Opinion/Editorial by Robert J Anderson
Publisher – Lehigh Acres Gazette
In a perfect world politicians wouldn’t lie. But when voters elect politicians who lie instead of ones who tell the truth, then the voters shouldn’t be surprised when they get caught being less than truthful.
Part of media activity is asking politicians questions. The skilled politicos usually will answer a question directly if the message they wish to deliver fits the subject matter. Some will take the opportunity to “obfuscate.” This is one-dollar wording that basically means “darken or confuse.” I like to call it answering with no answer at all.
There are certain questions local people running for office should really bone up on so they do not get caught with their “pants on fire.” One extremely easy question typically posed to people with histories of being politically active in the community is the common query: “Well, [Insert Name], are you planning to run for political office.”
It should be an easy question, shouldn’t it?
Especially when the news media has ample access to local election offices where people who want to be your next elected official need to register to run. So, why would someone who has already filed to run for political office answer negatively or ambiguously (“I don’t know” or “I’m thinking about it”)?
They simply can’t help it. That’s right. A person who cannot truthfully answer such a simple question that is easily fact checked operates in a different reality than you and I do.
They have been lying for such a long time that in order to never experience the shakes from telling too much truth, they have to lie about almost everything.
Question: “Mr. Politician. Isn’t it true you put your pants on one leg at a time?
Answer: “I’m not sure I understand the question. I really don’t know. If it is Tuesday, the subject can be quite delicate since, after all, everyone knows that Tuesday presents several troublesome challenges when it comes to making apparel decisions.”
Response: “Huh?”
Have you ever uttered the response,”Huh?,” after listening to a politician?
Well, “Huh” can also be used as a response when catching a local person lying in answer to a simple question like running for office. What was the need to tell such a lie after already filing to run? Perhaps this person is a bit confused since most politicians seek constant media exposure.
And, if this person truly believed a candidacy announcement in the Gazette would tarnish chances to be elected, well, my only response has to be “Huh?”
I’ve checked as many education sources as I possibly could. But, I couldn’t find a handbook instructing people seeking political office to lie about it. Yet, once again, it must be some genetic or possibly inherited trait. After all, learning to lie about the small stuff takes a lot of practice – usually for many years – in order to get good at it.
So, I guess, I really shouldn’t be surprised when an individual with a long history of local political involvement tells me a fib. After all, he is an experienced politician, right?