‘Liar, Liar!’
Saying whatever sounds good is often done at the truth’s expense

“Liar, liar, pants on fire!” This childhood chant applies aptly to politicians and other “adults.” The “spin” placed on messages for public consumption is fashionably called “misleading” when, in reality, it is often simply lies. Originally, spinning was merely insuring that emphasis was placed on the desirable set of facts. Today, “favorable” lies or distortions are being created to support a position. George Orwell warned about manipulation of the language:

“The great enemy of clear language is insincerity,” he wrote. “When there is a gap between one’s real and one’s declared aims, one turns, as it were, instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish squirting out ink.”

“Spinning” a story or message has many ramifications. For instance, journalists who dream up phony stories, create characters and ignore facts and then receive awards.

Or, “I had no idea it was a fundraiser. I drank lots of iced tea and must have been in the bathroom when it was discussed.” Or “I did not have sex with THAT woman.” How about the U.S. Senator who proclaimed how terrifying it was to watch the televised Kefauver hearings as a child? The problem is that this senator was not even born when those hearings began. Or, what about a president who said how traumatizing it was for his childhood as black churches were burned in Arkansas? There are no historical accounts whatever of that occurring.

More damaging, however, are official government lies to sick Gulf War Veterans who were assured that there was no chemical or biological contamination on the battlefields and that the shots they were given had no adverse effects. More damaging, also, are lies about illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources and “end run” transfers of sensitive American military technology to a hostile nation.

Moreover, it is damaging to our national psyche to know of FBI lies to Richard Jewell in the Atlanta Olympic bombing case. To deny him a lawyer, agents told him he was taking part in a training video. Doctored FBI test results or trumped-up convictions based on lies by the Los Angeles police force do not augur well for our civilization.

It is not clear whether recent government leadership is the reflection of a flight from truth and responsibility or whether it is indeed the cause of this collapse. When society does not expect truth, you can bet we won’t get it.

It is pointless to cite any more recent history of deceit, though examples are limitless. The point is that we are surrounded with direct and intentional LIES. Not “misleading statements,” but outright lies. We need to force an end to it or integrity, honor and ethics become hollow words. In biblical times, adulterers were forced to wear a scarlet letter. While that penalty may be too primitive for today’s sophisticated society, we need a return to drawing some societal benefit, correction and compensation from exposing deceit.

The trend toward avoiding responsibility for one’s words and actions is developing into a major psychosis for this country. Why not require, for instance, that politicians and public figures caught in bold, unambiguous lies be forced to wear a scarlet “L” around their neck whenever they appear on TV or in the newspapers? The “L” will remind citizens that this person can’t be trusted. The “L” sentence would expire after the end of the term of office or after the next election.

If you think forcing someone to wear the “L” around the neck might be unconstitutional, then let’s do it electronically. If ESPN can paint a yellow “first and 10” line on a football field for television viewers, let’s have an electronic red “L” around the neck of established public official liars during TV and newspaper appearances.

An aroused public could end this pastime of lying by elected officials and public figures. A big scarlet “L” around the neck of dishonest politicians could be the start of something big. Too harsh, too demeaning, too uncivilized? Nonsense. It is time to revisit the axiom, “his word is his bond.”

Pat Freibert is a former Kentucky state representative from Lexington
editorial@lanereport.com

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