Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan I know, I know. To see the words "honesty" and "politics" in one sentence is to invite a series of punchlines. But I am wondering if it is possible for someone today to enter the political world and stay honest? Bill Clinton's latest is claiming he has been against the war in Iraq all along. Why would someone say this when there is so much documented evidence of the contrary? It goes into somewhat the same basket as Mitt Romney's "lifelong hunter" claims and his shift from moderate to hard right, and all the various through-the-looking-glass statements made by ANY of the candidates, or the many whoppers (especially when Tony Snow was press secretary) of this administration. So many distortions, twists, half-truths and flat out lies that we've all become rather numb to it and can even easily overlook or become apologists for it when it's our guy (or gal) doing the fibbing. I know it's nothing new, and I know it isn't likely to change, mainly because few people hold politicians to account for what they say in any real way. It has become far politically better to simply lie (or deny, or "have no recollection") about something than it is to admit that you may have made a misjudgement, a youthful indiscretion, a wrong turn at some point, much less a supported a serious policy error. And people in each party all play along with the ruse. Can it ever change? What would it take?
Originally Posted By ecdc Right now there's no motivation for politicians to be completely honest. You absolutely hit the nail on the head with: >>...and can even easily overlook or become apologists for it when it's our guy (or gal) doing the fibbing.<< Americans that do follow politics fall into this category. All one need do is look at the laughable attempts by Mitt Romney fans, even on these boards, trying to explain how it's ok that he's flip-flopped so much. I actually heard one person defend Romney at a conference by saying that "he really doesn't believe all these things, but he has to say it to get elected." Of course, those same people turn around and excoriate Hillary Clinton for her dishonesty (and there has absolutely been some on her part) or the other candidates for doing the same thing. The candidates we agree with are genuine; the others are phony. It's part of that good old American "forgiveness for me, justice for everybody else" attitude we love to display. Then there's the Americans that don't follow politics (and they're a large majority). They're unaware of the lies and the dishonesty that's become so commonplace in politics; or they are, and that's why they don't follow it anymore. They don't vote (let's never forget that a majority of Americans don't even vote) or when they do, they vote based on sound-bites or Swiftboat-like ads. So in the end, no one is holding politicians accountable. The only way it would change is if people who do follow it, who are involved, showed some integrity themselves and said, "You know what Mitt (or Hillary, or Rudy, or [insert name here]), I supported you but I expect honesty out of my politicians. You haven't been honest. You said you were a lifelong hunter and you aren't. That's a lie. I'm not going to support you anymore and I'll support another candidate." Until something like that happens and we give politicians a reason to be honest, then why on earth should they be? If I can go to work and lie about my performance and never be held accountable for it, and still get raises and promotions, and even get those things thanks to my dishonesty, there's little motivation for me to tell the truth.
Originally Posted By woody From your posts, I wonder why you have to ask. You know a lot about the subject.
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Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I'd be content if perhaps Presidential candidates and their motorcades didn't drive over Police Officers at airport checkpoints. <a href="http://newsbusters.org/node/4046" target="_blank">http://newsbusters.org/node/40 46</a> <a href="http://www.papillonsartpalace.com/hillaryR.htm" target="_blank">http://www.papillonsartpalace. com/hillaryR.htm</a> And then the Police Officer who was struck was ordered to remain silent. <a href="http://www.wilderness-cry.net/tcn/2001/nov20.html" target="_blank">http://www.wilderness-cry.net/ tcn/2001/nov20.html</a> <<In an episode that is reminiscent of the way the Clintons' home state press covered for them during 1980s, a Westchester County police officer who was injured by Hillary's motorcade last month has been forbidden to talk to the media. With the exception of the New York Post's Page Six, the New York media have assiduously avoided covering the story.>>
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <With the exception of the New York Post's Page Six, the New York media have assiduously avoided covering the story.>> Um, I live in NY, and believe me, it was everywhere. Methinks your source is less than impartial.
Originally Posted By jmoore1966 Yeah, I think that article exaggerated some, but the Cheney/hungint incident was not one of the shining moments in American Journalism. If I can remember the questioning right: "Do you mean to tell us that the 2nd in command of the most powerful nation in the world shot somebody with a firearm, and you did not think it was necessary to contact the press immediately?" Man, they were having a three year old hissy fit that day.
Originally Posted By Maxxdadd I think one reason is that people get too politically blind. They think along party lines, and so when a member of their party lies, they minimize it... and when the other guy lies, they capitalize on it. Another reason is that there are many ways to tell a lie by telling the truth. A prime example is when budget cuts get done. A portion of our National Budget has built in increases of funding from year to year. If a politician comes in, and tries to keep those increases from happening, they call that a cut. In fact, it is preventing an increase. Third reason: it is expedient to carry forth lies in order to support political myth. Take the Florida voting controversy, for example. Bush's camp held out all the way to the Supreme court, and prevailed after several recounts. Still to this day they say he stole the election. No, he won it. That's the way our system works.... Electoral college and all. We set up rules for a reason. Hillary swore she would campaign to get rid of the EC at the time... but you dont hear her talking about that anymore, do you. Why? Because politicians like the way it is set up, as much as they may squawk about it to look good. They count on the Average American's stupidity to not think things thru. Pundits like Limbaugh and Franken make their livlihood off of propagating these myths.
