Ever been interrogated by the police?

but then, the media has failed miserably on that mark.

they much prefer making sure republicans always get to say whatever republicans want to say, then blame democrats for letting the republican lies stick.

It's like answering the question of "where are my keys?" by saying "in the northern hemisphere." Not incorrect, but not helpful, either.

If we can require elected officials to swear an oath of office, then there is no reason at all that we can't require truthfulness to be part of that oath.

At a minimum, you’d have to get much more specific.

Lies from mere candidates campaigning for office vs. government officials making official statements, e.g.

That said, how do you define a lie, and worse, a harmful lie vs. a well-intentioned lie?

Once upon a time, I held a security clearance. I was told certain truths, then told certain lies that I had to tell if I couldn’t avoid the topic. To tell the truth would have meant a fine and/or imprisonment, in the name of national security.

It’s very messy to try to get it right. Worse, it’s a recipe for bad actors to try to get it wrong.

Every word uttered while in the performance of the duties of the office must be truthful.

i just don't think making it illegal is the right solution.

figuring out how to buy or shame the media into some sense of civic responsibility is my hope.


foxnews is a lost cause, but i have hope that the rest of the media could eventually learn to be far more dismissive of their b.s. and the b.s. that republicans tout.

"The press" enjoys more or less explicit constitutional protection, on the assumption that they'll use their power to hold the government accountable, but that seems to happen less and less as we go along.

Sad to say but that is the truth. We do not want to be held to a truthfulness standard at any point.

Truthiness is warm and fuzzy. Truthfulness requires thinking and can hurt.
Americans are very risk-averse.

Haele

The whole thought of a political truth police is frightening.

Who writes the statutes? Congress. What other answer is necessary?

Judges appointed by politicians?

We have a First Amendment for a reason.

He seems to have a great handle on the truth. Or maybe Ted Cruz. He can determine if it is a scientific or divine truth.

to get elected.

Media has been an enabler on this-treating lies as no big deal

Look at polling before the election on this topic.

It's not the media. It's the American people.

And lots of politicians to craft that law, and even more to support it.

Especially considering how broadly people define the word “lie” when it comes to characterizing something said by someone on the other side.

sad but true.

or to spouse, or to a kid about Santa Clause..... Agreement on which lies should be criminalized is an impossible fool's errand.

What a question!

Take for example Obama's statement "if you like your insurance, you can keep it". Clearly true on average, clearly not true in other cases.

Or take the current Republican tax bill. Most economists scoff at the idea that it will pay for itself. But a small percentage argue it will. Do you only listen to the majority? What happens if instead of 90 10 split you've got a 55 45 split from experts?

What happens if a politician says he or she will enact policy A when running for re-election, but can't get the bill passed? Is that a lie? Is it a lie if a Democrat in a very blue city in a red state says he or she will enact policy A knowing that they have zero chance of making it happen?

It's far harder than you seem to realize.