Spinning? Fine. Spinning AND Lying? Not Cool.

Spin, as we usually refer to it, is trying to take facts and present them in a way that is good for one or another candidate. We see this most often when it comes to setting expectations. Candidates try to spin things to set expectations in a given election one way, so that when they meet or break expectations the media writes positive stories about said candidate having "momentum."

Lying, by contrast, is either saying things contrary to the facts, or pretending the facts just don't exist. We saw this most often in the Bush administration's lead-up to the Iraq war, and more recently, in Hillary Clinton pretending that she never supported NAFTA, when, in fact, a decade of public speeches shows she did. Now, Clinton is doing something fairly new: spinning AND lying -- all at the same time.

Here's what ABC News reports that Clinton is now saying:

"We came from so far behind in Indiana. We're still the underdog."

Clinton is trying to set expectations in advance of Tuesday's Indiana primary, with the goal of making it seem as if a victory in Indiana would be "unexpected" and proof that she has "momentum." The spinning part -- the expectations part -- is fine, and no surprise. That's what candidates do, and that's part of politics. What's not fine is the dishonest basis of the storyline. Clinton has been ahead in Indiana from the beginning -- and in, fact, has been ahead in the majority of Democratic primary polls done in the Hoosier state.

As Real Clear Politics shows, Clinton has been ahead or tied with Barack Obama in 12 out of 18 Indiana primary polls. In fact, she's never been behind by more than 5 points -- basically the margin of error in these polls. Put another way, Clinton has been either ahead or right on the cusp of the margin of error in 100% of the polling done in Indiana.

This isn't surprising. Indiana is squarely within the Race Chasm (ie. the group of states whose black populations are above 6% and below 17% of the total population). Clinton has won most of her victories in Race Chasm states. I believe that is, at least in part, because of her deft use and exploitation of racial politics. In other words, Indiana is precisely the kind of state Clinton's scorched earth campaign has proven adept at winning in a Democratic primary -- her being consistently ahead or close is not news because it is to be expected.

But that's not the point here -- and frankly, I don't really care who has been ahead or behind in polls. What's notable -- and disturbing -- is that Hillary Clinton feels the need to lie in very obvious fashion, as if everyone is just too stupid to look up the easily verifiable facts. I'm going to capitalize this and boldface it for emphasis: SHE HAS BEEN EITHER AHEAD OR AT THE MARGIN OF ERROR IN EVERY SINGLE MAJOR POLL* DONE IN INDIANA, YET IS CLAIMING WITH A STRAIGHT FACE THAT "WE CAME FROM SO FAR BEHIND IN INDIANA."

This is not normal human behavior -- not by a long shot. It's actually rather scary, and it gets to a deeper issue -- the issue of trust. Why does Clinton feel the need to lie in the face of verifiable facts? She did it with NAFTA, she did it with Bosnia and now she's doing it with polling numbers. I just don't get this - and I say that not as a "Hillary hater" but as an honest declaration of frustration. Her behavior tells me she's either so arrogant that she's fine with insulting the public's intelligence with such in-your-face lying, or she's a pathological liar that has gotten so used to lying that she doesn't even know she's doing it anymore.

Look, it's one thing to spin -- it's another thing to spin and lie, all at once. It is that penchant for brazenly trampling the truth that troubles so many people about Clinton.

If you can't trust her to at least acknowledge the verifiable facts, how can you trust that she's serious about doing what she says she'll do as president? I mean, really, would anyone be surprised if - seeing this pathological behavior now -- Clinton gets into the White House, and then pretends she never made all the promises she made as a candidate? I think not -- and that trust issue, more than anything, is what polls show makes so many people uncomfortable with her candidacy.

* UPDATE: A commenter pointed out that in a tiny-sample poll way back in February, Obama was up 15 points. This poll was so insignificant as to not be listed even by RCP, and I think it's a huge stretch to say Clinton -- with all the rest of the polling data over the last few months -- isn't deliberately lying to create a storyline about being "an underdog." Nobody -- not a single honest observer of politics, nor anyone who knows even a shred of political data about Indiana -- thinks Hillary Clinton was "an underdog" in Indiana. It's blatantly ridiculous -- and those who rest that claim on one tiny early, wildly outlying poll are showing they are actually willing to accept pathological lying as truth. All of that said, in the interest of getting all of the data out there, I just wanted to flag it now that someone pointed it out to me.

