Dear Barack: When They Lie, Call Them Liars

Dear Barack,

Next time someone asks what you think of Sarah Palin, please don't just call her a "skilled politician" with a "compelling biography." Call her a liar, too. Here's how that would work:

Reporter: What do you think of Sarah Palin?
You: She's a skilled politician with a compelling biography who lies a great deal.
Reporter: Wow! That's a pretty serious charge.
You: Actually, [insert name of reporter], it's not a charge. It's what certain people in your profession call "a fact."
Reporter (suspiciously): So you're calling her "a liar"?
You: Right. As in someone who lies a lot.
Reporter (gravely): With all due respect, Senator, if you're going to make that kind of accusation, you'd better be specific.
You: Sure. Remember when she said I'd never written a major piece of legislation? That was a lie. And when she said she opposed the Bridge to Nowhere? That was also a lie. And when she said I would raise taxes on American families? Again: a lie. And you know how she talks about opposing earmarks. Given that she hired a Jack Abramhoff-affiliated lobbyist to haul in $27 million in earmarks for her beloved small town, that's a real whopper. So she lies a lot, about my record and her own record. Just as a reminder, though, I'm not running against Sarah Palin. I'm running against John McCain, who is also a liar.
Reporter (even more gravely): Wait a second, so now you're saying --
You: Yes, John McCain is a liar. He routinely lies about my tax plan, which will cut taxes for 95 percent of families with children. He lies about his own tax plan, which will continue the tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires he once called "irresponsible." He lies about his support of renewable energy. He lies about his judgment on the Iraq War, a war he himself declared over five years ago, on national TV. He lies about his vetting of Sarah Palin, which was clearly reckless and inadequate. Virtually every time he opens his mouth he lies.
Reporter (frankly aghast): These are harsh words, Senator.
You: Not really. I'm just tired of listening to the Republican nominees and their surrogates lie with impunity. And the only way these liars are going to stop telling lies is for reporters like you, [insert name of reporter], to report when they lie. I urge you to show the same concern for the truth with us Democrats. Politicians shouldn't be rewarded for lying.

What would happen if you actually said this -- even some toned down version?
1. You completely dominate the news.
2. You force the media to assess your "inflammatory" claims, which, as it turns out, are true.
3. You force McCain/Palin/surrogates to stop lying, or at least risk being held accountable.
4. You reassure those who are worried you're not tough enough to protect the homeland.
5. You show us, your loyal supporters, that you don't plan to pull a Kerry/Gore.
6. Maybe (just maybe) the race starts to become more about real issues, where the Republicans get slaughtered.

Oh, and next time Bill O'Reilly asks you to admit you were wrong about the surge, tell him John McCain needs to admit he was wrong about the entire war, and to stop lying about his failure to support veterans. Honestly, dude, quit making John Stewart do all the heavy lifting.

More concerned than ever,

Steve

Comments

[jazzdad51]

Obama has to start fighting dirty. I suggest a Karl Rove type ad campaign showing Bush in a proven lie followed by McCain in a proven lie. Also Dick Cheney in a proven lie followed by palin in a proven lie.

[TivoliEclipse]

Well, I will say the obvious... Joe should step down... John (he calls McCain with affection) is his best bud and he is having difficulty going for the jugular... I am sure Joe will not mind, I think he's in over his head... get Hillary to help mop up this mess!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[splastershoes]

Holy crap. Seriously. I have been venting ALL DAY at work at the pentagon about how we refuse to call lies and liars as we see them. They love prettying them up for the media with platitudes like, "a stretch of the truth." BS! Thank you, Steve, for speaking my soul. I'm exasperated with disbelief at just how "disconnected" the Obama campaign and its surrogates are from this election. They simply DO NOT GET IT. Your last line summed up a letter I wrote to Governor Rendell today. I mentioned that he was the only Democrat so far to take a page from the John Stewart book.

Don't they even realize that we're all SCREAMING at the televisions each day we see them kowtow to media pressure? They need to wake up and smell the polls. And NO. The polls don't lie. If you believe they do, then you've already failed.

[JayHorus]

(Cont.) (This part is optional only because it worked for Hillary Clinton. Blame the media for being too soft on McCain/Palin.)

"They must not think to highly of the American people if they can't tell you what they plan on doing for the Country and instead focus on lies about me and my positions. Now I know that some in the media seem reluctant to go after John McCain because up until a few weeks ago they were his 'Base', but after almost 2 years of being vetted by the media you would think that they would do the same for someone that only 2 weeks ago became the Republican VP nominee. Well what I am going to do is I am going to keep telling they American Public the truth about my position and every time I hear a lie being told about me I am going to tell them in no uncertain terms that they are liars. It is time to get truthful with the American Public, get back to real American Values like truth and honesty, it is time for Republicans to stop talking about me and start talking about what they plan on doing for you."

I would have this message pushed hard until John McCain and Sarah Palin start talking about their policies and plans for America's future and once they do that the American public will see the real difference between the candidates and polls will reflect that I think.

[JayHorus]

One of the things that I really liked about Barack Obama isn't that he is a great speaker, although he is. It's not that I think his plans for America are better than anyone else's right now, although they are. It isn't even that he is considered well liked around the World and can help restore America's broken image, although I think that is a great thing and that he can. The main reason why I am voting for Barack Obama is because he talks to me like I am an adult. That is a huge thing in Politics.

