There are numerous articles out there like this one from the New York Times or this one from FactCheck.org about how the latest ads from McCain lack ‘truthiness.’
These are the tactics of someone backed into a corner who feels hopeless. Do the Republicans feel they’re losing and can’t win on the issues so they have to resort to mischaracterization and lying? With the Internet they can be countered in moments, so why try? Do they think the American public is that stupid and ignorant? Ignoring what Obama (who I’m not claiming is squeaky clean here) may do or say, do we really want a President who has to tell bald faced lies to win?
UPDATE: Watch McCain respond to the women on The View as they ask him why he’s lying.
Are you stupid enough to think Obama and Democrats don’t do the same thing, don’t tell bald faced lies to win? Ignorant git.
#1–Michael==whats your most igregious example?
Several shows run current statements through “truth meters” and McCain pretty much loses while Obama usually scores at most an overstatement.
Everybody doesn’t do it. The Karl Rove play book does.
Stop being a shill.
Well thank goodness the democrats would never abuse their authority or lie.
It probably has something to do with How to Impress Christians. Telling the biggest whoppers is part of preaching, part of beseeching the chief ogre in the sky to pay attention somehow to those pitiful little lives down in East Podunk.
McCain has been a tolerable liar through his decades in Congress. After all, it guaranteed him something better than working for a living.
He didn’t have the grades or talent to get into college – except through an accident of birth that got him a spot at Annapolis and the bottom of his class. He had a lot of guts and stubbornness and not much else, proved not only by his survival in prison camp but also his dedication to one of the stupidest, most regressive and criminal wars in history.
Just about the perfect obedient Republikan hack – once he married into inherited wealth. The “maverick” schtick – including the word itself – was chosen to fit the John Wayne cowboy image beloved of western conservatives.
Folks truly ignorant of American political history (see #1) haven’t a clue about the Republican Party inventing political correctness or dedicating their campaigns wholly to the devices of the best Madison Avenue liars money can buy.
From the same “Fact Check” website, you realize there’s also an Obama section: http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factchecking_obama.html.
Not that any of these matter – even the link to McCain’s “Education” ad is not a bald-faced lie. Obama *did* want to extend sex ed to kindergarten.
Each side will lie their asses off to get into office. It’s sadly what politics have become. If one of them would stop berating the other, stop slinging childish insults, and stick to what *they* are going to do, they’ll have my vote. As of now, neither deserves the presidency.
Have you ever wondered whether the Republicans maybe don’t want to win the coming election – they’d have to clear up all the mess after the fan finishes with the faeces
I guess the real question is “Do Dvorak.org writers and readers feel that Americans are stupid if they don’t agree with their views”?
The overwhelming answer is yes. Sometimes I get a great urge to delete the hyperlink, but those once a day cool stories keep me here putting up with the liberal rhetoric.
And, last time I checked, the race is a veritable tie. It’s a truth that, in the end, every elitiest, holier than thou, liberal from San Francisco vote can be offset by an uneducated, red-neck, gun-toting hillbilly from Kentuky.
gotta love America…
#7–Angus==with the only difference being the uneducated hillbilly keeps voting for the party that keeps him in such condition.
When you’re competing to see who will have the loudest voice in determining how trillions of federal dollars are spent, honesty is just another P.R. ploy.
I think Brad (from the video link) probably used to work as a spokesman for the tobacco companies reminding everyone of how inconclusive the alleged links with cancer were. In comparison, that was a more respectable job đ
#5–Michael==you are right. Your link proves what I posted and that YOU don’t make a distinction between sleazy big lies and less sleazy smaller lies.
Do you want a third term of failed Bush economic and military policy? Why do you hate America?
Do you consider the kindergarten sex ed a lie? Really? Even that fact check link specifically states that “SB 99: However, no pupil shall be required to take or participate in any family life class or course on HIV AIDS or family life instruction if his parent or guardian submits written objection thereto, and refusal to take or participate in such course or program shall not be reason for suspension or expulsion of such pupil.”
