The Only Thing We Can Trust Politicians to Do is to Lie

On October 26th, 1972, Henry Kissinger said, “Peace in Vietnam is at hand.”  This statement served its purpose by getting Nixon re-elected, but peace wasn’t at hand.  After three more years of war, the U. S. would surrender South Vietnam back to the communists.

In 1986, Ronald Reagan, regarding the Iran-Contra affair and secretly trading weapons for hostages, said “Those charges are utterly false. We did not, repeat, did not, trade weapons for hostages, nor will we.” We did. If they keep repeating it, it’s probably a lie.  In 1987, regarding his previous statement, he said, “Though my heart tells me this was true, the facts say that it wasn’t.”

In 1988, Bush 41 said, “I’m the one who will not raise taxes… Read my lips:  No new taxes.” He raised taxes within two years.

In 1998, Bill Clinton said, “I want to say one thing to the American people.  I’m going to say this again. I want you to listen to this: I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.” He did. Later that year, on his apology tour, he said, “Indeed I did have a relationship with Ms. Lewinsky.”  The more emphatic they are, the more you know they’re lying.

In 2003, Bush 43 said, “Iraq has weapons of mass destruction.” They didn’t. Later he said, “Iraq did not have the weapons that our intelligence believed they did.”

In 2009, concerning the “Affordable” Care Act, Barack Obama said, “We will keep this promise to the American people: If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. Period. If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period. No one will take that away–No matter what!” They took it away. Again, too emphatic to be believed.

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