THEY LIE... clinical definitions, please?

Other than psychopathic liars. :)

I was watching Bill Maher last night, and what struck me was how he was LOUDLY CALLING OUT John Fund on the fact that he was LYING, and knew he was lying, and that he KNEW BETTER.

The gist of the conversation was that true conservative Republicans (as opposed to the psychotic neocons and theocons) KNOW Sarah Palin is not qualified, they KNOW the McCain campaign is lying repeatedly in their ads, yet they sit there, with a straight face, and say, "No, the ads are true, and she IS qualified."

Bill called him a cynic, saying that he (Maher) knows good and well Fund knows better -- that he's too smart not to -- but that he and his ilk are knowingly feeding the lies because they know the average undecided voter DOESN'T know better and so they're lying to brainwash them.

Politicians have always lied, Republicans have especially always lied, but it's been taken to a level that is...stunning. It's been taken to the level of them trying to recreate reality -- it's as though they have begun to convince themselves of their lies. It is remarkable to watch 1984 in action.

Is there an expression that fits this?