The New York Times states in the lede under the headline, “Higher Deficits Seen in Romney’s Tax Plan, and His Rivals’, Too“:
When Mitt Romney suggested this week that he pays a lower tax rate than most wealthy Americans do, he refocused attention on his tax proposals — which, like those of his major Republican rivals, would largely cut taxes for the rich while driving down tax collections and widening the nation’s deficit.
Emphasis added. The article goes on to tell us that Romney’s “major Republican rivals” are Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. Hmm…
So the guy who beat out Gingrich by a wide margin (21% to 13%) for a third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, and who destroyed Gingrich and Santorum in the New Hampshire primary with 23% of the vote (compared to their 9% each) for a second-place finish behind Romney is not among “his major Republican rivals”.
The guy who has ten times the individual campaign donations from members of the military than Romney, five times as much support as Romney, Gingrich, and Santorum combined, and 25% more than President Obama, is not among “his major Republican rivals”.
The guy who has widespread appeal among non-Republican voters, who had more support in Iowa from not only independents but also Democrats, is not among Romney’s “major Republican rivals”.
The guy who voters think stands a better chance against Obama than both Gingrich and Santorum, according the New York Times’ own recent poll, is not among “his major Republican rivals”.
So what is it that the New York Times wants to conceal from its readers? The point, remember, was that the tax plans of Romney and his GOP rivals would increase the federal deficit. Ron Paul is the only candidate who has put forth a comprehensive “Plan to Restore America” that would cut spending and eliminate the deficit.
But, apparently, you aren’t supposed to know about that. Apparently, you are supposed to think you only have a choice this coming presidential election between a big-government, status-quo Democrat or a big-government, status-quo Republican and that no matter who you vote for, it will be for naught when it comes to tackling the deficit.
It’s some kind of Jedi mind trick the Times thinks it can pull off on weak-minded readers: “Ron Paul is not a major rival of Romney’s. There is no candidate who proposes to eliminate the deficit. Ron Paul doesn’t exist. You’re vote won’t change anything. These aren’t the ‘droids you’re looking for….”
