Believe it or not!

[DreamThrall]

From an article on FactCheck.org:

Here's a fact that may surprise you: candidates have a legal right to lie to voters just about as much as they want.

That comes as a shock to many voters. After all, consumers have been protected for decades from false ads for commercial products. Shouldn't there be "truth-in-advertising" laws to protect voters, too?

Turns out, that's a tougher question than you might imagine.

For one thing, the First Amendment to the US Constitution says "Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech," and that applies to candidates for office especially. And secondly, in the few states that have tried laws against false political ads, they haven't been very effective.

Sound interesting? Read the entire text here:
http://www.factcheck.org/SpecialReports.aspx?docID=188

FactCheck.org is a great resource for finding out the truth about ads run by politicians and their supporters. If you see something you don't think is right - or even if you don't, I highly encourage you to look up the information that is being touted as fact. If FactCheck.org doesn't list the ad, you can either email Brooks Jackson, the man who runs FactCheck.org, or you can do the research yourself! Google is a great resource for checking information.

 

[gh0st]

yaeh but usually if they lie [a lot] they dont get elected.. or re elected.

 

[DarkStar]

What? Politicians lie?

Holy shit. You've got to be kidding me? Call the New York Times! THIS IS BIG!

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

Lying to the population and have the right to lie to the population are different things entirely darkstar...

 

[DarkStar]

Lying to the population and have the right to lie to the population are different things entirely darkstar...

When it comes to politicians it's sorta all the same thing. We have a long-standing tradition of politicians being allowed to lie. This is nothing new. Unless they are under oath (Clinton during Lewinski) they can't get in trouble for it. The only thing that voters can do is not elect them.

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

Perhaps, but when someone becomes president I'm sure they have to make an oath that involves not lying....Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[DreamThrall]

I think you're all missing the point...

What the article was getting at, was the fact that politicians can legally lie, mislead, slander, libel, whatever you call it, in their political ads. Their supporters can do the same. The sad thing is, for the most part, the general populace doesn't realize when they are watching the ad that the information that is being represented as fact, may not, in fact, be a fact (you follow? :cheese: )

Yes, it is a well known fact that politicians aren't exactly well known for their integrity. However, some people might not have realized how blantant it was. Some who might have an idea might not know how to tell fact from fiction. This is why I made this post, and gave the link to FactCheck.org, and the suggestions to use Google.

yaeh but usually if they lie [a lot] they dont get elected.. or re elected.

I'm going to go ahead and keep my mouth shut on that one in the effort to maintain my nonpartisanship on this post... but we all know that isn't true.

 

[Direwolf]

I suppose now you're going to tell me that Kerry doesn't really live on the moon and Bush isn't a part time lion tamer.

 

[A2597]

actually, it is to protect the candidate from being sued for mis-information. Such as in the events where a candidate is told one thing, says it on TV/Radio...and it's wrong, and possibly damaging to someone. they CANNOT sue him.

so candidates are effectivly, allowed to lie. Any person holding a public office is.

 

[Prince of China]

What? Politicians lie?

Holy shit. You've got to be kidding me? Call the New York Times! THIS IS BIG!

:O !

 

[Pogrom]

I suppose now you're going to tell me that Kerry doesn't really live on the moon and Bush isn't a part time lion tamer.

Hey!! That's part-time cowboy lion tamer!

Anyway, this is a moot point. Politicians lie, and feel justified in doing so. This is because most people who vote are not truly informed on the issues, they are either voting along party lines, voting on the strength of personality, or some other such thing.

 

[DreamThrall]

You are all STILL missing the point. Read the article.

actually, it is to protect the candidate from being sued for mis-information. Such as in the events where a candidate is told one thing, says it on TV/Radio...and it's wrong, and possibly damaging to someone. they CANNOT sue him.

Actually, it's called "the right to free speech". All US Citizens have it, even politicians. You can't be sued for "mis-information" as far as I know either. You can be sued for libel, but that is often very hard to prove.

so candidates are effectivly, allowed to lie. Any person holding a public office is.

Haven't I already stated this several times in so many words?

 

[DreamThrall]

Lying to the population and have the right to lie to the population are different things entirely...

At least one person seems to catch my drift....

 

[Link]

Perhaps, but when someone becomes president I'm sure they have to make an oath that involves not lying....Maybe I'm wrong.

The oath would not work backwards. They can lie their arses off before hand, to get elected.

 

[Pogrom]

You are all STILL missing the point. Read the article.

I understand the point, but I also think it relevant that the majority of people don't have a clue when a politician bends the truth.

The majority of the electorate is simply not informed on the issues, so when a politician exercises his right to lie the public; come voting day the truth means very little.

 

[DreamThrall]

I understand the point, but I also think it relevant that the majority of people don't have a clue when a politician bends the truth.

The majority of the electorate is simply not informed on the issues, so when a politician exercises his right to lie the public; come voting day the truth means very little.

I agree, and already said that in so many words in a previous post (#7 on this thread)...