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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhen the White House lies about lying, theres a problem
Posted with permission.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/when-the-white-house-lies-about-lying-theres-problem
When the White House lies about lying, theres a problem
01/25/17 08:00 AM
By Steve Benen
In his first formal meeting with congressional leaders this week, Donald Trump repeated one of his favorite lies: it may look like he won the presidency despite losing the popular vote, but he secretly won the popular vote because 3 million to 5 million illegals voted in the election for his opponent.
By any sane measure, the claim is completely bonkers, and yet, the White House refuses to walk it back.
The president does believe that, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters on Tuesday, just one day after pledging to tell the public the facts as I know them. Hes stated that before, I think he has stated his concerns of voter fraud and people voting illegally during the campaign and continues to maintain that belief based on studies and evidence people have presented to him.
And what, pray tell, are those studies and evidence? The struggling press secretary, whose credibility is already badly damaged, told reporters, I think theres been studies. Theres one that came out of Pew in 2008 that showed 14 percent of people who voted were non-citizens.
That, too, is a claim that Trump World has repeatedly embraced, despite being completely wrong.
What Americans are confronted with is a new president who is comfortable lying, backed up by White House aides who are equally comfortable lying about lying.
There was some discussion yesterday about whether Trumps ridiculous claims about voter fraud actually constitute a lie, as opposed to an outrageous falsehood. Its a fair question, but in this case, the president has been told repeatedly his claim is wrong; his own lawyers have acknowledged its wrong; but Trump repeats it anyway.
There was also some chatter yesterday that Trumps brazen dishonesty isnt as important as some of the White Houses policy pronouncements from the last few days. Im not unsympathetic to the point, but Id caution against dismissing the story too quickly.
First, it matters when the president of the United States lies about our democracy with claims that border on delusional. If Trump intends to govern by way of shameless dishonesty, and Americans cant be sure if their national leader can adequately tell the difference between fact and fiction, legitimate questions are inevitable about the presidents fitness for office.
Second, there is a policy component to voter-fraud lies. Republicans have spent several years attacking Americans voting rights in ways unseen since the Jim Crow era. If the president is committed to the idea that millions of undocumented immigrants are casting illegal ballots, the push for new voter-suppression measures will continue with GOP officials controlling the levers of power.
Third, governing lies are worse than campaigning lies. Trump and Sean Spicer arent just partisans trying to persuade voters; theyre public servants, whose salaries are paid by taxpayers, and who now help speak for a global superpower. When they reject reality from the West Wing, questioning the integrity and legitimacy of an election they won, Team Trump does so in ways that carry real consequences for all of us.
And finally, it matters that most congressional Republicans know Trump tells bizarre and indefensible falsehoods, but most of them are prepared to simply look the other way.
To his credit, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was a notable exception, and the South Carolina Republican urged the president to step up and do the right thing.
Graham, who along with Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., has been one of Trumps more outspoken Republican critics, said the new president needs to put this issue to rest for his own good.
As a matter of fact Id like you to do more than stop saying it, he said. Id like you to come forward and say having looked at it I am confident the election was fair and accurate and people who voted legally. Cause if he doesnt do that, this is going to undermine his ability to govern this country.
Thats true, but hasnt he already undermined his ability to govern by trashing his own credibility?
malaise
(268,997 posts)Remember that
Vinca
(50,271 posts)The POTUS is not mentally all there and should be removed from office.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)News,Fox News calls him out about lying,nothing changes.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)My guess is that no matter how many Trump lies are exposed, his base will simply not believe whoever calls them lies. No matter what foolish thing Reagan said, Reagan voters still supported the man.
dogman
(6,073 posts)Not one asked Sphincter if he or the President knew the children's tale of "The Emperor's New Clothes". Most have learned that parable in grade school.