We  all know that politicians, no matter party affiliation, do not tell the  voters the unvarnished truth. This is especially true in those  political ads you can't get away from especially if you are in a  battleground state.

A new ad from the campaign of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt  Romney so distorted the reality that it has earned a "pants on fire"  from Politifact.com, one of the fact checking web sites.

I  reported back on July 13, that the Department of Health and Human  Services had put out a memo allowing states to apply for a waiver from  some of the requirements and paperwork that has been required since the  1996 over-haul of the welfare system under President Bill Clinton.  However, in that report, While We Were Distracted..., I pointed out that the work requirement for TANF or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families was still in place.

While  the memo went out quietly while we all were paying attention to other  distractions, the change could land in court for judicial review. There  seems to be a certain skirting the spirit of the law.

The  Romney campaign went too far, however, in its new ad. The Romney ad  claims that the change brought about "a plan to gut welfare reform by  dropping work requirements." That statement earned the ad the "pants on  fire" designation.

While  I understand how politics works and know to not put much stock in ads,  there is a line even campaigns should not cross. When the lie is so  blatant, that's a bridge too far.

From the Cornfield, let's try and keep politics as honest and as civil as possible. Yes, I know I am asking a lot.

Also,  it is not just the Romney campaign, but Team Obama has been guilty of  such distortions as well. Waiting for the 1st Libertarian or Green or  Peace & Freedom ad that lands on the wrong side of the bridge.

http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/aug/07/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-barack-obamas-plan-abandons-tenet/