So he’s giving the parents a choice – wow, who would’ve thought the parents should raise their children? It doesn’t matter the content of bill in detail – Obama wanted to teach “age appropriate” sex ed (STDs, etc) to kindergarteners! Please tell me you don’t think that’s ok.
#11–Michael==I don’t know who or what you are responding to.
You don’t label your posts as responding to any name or number.
You aren’t on topic which is Republican Lying, of which it would be fair to include Democrap lying.
Why you are frustrated over offering voluntary age appropriate sex education is an issue between you and your therapist.
Olo – are you really this retarded? Did you not see me state that as of now, neither of these fools has my vote? I’m not a Republican. I’m not a Democrat. I’m not stupid enough to affiliate with any political party. I think for myself.
For what it’s worth, I hate the FCC – they are an example of government sponsored censorship.
I know that on this blog there are a precious few independent thinkers and I come back here to read what they have to say. It’s unfortunate that there are so many die-hard extremists to filter through.
Think for yourselves people, and don’t jump to conclusions.
Then why do you repeat the R lies? Start thinking! Age-appropriate reproductive health is already mandated in many places.
I think the real question is here:
“Do they think the American public is that stupid and ignorant?”
Yes they do. And they are right. The 2000 election hinted at it. The 2004 election proved it. The American public are the biggest morons on the face of the planet. They have the right to vote, but not the obligation to learn anything about the candidates.
The ads lie because lies work. No matter how much it is debunked, most Americans will now believe that Obama wants to teach kindergarten children how to have sex. Just like most Americans believe that the Democrats will raise their taxes, another lie.
#14–Michael, “Thinking” is about making distinctions. Calling two different things the same…….is not thinking. Equating the slight mischaracterization with the outright lie/manipulation is primarily (you understand primarily means not all the time right?) a Republican electorial technique. Some say Kerry lost in ’04 because he didn’t respond timely to the Swift Boat attack. Who did the Swift Boat attack? Yes, Republicans. 2-3 shades more sleazy than Democrats ever try to be.
Keep thinking for yourself but when you fail to think, when you fail to recognize valid distinctions, and you “sound just like” a brain-dead sleazy republican puke, don’t be surprised when that characteristic is mentioned.
Raise your game.
This whole post should have the title, “Why do *politicians* feel it’s necessary to lie?”
Get the party hate out of it – surely that’s more productive?
If anyone wants truly mind boggling reading, check out what the other minor political parties are saying. It all makes the Democrats and Republicans look like well-reasoned and competent people!
Well, Michael==why are you lying about both parties being the same?
Do all politicians lie all the time about everything?—–No. Therefore, spotting the lie is what is important.
As to your question, see #16’s excellent review which really supports why the Repugs lie so much more often==they can’t run on their record, so what else to do?
#16
There has never been a democrat that hasn’t raised taxes.
That liar Clinton promised a tax cut for the middle class. Once in office, he raised them
“Well, Michael==why are you lying about both parties being the same?”
I’m not. They’re only the same in that they practice the same tactics. Whether one is more extreme than the other is irrelevant. Neither is honest, and both will do whatever it takes to win.
“why the Repugs lie so much more often==they canât run on their record, so what else to do?”
I agree with you. Yet don’t forget that a Democrat controlled Senate and Congress have the lowest approval rating ever – in single digits. They have no record.
Are both parties equal? No. Are they both deceptive and intent on winning? Yes. Will either party be good for America? No.
It’s sad that for the past few decades it’s been the “lesser of two evils” choice for voters. It’s just too bad. All this hate from both sides toward the other is the reason for it.
That’s why I said, the first candidate to drop the attacks, drop the deception, and just focus on their plan, will get my vote. Unfortunately that will not happen. Hence neither will get my vote.
Hey, It worked for Bush/Cheney, and gave them EIGHT YEARS TO LOOT THE US TREASURY !!! Plus, it’s the not so INVISIBLE HAND of Karl (Seig Heil) Rove !!!