As Steve Almond said in this great post, Obama needs to say they are liars. Not that they are telling half truths or bending the truth, but blatantly, whole-heartedly and with great joy it seems telling lies. Obama already has a great speech going and the "They must think your stupid!" line is great, but before he says that he needs to say something more;

"John McCain and the Republicans have been lying about my record. When they go out and tell the American people something that you know is not the truth, then it is called lying. *Sarcastic laugh* Don't they understand that there is something called the 'Internets' now? I mean come on. *Sarcastic laugh* This is getting ridiculous. I mean, they must think your stupid?! Seriously!!" Cont...

[kcnativnla]

Amen. When did we stop calling a liar a liar?

[milo9]

Lies have always been in both political parties but over the years it has become so embraced by Republicans that it has displaced truth. Looking back I would say it started with Reagan.

[xac00fm]

Anne Kilkenny's e-mail about Sarah Palin
Posted on Monday, September 8, 2008 -McClathy
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/52031.html
"... But she says, far from being a fiscal conservative, Palin left Wasilla in debt, was intolerant of "divergent opinions" and "has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help."

"... Palin tried to fire the city librarian because she refused to consider removing books from the shelves. Palin did send a termination letter to the librarian, but it was unclear whether books were involved in that decision. At the time, Palin noted the librarian had supported her opponent in the election."

[armadillious2002]

Amen - praise the Lord and pass the amunition. This is what I have been saying in here for months but your article really nailed it and hit it on the head. When they lie (which is all the time) call them out on it and call them what they are - liars! Do this and for the reasons listed above - we will win in November.

[standard]

"Politicians shouldn't be rewarded for lying. . . . [Q]uit making John Stewart do all the heavy lifting. "

Extremely well-stated!! It IS high time to for Obama to remove the kid gloves.

Not only would that completely subvert the Republican Party's usual game plan, promoting a more comfortable win for Obama in 2008, it would also help to quash any future claim to lead the Democratic Party that Hillary Clinton may assert. (Had she only stuck to the facts about herself and Sen. Obama during the primaries, she'd be heading the Democratic ticket today. Because she repeatedly lied, instead, she now must be shunted aside to allow a far more responsible Democratic woman to become our first woman President.) Being tough but honest affords all sorts of valuable benefits.

[Pamk]

I agree. This is the time to get gritty and call McCain and Palin out. When someone insults you - you have to stand up. Americans want to know this. She is going to make him look like he has no strength. Be ruthless with her please!!! She is not a skilled politician she can read from a teleprompter. By saying she is you just legitimize her appeal even more. No one is even looking at MCCain anymore.

[varekai]

Barack and Joe, I am a Democrat and here we are again (John Kerry) like a deer looking into the the headlights. I hate to admit it but the republicans are the smarter of the 2 parties. We (Democrats) have been the enablers for the republicans. We have given Bush everything he wanted after the house and senate were taken back in 2006. You could have cut off the funding on the war you promised but fell silent once you got in. Joe Biden is right about the silence being deafening but more than that is the deafening silence on responding to the attacks outright lies) from the right! Now you guys are on the wagon to drill, drill and drill. A gullible uniformed electorate and a passive do nothing Democrats senate and house says it all. I really thought we had a chance but history is indeed repeating itself. For a party to sell itself after 8 years of &*^% = priceless! Not really as the next 2-3 generations will be paying for it! I really thought we had a chance but today I realize i have been in denial as the democratic party has.

[leb32]

And Obamessiah doesn't lie?? Yeah, right!! By default, ALL politicians are liars.

[indups]

Absolutely true!!!!!!. THIS COMMENTARY SHOULD BE SHOWN TO OBAMA. The Democrats are not aggressive enough and are constantly having to defend themselves, like Obama did in the O'Reilly interview.

While I do not agree with all that William Blum says in his article in Counterpunch (weekend edition) it is worthwhile reading it to get an idea of what the Democrats must do to expose the Republicans. William Blum says: the slogan for the Democrats should be: " If you liked Bush, you'll love McCain".

http://www.counterpunch.org/blum09062008.html

If the Democrats do not move very fast and set up an aggressive attack machine, then we are going to see these R. liars taking over in the polls very fast. Keep pounding on these liars, expose their lies!

Btw, where are the democratic stalwarts?? Where are the Clintons, Kerry, Caroline Kennedy, Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean and all the others? why and where are they hiding?

Wish Ted Kennedy would make a televised appearance from his home and comment on the Republican lying tactics and hold their feet to the fire.

The only courageous journalist that I have seen so far who has actually listed the number of lies the Republicans have promoted is Rachel Maddow. Watch her debut show on MSNBC tonight at 9PM.

Again, the Democratic slogan should be: " IF YOU LIKED BUSH, YOU'LL LOVE McCAIN."

[Treasonous1]

This video, esspecially the last minute shoudl be all you need to win the election:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184113&title=john-mccain-reformed-maverick

It shows exactly what McCain is all about and actually ommits some of the bigger flip flops like his sponsoring an imigration bill he now vows to veto...

[JayInDallas]

I'm a new fan of Steve!