, 2012, FoxNews.com)

See also: “Obama flip-flops on requiring people to buy health care,” PolitiFact)

“Barack Obama (D) - Con

[Editor's Note: Prior to Barack Obama's Pro statement from Sep. 9, 2009, he expressed a Con position as indicated by his statement during a Feb. 28, 2008 interview on NBC's Ellen DeGeneres Show, available at www.cnsnews.com, below.]

"Both of us [Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton] want to provide health care to all Americans. There’s a slight difference, and her plan is a good one. But, she mandates that everybody buy health care. She’d have the government force every individual to buy insurance and I don’t have such a mandate because I don’t think the problem is that people don’t want health insurance, it’s that they can’t afford it. So, I focus more on lowering costs. This is a modest difference. But, it’s one that she’s tried to elevate, arguing that because I don’t force people to buy health care that I’m not insuring everybody. Well, if things were that easy, I could mandate everybody to buy a house, and that would solve the problem of homelessness. It doesn’t."

Feb. 28, 2008 Barack Obama”

* http://2012election.procon.org/view.answers.election.php?questionID=1778

“OBAMA: "[Hillary Clinton would] have the government FORCE every individual to buy [health] insurance, and I don't have such a mandate because I don't think [so] ... [But] the problem is not that people don't want health insurance. It's that they can't afford it. Well, if things were that easy, I could ... uh ...mandate everybody buy a house, and uh ...that ... you know... and that would solve... ah... you know, the problem of homelessness. [Well], it doesn't."”

* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX_NifR5gZU&feature=plcp

““Both of us want to provide health care to all Americans. There’s a slight difference, and her plan is a good one. But, she mandates that everybody buy health care. She’d have the government force every individual to buy insurance and I don’t have such a mandate because I don’t think the problem is that people don’t want health insurance, it’s that they can’t afford it,” Obama said in a Feb. 28, 2008 appearance on Ellen DeGeneres' television show.”

* http://cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-forcing-people-buy-health-insurance-should-not-be-controversial

“Our ruling [line-break] The DNC portrayed Romney as having flip-flopped on his support for TARP. But the statements the DNC chose for the ad echo what Romney has said on the topic all along -- that a Wall Street bailout was necessary to prevent a financial calamity, but the way the money was administered was poor. We rate it No Flip.”

* http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/18/mitt-romney/did-mitt-romney-flip-flop-tarp/

“Meanwhile, in an interview with KDVR-TV in Denver, Romney said, "I don't favor civil unions if they are identical to marriage other than by name. My view is that domestic partnership benefits, hospital visitation rights and the like are appropriate, but the others are not."...But despite making policy overtures to gay voters, Romney consistently drew the line at gay marriage, even as far back as 1994.”

* http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/15/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-has-maintained-consistent-stance-same/

“Our ruling [line-break] In 2002, Romney refused to make "a pledge in writing" on taxes. Four years later, he signed one and touted it as a selling point for his candidacy. In our book, that’s a Full Flop.”

* http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/17/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-rejected-state-tax-pledge-signing-nati/

(“On signing a no-tax pledge,” PolitiFact)

“Our ruling [line-break] In 1994, as a candidate running against a liberal icon in a liberal state, Romney said he was "not trying to return to Reagan-Bush." Then, 13 years later as he ran for the GOP presidential nomination, Romney spoke approvingly of the former president. Ever since, Romney’s affection for Reagan’s presidency has only grown. We rate this shift a Full Flop.”

* http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/17/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-once-distanced-himself-ronald-reagan-n/

One video that features many examples of Romney flip-flops:

* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQwrB1vu74c

(“Still Voting For 'Mitt Romney'?,” Uploaded by NewSimpleadams on Jan 11, 2012)

“Obama was in favor of same-sex marriage before he was against it — and before he was for it again...Later years offered greater clarity — and a shift from 1996. Civil unions? Yes. Gay marriage? No.”

(“President Barack Obama's shifting stance on gay marriage,” PolitiFact)

* http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/11/barack-obama/president-barack-obamas-shift-gay-marriage/