If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.
- Mark Twain
I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.
- Friedrich Nietzsche
Politicians have always lied; it’s a truism as old as, and perhaps even older than, American democracy. Truth is often the first casualty of politics. The problems begin when lies, propaganda, and talking points become a primary means of communicating your message. This Presidential campaign is an example of what can happen when one side determines that the truth isn’t going to be their friend, and so they must wallow in dishonesty and display a complete and total lack of integrity.
Yes, both sides play fast and loose with the truth. This is not a case of equivalent behavior, however. Democrats have not decided to make lies, propaganda, and talking points their lingua franca. Republicans and Romney surrogates have demonstrated that their only allegiance is to their candidate, and that truth and integrity is for losers and Liberals.
When we fail to demand the truth from those who wish to represent us, when we can’t be bothered to acknowledge lack of honesty and integrity, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are about all we have a right to expect.
Remember, being a Republican means never having to say you’re sorry…or being held accountable for your lies and dishonesty.