Join the book club for David Sirota's upcoming book, The Uprising, due out on 5/27.

Comments

[blustate135]

Anyone watch Hillary on GSteph yesterday? He asked her about releasing a donor list (for the Clinton Global Initiative?) and how the voters should be able to make some determination themselves. I missed what exactly the issue was about it but she said the list would only be released if she was president. Huh?? What ELSE are they hiding?

Then, GSteph said that the list had already been sold to someone (I don't know who) so since it's not just within the foundation's hands, why not just release it? She claimed not to know anything about that. How convenient.

Seriously.­.. I don't understand how people support this woman!!!

[NCMan]

gee, kinda like Obama claims for 20 years he didn't know his pastor was a kook...

[blustate135]

He never said that he didn't know Wright to make provocative statements.

From the Washington Post:
"If Obama clearly does not share Wright's views, of what precisely is he guilty? Of befriending someone with repugnant opinions? Anyone who condemns Obama on that basis should examine his own circumstances. Real human beings present one another with complex social choices: The dependable work buddy may be unfaithful to his wife; the salt-of-the-earth neighbor may despise Hispanic immigrants. How many Obama critics have themselves been friendly with someone with misguided views? What about Bill Clinton, who counted the one-time segregationist William Fulbright among his mentors?"

[blustate135]

I found the transcript - the decision to be made by voters that GSteph was referring to has to do with whether there is a conflict between what Bill is saying in his speaking engagements on trade and what Hillary is saying she will do about NAFTA.

[jteschke]

Mr. Sirota, as usual, is spot on. The Clinton campaign is a hostile takeover based on mendacity aimed at the least discerning, i.e, least informed voters; thus intelligence is considered something to attack an reality is "elitism." She is nothing but a lying sack of excrement unfit to clothe any office in a democracy. Her tactics are more reminiscent of Imelda Marcos, who also got in as the wife of a president to continue his rule. Her respect for the rule of law, also under serious threat in these parts, would be no better than Imelda's. If Billary somehow steals the nomination, we will be faced with the hobson's choice of militarism and authoritarianism winning no matter what.

[candyc]

I'm a nervous wreck. Why don't the politicians who support Obama turn on the energy and start
taking on Clinton? What good are they if they don't rev it up when it's needed most? Bill Richardson, bless his heart, and John Kerry have been very vocal, as has Clare McCaskill.­Kudos also to Robert Reich.

This is the time, folks.
Mr.Gore? Now is the time.
Voters in NC and Indiana? We are BEGGING you. Obama will be a terrific president. Please send Billary back to NY.

My nerves are shot. Thank you.

[dumboldman]

Well, sad to say they won't because most politicians are basicly cowards. Before they take a position in front of the pack, they must know for sure which way the pack is headed.
I don't see how either candidate will go to the convention with the number of votes needed to assure the nomination. Without a sure winner the Super Deligates will make the choice. But, if the "Party Bosses" get to select the nominee I would not be at all surprised to see them select a third party rather than anger the supporters of either candidate. I think that is why Al Gore has been so quiet.

[ebanks84]

She preys on the uninformed because she knows they are the only people left in the WORLD who don't really know who she is and what she's all about.

[jones]

Isn't her husband a disbarred lawyer?

[dbrockx]

hMM, HOW MANY PEOPLE VOTED FOR HER? It's sad, they catch her lying, she makes promises, she has no intention of keeping, yet they vote for her. The guilt by association tactic she been trying to use on Obama doesn't apply to her and her husband. When is the media going to report on all the other stuff? They voted for her. It's sad, how can people knowingly vote for someone who is a mythomaniac. Do they really believe she will do what they ask. They voted for her. Look at the class of people that supports her, facts, old white women, uneducated white men,ETC. She is not winning the black vote by no means, yet she insist she is the most qualified. HRC will do whatever it akes to steal the nomination and let's hope the DNC is a little smarter than that. They voted for her

[Nader2008]

How about Obama saying Indiana was a "tie-breaker" when he thought he was a shoe in. Now he is spinning like crazy. Latest Survey USA poll for IN: Hillary 54 Obama 42

[pdsldl]

When was he a shoe in? He's been behind or tied in the polls and said it was a tie breaker because it is a state that favors neither of them. She has to win there to have any chance to stay in and thinks the superdelegates are stupid. Let's just forget all about integrity to win.