Sorry, left out the punchline of my previous post:
McCain = McBush = FOUR MORE YEARS OF LYING, CHEATING, STEALING, AND MURDER !!!
Only half of the country uses the net.Rove and the gang are going after the other half.
#8 Bobbo
with the only difference being the uneducated hillbilly keeps voting for the party that keeps him in such condition.
Now if I had said “with the only difference being the uneducated inner city folks keep voting for the party that keeps them in such condition.” liberals like yourself would whip out the “race card” so fast your head would spin. Don’t talk about voting for a party that keeps you down. The poor blacks and Latinos have been in the Dumocrats pockets for decades. What have the Dumos done for them?
#16 C0mdrData nailed it.
Do I want sex ed taught to my (then) 5 year old daughter?
Overall, I have to say Yes. In my case I did the exact thing the Obama household did. Good touch, bad touch lesson. Never anywhere your bathing suit covers. The Obama’s, as responsible parents, made sure these were taught early. An ounce of prevention. But what about those households where the parents not only do not teach these things but actually DO these things? Sometimes you really do have to ask, “What about the children?”
So bringing this up as an issue against Obama is irresponsible. To be punished for doing the right thing is abhorrent.
Now Obama’s not out of the woods for his “creative facts” against McCain either. Obama’s statements about McCains “you’re rich at 5 million”, “voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time”, “family income down $2,000”, etc. are every bit as deceptive.
Unfortunately, most of us Americans do not take the time to find the right answers nor discern who is the better candidate, and both Obama and McCain knows this.
So given that most people are too lazy or “intellectually challenged” to find out the truth, this campaign had devolved into who has the most effective smear machine.
Is it MSNBC or Limbaugh/Hannity?
Its pretty funny to watch the Republican response to this outright lie by saying ‘well THEY do it TOO’. Straight out of the schoolyard playbook. Face it Michael, its as indefensible as Bush’s idiocy.
Funny how factcheck.org only seems to check the claims of just Republicans and seems to ignore every effort to provide the other side with the same service.
FACT is, Obama said teaching kindergardeners sex ed was fine as long as it was “age appropriate.”
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/07/sex-ed-for-kind.html
“‘Barack Obama supports teaching sex education to kindergarteners,'” said Obama mimicking Keyes’ distinctive style of speech. “Which — I didnât know what to tell him (laughter).”
“But itâs the right thing to do,” Obama continued, “to provide age-appropriate sex education, science-based sex education in schools.”
Check the tape – http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3386492
This is not new. I’ve seen this trending since 1980, although it may be older than that but I think not because this was the time that evangelical christians became Republicans. This Republican base is the percentage of the population that has Authoritarian personality types. These folks think in terms of Good vs Evil. They believe EVERYTHING that their “Good” leaders tell them and believe NOTHING that their “Evil” opponents tell them. The Republicans have made Democrats, the Media, the “terrorists” and many others Evil.
Lee Atwater, Roger Ailes, Karl Rove and, now, Steve Schmidt are the “brains” behind this.
For anyone interested in this phenomenon, I highly recommend “Conservatives Without Conscience” by John Dean, formerly Richard Nixon’s White House Counsel.
#11 – Lying Michael
>>It doesnât matter the content of bill in
>>detail – Obama wanted to teach âage
>>appropriateâ sex ed (STDs, etc) to
>>kindergarteners!
Wow. Lying Michael, are you really that stupid?? Obama’s plan to “teach sex ed to kindergarteners” was just to inform them about the difference between “appropriate” and “inappropriate” touching. You know, the difference between a comforting hug and the teacher or classmate sticking his finger in some 5-year-old girl’s pussy?
From McBush’s portrayal of the bill, it would be teaching kindergarteners new positions for gay sex, and how to put a condom on a bananna.
Jeez.
#8 “#7âAngus==with the only difference being the uneducated hillbilly keeps voting for the party that keeps him in such condition.”
Here’s the rub. The hillbilly likes his life and wonders why the elitist, holier than thou, liberal from San Francisco keeps voting for the party that keeps HIM in such a condition.
LOL