Free Republic

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a three-part series focusing on misstatements, prevarications and falsehoods proclaimed by the three major presidential candidates. Sen. Hillary Clinton presents the image of a seasoned, ever-disciplined politician whose experience as first lady and a New York senator makes her ready to be commander-in-chief. But a series of misstatements — exaggerations, half-truths and lies — made by Clinton over the last 15 years have at times undermined her image and called her credibility into question -snip- 1. Travelgate, June 23, 2000 2. Iraq War Vote, Jan. 13, 2008 3. Sniper Fire, March 17, 2008...

Sen. John McCain has long presented himself as that rare bird in politics: an inveterate straight-shooter. But does campaign strain have McCain’s Straight Talk Express veering off course? A string of incidents stemming from the senator’s two presidential runs suggests he’s no less fallible than any other candidate — and just as capable of adjusting facts to suit his purpose. 1. Confederate Flag Over South Carolina Capitol, April 19, 2000 During the run-up to the South Carolina Republican primary in February 2000, McCain was asked whether he felt the Confederate flag should be removed from atop the statehouse. Non-truth: McCain...

We went over the mountains last weekend to attend the Smoky Mountain Storytelling Festival. Before I describe that, what do you think it was? Do you imagine a bunch of good ol’ boys in bib overalls, swapping outrageous fish tales? No such thing. It was far more interesting than that. When we drive to D.C., we go through Tennessee. Every trip, we’d pass a sign for the National Storytelling Center in Jonesboro. Finally, we took that exit, and spent an hour talking with the lady in charge of the center, in the beautifully-restored downtown of Tennessee’s oldest city. We decided...

Bill Clinton and His Tall Tales John LeBoutillier Monday, Sept. 25, 2006 Bill Clinton and Richard Armitage are two inveterate story tellers who have never made a mistake in their lives - and who love to blame any and everybody but themselves. Bill Clinton's performance on Sunday morning's Fox newscast was a rare look into the mean, defensive, and small man who was a total disaster as president. Dick Morris — a long-time pal of Bill Clinton — says in private that Bill Clinton knows he is a phony — and lives in mortal fear of "being found out." Everything...

Kryptic Tales of Middle-earthWe don't often hear about the ghost stories people must have told each other in Middle-earth. Tolkien's work is permeated with well-crafted legends that are usually founded in fact (within the scope of his pseudohistory), but when you stop to consider the immense expanses of time the pseudohistory of Middle-earth covers, you have to wonder just how far-fetched some of those legends must have become.Everyone has heard the story about the lunatic who escapes from an insane asylum and nearly kills a young couple on a dark road, leaving his claw hanging on the car door (this...

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Israel's most recent excuse for why it cannot negotiate peace with the Palestinians is that the Palestinians have been unable to develop a fully democratic society while living under Israeli occupation. This excuse is better known as "reform." And yet, when Palestinians are invited to go to London to further the reform process, the government of Israel prevents us from doing so.