re: “rats ... lied”
It wasn’t just the rats. Conservatives stupidly lied when telling the truth would have better served their cause.
For example Sean Hannity repeatedly lied and lied and lied about taxes. Then he’d debate Robert Reich and repeatedly embarass himself with the lies. Reich would point out the truth and cause Hannity to back pedal and lose credibility.
The weird thing is that if Hannity had told the truth it would have served the low tax cause better than for him to try to lie.
Never have thought much of Hannity.