Senator Bernie Sanders’ interview with Fox television host literally ends with a bang when the senator punched Bill O' Reilly in the face, knocking him unconscious before a national television audience! Immediately, Republicans labeled the senator a barbarian incapable of accomplishing a clean political debate.
Got your attention, right? Believe it or not, this story is a lie. Unfortunately, Sanders' interview on The O'Reilly Factor followed the usual "Factor" protocol. Bill asks a question, interrupts, answers the question for the guest, rinses, and repeats. I wanted Bernie to give Bill a "pow" right in the kisser. Sadly, the only punches thrown were the fictional ones in my head. Besides making a great tabloid, the punching story would be quite entertaining and certainly more interesting. Lying to gain the attention of an audience is a tactic recognized by few, but used by many- even in Washington.
Here are the top ten lies in politics:
In the United States, skepticism and mistrust of Washington is rampant. Conspiracy theories ranging from the 9/11 attacks to President Obama’s birthplace are as well known as the facts. Political issues are about tribal divisions, struggle, and triumph for the sake of control and security. If 'truth' winds up as street slaughter along the way, so be it. So we roll our eyes and call dishonesty ‘spin’ or 'extending reality' or some other less brutal euphemism to keep from using the forbidden word: lying. Each side uses it, including our own. Winning keeps us safe and that's what matters most.
Ben Carson is a good example of somebody who puts himself in odd circumstances by stretching the truth. He described in his autobiography, "Gifted Hands," an anecdote about attempting to stab a cohort. Yet, columnists can't find colleagues who remember such a memorable event, nor the individual who was assaulted. As a result, Carson is in the awkward position of being a presidential candidate intensely arguing that yes, he truly did actually attempt to stab somebody.
In response to the Oregon shooting in October, Carson tells yet another parable. Allegedly, he was in a Popeye's in Baltimore when a robber came in. The robber pointed his gun in Carson's ribs and Carson responded by telling the robber that he was pointing it at the wrong gentleman. The polite shooter said "sorry" and approached the cashier who gave him the money and then left. This bizarre story was apparently used to indicate how quiet and gathered he would be in an emergency situation or something like.
It's evident that these stories never happened the way that Carson is depicting. Neither story has any corroboration. In any case, why might somebody admit to trying to stab a classmate or attacking another individual and then ask the country to trust him? A good story!
Americans love a good story of redemption where the diamond in the rough is saved from the fate of poverty or a story of heroism. Before Carson was running for president, he was creating a character. He used stories to build his identity. He was even willing to introduce behaviors that aren’t flattering, such as beating other children, in order to make the point that he had changed himself and can change America too.
