Obama calls President Clinton a liar

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Bloefeld2002

Obama calls President Clinton a liar

Post by Bloefeld2002 »

As a conservative, I am stunned that just now Obama has figured out that President Clinton is a liar. Yeesh it is nearly impossible to tell when he is telling the truth because lies roll off his lips so easily.

However this is a bit of a theme of mine lately. When did lying become so acceptable?

What do you think about this issue? Everyone tells lies, mostly to refrain from embarassing themselves and others. But sometimes people tell whoppers that are hurtful to the common good.

It is in my opinion to the point, that there is no value listening to the news media because it is nearly impossible to tell if they are telling the whole story, or are making a story up out of whole cloth.

When did lying on as grand a scale become acceptable and why?
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Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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Post by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes »

I have never studied this area of history specifically, but I doubt that lying is much more acceptable now than any other time. People have always frequently lied in ways that hurt other people or that are hurtful to the common good. They do that out of selfishness or misguidedness.

The main difference with the modern era is that we have technology and telecommunications. Thousands of years ago a person could only lie to the handful of people in their tribe or very small region, but now people can tell a lies to almost the whole world.

I believe that all politicians are liars. I think of them as professional sell outs. And I believe Obama knows that, considering that he is a politician.

Thanks,
Scott
My entire political philosophy summed up in one tweet.

"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."

I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
Dewey
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Obama calls President Clinton a liar

Post by Dewey »

Bloefeld2002 says President Clinton is a chronic liar and wonders why there is so much lying nowadays. Scott says he believes that all politicians are liars. So do I. So does almost everyone. We're outraged. We don't deserve such treatment. Why can't politicians be honest with us?

Those politicians, the ones we honor by allowing them to run our government, know what we want. It's not all that complicated. Just the basic necessities: good-paying jobs, nice homes, educations, cheap transportation, healthcare, social security, friendly neighbors,protection from terrorists and other criminals, and whatever else we think of.

They also know the handful of conditions and limits we want them to observe: the rquirements of the constitution, laws, and budgets; the procriptions of the majorities against tax raises, deficit increases, and benefits reductions; the obligations to special interests; and such.

Oh sure, our politicians come up with lame excuses about having to promise the impossible to get elected, or about having to lie about some issues as a bad means to a good end. They even claim that political issues are rarely black and white, that they have multiple solutions, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages,and that emotions run high in the discussions of such issues -- all of which often leads to erroneous accusations that they are lying.

Don't you agree that all of the above is pure nonsense? Do you join me in concluding that, by some monstrous coincidence, only pathological liars become politicians?
Softarget
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Post by Softarget »

Could you be more specific? What exactly are you talking about? Pardon me for not taking your "word for it..." but to what statement are you refering?
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Alun
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Post by Alun »

Here's a link about Obama calling Bill Clinton a liar. I can't find the original Newsweek interview, but I'm not feeling terribly motivated. From what I can tell, Obama may have been saying Clinton lied by claiming Obama only won his Senate seat because he was black.

Anyway, yes politicians lie. But no, politicians have always lied. They probably get called on it more often now, since we have better access to information, and better recordings of the statement the politician originally made.

I do not think that only pathological liars try to become politicians, but that lying is frequently to a politician's advantage--and as such, being human, they frequently take that advantage.
"I have nothing new to teach the world" -Mohandas "Mahatma" Gandhi
Softarget
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Post by Softarget »

Thanks, that at least clarifies it.

But I still wonder what world the poster lives in by pointing this out. Clinton (Bill, that is), apparently made this statement in the desperate throws of Hillaries bid. Maybe we should go back over the years and account for every politicians back-and-forth on who lied, and who didn't. A non-partisan affair, I imagine. Most likely with no clear "moral majority."
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Post by Belinda »

Don't you agree that all of the above is pure nonsense? Do you join me in concluding that, by some monstrous coincidence, only pathological liars become politicians?
Some people may be pathological liars but telling lies for someone's own good is not pathological. There have to be state secrets, and there have to be simplistic explanations for those,probably the majority, who don't understand the whole situation as a leader, hopefully, does. By their fruits you shall know them, not by the manner, secretive, lying , or otherwise , in which they conduct their business.The leader needs to be in the position of a wise parent, and needs to be as able as a wise parent.

The lies about why we invaded Iraq, if they were lies and not inefficiencies, were bad because to invade Iraq, as we now know, was a bad error. Leaders' lies are worthwhile only to the extent that they are for the public good, and not for the good of herself or her own social class or business clique. Lies or salaciousness about individuals are bad, because they undermine the energy of the individual concerned and are irrelevant or contrary to the public good.
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