The Washington Monthly has rated the lies told by recent Presidents and has come up with George W. Bush as the biggest liar (surprise!)
I am interested in the article, however, because of these gems from Reagan.
- After opining in August 1980 that “trees cause more pollution than automobiles do,” Reagan arrived at a campaign rally to find a tree decorated with this sign: “Chop me down before I kill again.”
- “In England, if a criminal carried a gun, even though he didn’t use it, he was tried for first-degree murder and hung if he was found guilty,” Ronald Reagan claimed in April 1982. When informed that the story was “just not true,” White House spokesman Larry Speakes said, “Well, it’s a good story, though. It made the point, didn’t it?” Reagan repeated the story again on March 21, 1986 during an interview with The New York Times.
- “We did not—repeat, did not—trade weapons or anything else for hostages, nor will we,” Reagan proclaimed in November 1986. Four months later, on March 4, 1987, Reagan admitted in a televised national address, “A few months ago, I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions still tell me that’s true, but the facts and the evidence tell me it is not.”
Via CalPundit.
Maybe you should focus on some of the democratic lies, such as Bill Clinton and his sex rendition, instead of being so bias agianst Repeblican Presidents. Bush did not lie to the American people but instead he told the public what information he was given. Even though this was bad information is it fair to say that he lied in telling what he thought to be the truth?
Andrew: I am not sure how to classify Bush. Like you say the problem is not a direct lie but bad policies founded on false assumptions.
Clinton’s lies about his sex life were bad in a moral sense but I am not sure they had much policy implications.
I was amused by Reagan’s lies because they are so transparently false to anyone with an IQ high than room temperature.