[soundfury]

You're with Nader and you're defending this witch? It's like John Edwards defending Karl Rove.

You really believe that Broomhilda is more deserving than Obama? No wonder you're voting for Nader. He's gonna lose too.

[ebanks84]

Obama don't have to spin. All he has to do is tell the truth. He has been the "underdog" in Indiana from the beginning.

[sg096]

SPIN SPIN SPIN

Latest Survey USA poll for IN: Hillary 54 Obama 42


SPIN SPIN SPIN

AND THE OTHER POLLS SAY!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!

• Zogby International says its latest tracking poll in Indiana gives Obama a "statistically insignificant" 2-point lead in the state (44%-42%). Its poll of 636 likely Democratic primary voters, done Saturday and Sunday, has a margin of error on each result of +/- 4 percentage points.

• Insider Advantage/Majority Opinion is showing a tighter race in North Carolina than most other pollsters. Its latest survey gives Obama a 48%-45% advantage. The pollsters talked to 781 likely Democratic primary voters in the Tarheel State on Sunday and the numbers have margins of error of +/- 3 percentage points.

• Zogby's new tracking poll from North Carolina shows Obama ahead there, 48%-40%. It talked to 624 likely primary voters and says the results each have a margin of error of +/- 4 percentage points.

May 5, 2008
Gallup Daily: Democrats Tied for Record 12th DayObama’s 5-point lead, 50% to 45%, is within poll’s margin of error

[magen]

How do I know if Hillary is going to fight for heathcare reform if elected? Why should I trust her????

She lies constantly. All her policy positions could be lies.

Here in the real world when a co-worker is caught in a lie, he/she is either fired, or their responsibilities and compensation are greatly diminished.

How can ANY Democrat trust her to really fight for our causes when we've been lied to so much.

A tiger doesn't change its stripes, and I don't expect her to STOP lying if she somehow steals the nomination. That's the problem with her.

Hillbots and MSM-haven't we had enough of leaders constantly lying to us?

[ebanks84]

The only way to know is to NOT vote her in office. Then you'll know for sure!

[magen]

I won't.

[Daisy1111]

Question: Why do Obama supporters keep hurling the GOP's anti-Hillary talking points?

Have you been brainwashed by the GOP?

[Dissident Dexter]

nice delusional projection. think for yourself much?

[ebanks84]

Why can't they just be hurling the TRUTH for a change. Something you might not know anything about if you're a Hillary fan. Seems like the truth has evaded them, sorry to say.

[RedWilma]

I don't want Hillary in my party any more. Maybe the Republicans want her.

[ebanks84]

I think they already have her!

[reelcobra]

CHARACTER IS A DISTRACTION

NOT AN ISSUE

VOTE OBAMA!!!

BHO '08!!

[VicPerry]

ooo, tricky

[EngineerBill]

The so-called "gas-tax-holiday" is another example of not letting those stupid facts get in the way of a good sound bite. Think about it. She is proposing something that;
1. congress won't pass
2. the president won't sign
3. Has been found, when done in Illinois, won't work.
4. is knowledgable about the first three points.
How elitist of me to point that out.

[bajanyvie]

Brilliant post. I agree with most of what you said except I don't think Hillary is a pathological liar. That suggests that her habitual lying is unconcious. I think there is something much more deliberate at work here. I think she lies because she so under estimates the public that she is betting that the majority will take her words at face value and won't verify the facts, or that we have such a short attention span that we wont recall her more obvious contradictions. I think that sort of lying is much more nefarious than pathological.

[IslandGyal]

bajanyvie,
You know, unfortunately, I think she's right. The American electorate, by and large, is not very bright.

BTW, I am Trini (-:

[BeingFrank]

Crystal Clear and powerful article !
Thanks so much for posting what more of us need to know !

I do also agree that Clinton takes full advantage of 'ignorance' which to me is based somewhat upon the working class being too busy treading water to have the time to fully check the facts.

Yes she also deftly types on the race fear, gender, and class keys, to the point where sometimes I wonder if 'Democracy' is about the rule of ignorant and manipulated masses, verses the powerful tool it could be to effect positive change in all peoples lives....

There should be a mandatory educational degree in order to be given the license to vote and affect the lives of us all,…!

