A Trust Deficit

Most people accept the notion that politicians don't always tell the truth. Some lies are harmless enough; others more consequential.

Lyndon Johnson skirted the truth when he promised during the 1964 presidential campaign not to send any more American troops to fight a land war in Southeast Asia. He knew then that American intervention would eventually be necessary, but the lie helped him win the election. After the election, Johnson sent additional troops, more American lives were lost and the war escalated.

Richard Nixon claimed he knew nothing about Watergate. "I am not a crook," he said. Lies.

In 1976, Jimmy Carter promised never to lie to us, a promise that rested on a perception of his own virtue. Given his sad record, the country might have willingly exchanged veracity for competence.

Bill Clinton? We know about one of his most famous lies, emphasized by that wagging finger and video showing him lying under oath as he labored to define the word "is." Clinton's lies led to his impeachment. The public didn't seem to care that much because as Democrats and the media repeatedly said, it was "just about sex" and everyone lies about sex.

Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather had a curious spin on lying when he told Fox's Bill O'Reilly that even though Clinton lied about not having sex with Monica Lewinsky, he still believed Clinton to be an honest man: "I think you can be an honest person and lie about any number of things," said Rather.

George W. Bush was accused of lying when he justified invading Iraq and toppling Saddam Hussein by claiming he had weapons of mass destruction. WMDs were never found.

President Obama's most famous lie (so far) has been his promise: "If you like your (insurance) plan you can keep it." Same with your doctor, he said. And he promised health insurance and treatment costs would go down under Obamacare. Not for everyone. Oops.

According to CNN.com, former congressional chief of staff and Washington lobbyist Ed Uravic, author of the book "Lying Cheating Scum," claims, "Every president has not only lied at some time, but needs to lie to be effective."

A president can lie up to a point, but when a president's lies extend beyond protecting the country (white lies) and drift into a darker area that is self-serving (black lies) it is something quite different, often prompting public rejection when he's exposed.

Speaker John Boehner says he and his fellow Republicans can no longer trust the president due to what they believe is his repeated lies. Last week, Boehner said House Republicans are not prepared to move ahead on immigration reform this year because they do not trust President Obama to follow the law. Boehner and his GOP colleagues are particularly disturbed by the president's assertions he can go around Congress when he wants to, changing the health care law and writing executive orders when it suits his fancy.

Claiming an American president is not trustworthy ruins whatever credibility he brought to the office and this president brought a lot. Most people wanted to believe in him and a large majority did believe in him at the start. Many no longer do, as his declining approval ratings demonstrate.

In dealing with the Soviet Union, Ronald Reagan employed a Russian proverb, "trust but verify." Boehner and the Republicans seem to be saying there is no need to verify with this president, because he can't be trusted.

The inability by a major party to trust a president is more than lamentable; it is not good for the country and our standing before other nations and groups that wish to do us harm.

I got this in an email. Big lie competion. The last one is only a partial list.

Famous Presidential Lies
Written by, To The Point News

LBJ:

We were attacked (in the Gulf of Tonkin)

Nixon:

I am not a crook

GHW Bush:

Read my lips - No New Taxes

Clinton:

I did not have sex with that woman... Miss Lewinski

GW Bush:

Iraq has weapons of mass destruction

Obama:

I will have the most transparent administration in history.
The stimulus will fund shovel-ready jobs.
I am focused like a laser on creating jobs.
The IRS is not targeting anyone.
It was a spontaneous riot about a movie.
If I had a son.
I will put an end to the type of politics that "breeds division, conflict and cynicism".
You didn't build that!
I will restore trust in Government.
The Cambridge cops acted stupidly.
The public will have 5 days to look at every bill that lands on my desk
It's not my red line - it is the world's red line.
Whistle blowers will be protected in my administration.
We got back every dime we used to rescue the banks and auto companies, with interest.
I am not spying on American citizens.
Obama Care will be good for America.
You can keep your family doctor.
Premiums will be lowered by $2500.
If you like it, you can keep your current healthcare plan.
It's just like shopping at Amazon.
I knew nothing about "Fast and Furious" gunrunning to Mexican drug cartels.
I knew nothing about IRS targeting conservative groups.
I knew nothing about what happened in Benghazi.
I have never known my uncle from Kenya who is in the country illegally and that was arrested and told to leave the country over 20 years ago.
And, I have never lived with that uncle. He finally admitted (12-05-2013) that he DID know his uncle and that he DID live with him.

And the biggest one of all:

"I, Barrack Hussein Obama, pledge to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America."

I believe we have a winner!

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al

About GHW Bush: No New Taxes. I remember this very well. He was forced by the rats to renege on his pledge not to raise on his pledge not to raise taxes and this factual

The reason why we didn't find WMDs in Iraq was because Hussein kept moving them from one place to the next. Remember how he used to stall the inspectors every time they wanted to do an inspection? He also moved his WMD to Syria just before the invasion via Russian trucks and by using the country's 747s and converting them to cargo planes by taking the passenger seats out and flying them to Syria under the guise of humanitarian aid. Syria had a natural disaster at the time.

“Claiming an American president is not trustworthy ruins whatever credibility he brought to the office and this president brought a lot.”
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The phrase following and in the sentence above is a lie. He brought zero credibility if people had bothered to look at reality rather than falling into a trance. He promised hope and change, there has been plenty of change but it was all for the worse and hope is lost.

If you notice nowadays the Obama Regime never mentions Weapons of Mass Destruction in regards to Syria. The correct internationally accepted terms are ‘Dual Use Materials, Precursors, and Accelerants’.
If GWB could pronounce the phrase, his statement would never have been considered a Lie.
I was here and heard the same argument from Albright, Berger, and Cohen. http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9802/18/town.meeting.folo/
It really ticks me off that Albright of all people acts as if this never even happened.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.