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I am a liberal through and through and that means that I respect the truth and just absolutely detest those who routinely disregard it.
I'm not saying I've never lied. We all have. And, I am not saying that all lies are detestable. Some are actually understandable and pretty easily forgiven. All lies are definitely not equal.
But, the bald-faced lies that are now offered on a daily basis to scare some voters or anger others are almost without precedent for their transparency and complete lack of respect for the intelligence of our citizens. They require the ability to tell lies which all but the most disengaged instantly recognize as lies and to display not a shred of shame while doing it.
Their target is not the intelligent voter or the concerned citizen. Their target is that segment of the population that is looking for simplicity in an increasingly complex world. Their target is the voter who appreciates bumpersticker solutions to all the problems facing our nation. "Death taxes", "Death panels", "Flip flop", "Obamacare", "bailouts", "muslim socialists"---these are all examples of false or misleading words and phrases that this target audience have been told are all they need to know to justify voting against all things Democratic or Obama.
As pathetic as these smirking simpletons are, they are far less culpable than those who propogate these lies. There is actually a term for these folks: "lying sons-of-bitches". They are not pundits. They do not deserve to be called commentators. They are lying sons-of-bitches who deceive others for money or power or both, even when their lies cost lives.
There once was a price to be paid for lying. It may seem quaint now, but we gray-hairs recall a time when those with a history of lying were not only not believed, they were essentially "shunned" by responsible adults. Their opinion was no longer sought and, when volunteered, were disregarded. As a society, we used to let liars know that they were not respected or even tolerated.
Today, the likes of Newt Gingrich, Karl Rove, Dick Armey, Tom Delay and Sarah Palin continue to command as much as $100,000 per speech and are much sought-after guests for talk shows on all the networks of the MSM. Lying obviously pays. We reward it with material wealth, fame and power. "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act"---George Orwell.
It's time we became revolutionaries.
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