Why are Republicans so bad at lying?

[marmar]

Why are Republicans so bad at lying?
They lie so much, shouldn’t they be better at it?

By KIRK SWEARINGEN
PUBLISHED MAY 6, 2023 6:01AM (EDT)


(Salon) Aspokesperson for Fox "News" recently called a charge that former Fox "personality" and MAGA cheerleader Tucker Carlson created a hostile workplace "unmeritorious."

Abby Grossberg, a former head booker for his show, recently sued Fox News, charging that Carlson promoted a hostile workplace, where he and his producers routinely said sexist things about women, including guests, and made antisemitic jokes. Grossberg has also sued the company for coercing her to provide inaccurate testimony in the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox.

It's hard to believe anyone would doubt that Carlson could be that guy, since, without any discernible talent, a limited palette of facial expressions, and an unnerving laugh seemingly modeled on various older character actresses in screwball comedies he made himself one of the most successful shillers of fear and hate in the history of the country.

....(snip)....

But given that they lie so much — about the Constitution, about their political opponents, about what it means to be a patriotic American — one would think they'd at least be good at it.

....(snip)....

When a person is lying, it's nearly impossible to be simple, to be forthright. A liar just has an overwhelming need to gussy it up. Thus, you're not innocent, you are completely innocent or absolutely innocent. A charge against you isn't merely false, it's totally false or completely bogus, or some such, from the liar's well-thumbed thesaurus. ............(more)

https://www.salon.com/2023/05/06/why-are-so-at-lying/

[Paladin]

1. Because they are allowed to be, with little or no penalty. (nt)

[RAB910]

2. The problem is their lies have become more and more extreme

Making it easier to spot the lies (not that it matters the right-wing propaganda machine provides them all the cover they need)

[The Jungle 1]

3. The problem is way to many Americans believe republican lies.

Trump took lying to a new level.

[The Magistrate]

4. They Are Quite Good At It, Sir

The purpose of their lies is not to convince people something that isn't true is.

Their lies are meant to display cult solidarity, and display their impudent disregard for facts of any sort. Giving assent to a statement false to fact, because it is uttered by a leader of the cult, is how the devotee signals loyalty to the leader and commitment to the cause. The ability to gain such assent from devotees is what establishes a cult leader's rank in its hierarchy. It is what the cult is set to believing on any given day that is always and incontestably true; there is no other standard for the believer.

[rubbersole]

8. 👆👆

[malthaussen]

16. I agree.

I think this also extends to questions of "policy," about which Democrats are constantly befuddled that the Republicans don't seem to have any. This lack is a feature, not a bug. GOP faithful expect nothing from government, which has always screwed them (in their view), what they want is public figures who validate their need to dominate others, and through whom they can vicariously enjoy that domination.

Indeed, the more absurd the lie, the more unjust the law, the better for these people, because their meaning is not one of substance, but of identity. I used to wonder why so many people loved lying assholes, until I realized it was simply because they are the kinds of lying assholes these people want to be, that they love them.

-- Mal

[DownriverDem]

5. It's who they are

I remember as a child being told by my Mom that repubs are a bunch of lying bastards. That hasn't changed.

[hay rick]

6. If they are not good at lying, it's not for lack of practice.

Their lies are not meant as an appeal to the impartial jury. Their lies are meant to be spit-in-your-face for the benefit of their supporters.

[Butterflylady]

7. It comes naturally like breathing.

[Omnipresent]

9. Because they are dumb, but just smart enough to fool..

Their even dumber supporters!

[Zambero]

10. Because fellow Republicans either don't care or can't detect the lie to begin with

Once cult-programmed, actual truth becomes immaterial. Orwell wrote the playbook. Fortunately, not everyone is so gullible.

[paleotn]

12. The basic human flaw of believing what we want to believe. It's unfortunately quite powerful.

[paleotn]

11. Like my father use to say to me....

The truth is simple, straight forward and takes a lot less effort since you never have to defend it much. With lies, you keep having to tell new lies to prop up the old lies and eventually the whole stinking pile of shit falls apart. And it doesn't matter how smart you are or think you are for it all to come tumbling down on your head.

Fucker Carlson, his audience, the Republican Party and the American reich long for a time when they can be assholes with impunity again. That's the heart of their politics and they lie to make it so.

[CaptainTruth]

13. I thought it was the only thing they were good at?

[Shermann]

14. It's another way to own the libs

If the libs are enraged, you must be doing something right.

There also appears to be some gamesmanship going on. How big of a whopper can I tell the media and keep a straight face? My electors voted to send the proverbial bull to the China shop, and that's what we're going to give them by God.

Flood the zone with bullshit! Bad is the new Good.

[murielm99]

15. They don't care if everyone knows

they are lying. That is the secret. I wouldn't want everyone to know if I was lying. I would be ashamed. They have no shame.

[thucythucy]

17. I think they're actually pretty good at it.

Some of their most egregious lies have been successful in changing the very fabric of our Commonwealth.

For instance:

That Republicans are "fiscally responsible."

That they do a better job with the economy than Democrats.

That tax breaks for the rich help everyone and grow the economy.

That Ronald Reagan ended the cold war.

That Democrats are "soft on crime.."

That the media are liberal.

That people are poor because they're lazy.

And on and on and on.

Their latest--that the 2020 election was rigged--has enabled them to pass a slew of laws that are an attempt to rig future elections. As it is now, those laws will at the least muddy the waters of any future Democratic victories within those jurisdictions.

Fact is they're great at lying. And whatever guard rails we have to call them on it and deliver consequences for the liars--from ethical standards to actual investigative reporting to effective law enforcement--have proved to be inadequate, sometimes even in league with the liars.

Trump is an excellent example. His lawbreaking has been blatant and obvious for decades, from charity scams to tax fraud to stiffing contractors to sexual assaults. Only now--in the past two years--has there been anything approaching accountability.

The GOP and their enablers and allies are superb liars, and the evidence is all around us.

[Midnight Writer]

18. Why are magicians at kid's parties not as adept as Las Vegas stage magicians?

Because their audience is naive and guileless.

[Skittles]

19. they think everyone is as racist and ignorant as they are

yup