Lies, Exaggerations, Deceptions, or Delusions?

David Corn debates Nicholas Kristof about what to call Bush Lies

My hunch is Kristof is talking less about principle and more about politics. During our chat--and it was pleasant--he argued that using the word "'lying' is inflammatory and reduces persuasive power.

Why not call a lie a lie? Politeness has its place in public discourse. But so does straight talk. And if the standard of political speech is whether it wins over the undecided, Kristof should look at a Washington Post-ABC News poll that came out a few weeks ago. Asked who could be labeled "honest and trustworthy," 52 percent of the respondents chose John Kerry; only 39 percent picked Bush. A January poll found that 57 percent thought Bush was "honest and ethical." Ever since then, on questions regarding his honesty, Bush had generally been in the mid-50s. If that Post-ABC News poll is accurate, the public impression of Bush has shifted dramatically. I am not saying that The Lies of George W. Bush is responsible for this. (Who knows?) But Bush's ability to honestly address the critical issues facing the nation has become an issue ins this campaign.