[DSully]

I agree. Her lies are very deliberate. She lies to the very demographics that support her and they eat it up. I don't understand how anyone with a drop of integrity can support her.

[rwellsrwells]

The Clinton's lie. They see politics as a game (serious as it may be,) and that's how they play. They probably don't cheat at cards, which is a point in there favor. I bet they're good bluffers, though.

[ebanks84]

I bet they cheat in their sleep. They are too good at it. They don't have a bit of truth between them to last a hot minute. I bet they don't even believe each other:)

[ebanks84]

True. She even said herself that "people hear you say something one day and forget all about it the next" (or something to that effect). She knows that the average Joe has a tendency to forget what one has said a month ago and jumps on what is said this month like it has been said all along. It's just that people are getting smarter every day thanks to Hillary. If she hadn't made us think, maybe we would have never found that out. Thanks Hil...

[oldlakelady]

I, for one, don't want another Clinton administration where I have to be ashamed of the individual in the office. Our country deserves so much more. Have all you Clinton fans forgotten how the House and Senate, and many state governor positions switched from Democratic to Republican during Bill Clinton administration.

[michiganfan]

"Have all you Clinton fans forgotten how the House and Senate, and many state governor positions switched from Democratic to Republican during Bill Clinton administra­tion."

This didn't just happen during the Clinton administration, it happened BECAUSE of the Clinton administration. More specifically, the Republican revolution of '94 happened BECAUSE of Hillary's unmitigated disaster of an attempt to reform health care.

If she steals the nomination, we are in for more of the same, and she won't even need to be elected to do it. Republicans will come out in droves, and Democrats will stay home if she's the nominee. We'll get a huge number of Republican candidates elected down the ticket, and we'll be stuck with a Republican Congress, a Republican President, and a Republican Supreme Court yet again...

[nazardesign]

David, I meant to comment back on the Race Chasm post, but you've really come up with a compelling theory that plays out consistently. This notion of lying is clearly not new, but equally as fascinating. That the lies are big like NAFTA, medium-sized like Bosnia and almost imperceptible like this one and the one being perpetuated with the gas tax holiday just shows the pervasiveness of the tendency. Whether she says whatever her advisers write without question or she says these things on purpose, they are adding up. My question, though, why isn't it turning more voters away from her?

[synapse369]

nazadesign - "why isn't it turning more voters away from her?"

Because the msm is owned by Corporate America (Repubs) who want HRC to win the nom., and so the msm does not carry this news to the average voter who gets all tyheir info from TV, like Ox, CNN etc. Sadly, we posters who do the work of looking at alternative news sources, so hopefully we can be informed voters, are not your average voter. Most voters just take what Fox and others spoon feed them as the "truth" and accept as their own the msm opinion.. That's why it is so vitally important for us to pass on to anyone and everyone any facts we can discover.

[Aleka4]

Yea...the average american does just accept what is spoon fed to them, which is why this all works. Despite the lies being so easy to prove, the MSM doesn't show them this proof, so your average american doesnt know she is lying.

They are too busy ramming Wright in their faces and stoking racial fears to bother with stuff like truth.

[ebanks84]

Amen. That's what keeps me going every day. If I can tell one other person what they don't know, I feel I have done something special. We must spread the news to those who are not of the computer age or who may not care to investigate what she says and take it at word value. There are so many who do, God forgive them.

[greejambri]

She won't apologize -- for ANYTHING. She won't admit making a mistake. She embraces an end-justif­ies-the-me­ans-win-at­-any-cost-­slash-and-­burn campaign philosophy and employs tactics that would make Karl Rove proud. She is winning the hearts of neo-con Republicans. She votes for war and for saber-rattling at our adversaries, rather than diplomacy. AND she is a PATHOLOGICAL LIAR, to boot. I don't care if she would appoint so-called liberal judges to the Supreme Court (that is even in question for me at this point), I WILL NEVER vote for Hillary Clinton. The content is irrelevant when the PROCESS of governing is the SAME as George W. Bush! NO to Hillary!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!

[ebanks84]

Apologies is not in her data bank. It's natural for her to lie because that's her mental being now. She does whatever it takes to get whatever she wants. Lying is the safest of some of the things she has done. I would hate to be a close friend of hers that's for sure.

[Bobrobert]

NEWS FLASH!!!

Clinton has BALLS!!!

1st question - ummmm - which Clinton has balls???

[ebanks84]

Seems like both:)