Is it Wishful Thinking or Lying

Real Clear Politics ^ | 09/14/2009 | Tom Bevan

[fiscon1]

Here's a question: if I went out and made a claim I believed but no one else thought possible - that a greyhound could outrun a cheetah, for example - would that be considered a lie or just naive, wishful thinking?

[Gaffer]

The key is for what distance?

[Vendome]

Beat me

[Gaffer]

I’ve seen some nature shows where the Cheetah is purported to be the fastest land mammal. But, they also claim it tires easily. So if a greyhound has stamina, it might win over a long distance.

[Waryone]

Ignorance

[Yo-Yo]

But the difference between wishful thinking and a lie comes down to intent. This is why the operative line in Herbert's column is "I'm sure he [Obama] really believes it." Because if Obama really believes his claim then it can't be considered a lie, just as I wouldn't technically be guilty of lying if I believed in my heart that a greyhound could outrun a cheetah. What I would be guilty of, however, is gross naivete and wishful thinking.

So, depending on what you think of Obama's intent, the best case scenario is that he's guilty of wishful thinking while the worst case scenario is that he is intentionally being dishonest and misleading the American people about the financials of his health care plan.

This makes Zero either a liar or niave. In either case, that is not a quality we need in a Commander-in-Chief.

[RobRoy]

It’s an opinion.

[ZGuy]

There are only two kinds of Democrats: Corrupt and deceived. There are no other options.

[ThanhPhero]

Politically speaking, disagreement is lying. Accuracy and truth are of only marginal consideration.

[the anti-liberal]

Unknowingly stating a non-truth would not be an act of lying, as the act of lying is a conscious decision to deceive.

This is my opinion.

[Squantos]

If your the President such a statement is dangerous, irresponsible an ignorant without careful research due your position of authority an leadership. .

If yer BS’n with yer buddies yer usually just drunk an having fun. No harm no foul.

My opinion !

[Mogollon]

...I went out and made a claim I believed but no one else thought possible - that a greyhound could outrun a cheetah, for example - would that be considered a lie or just naive, wishful thinking?

It depends on whether you are democRAT or republican. If you're democRAT it's just an innocent and cute mistake that means nothing at all. But if you're a Republican it is a vile, despicable lie that has extreme racist and sexist implications.

[GeronL]

naive maybe. for it to be a lie or wishful thinking you’d have to not believe it.

[GeronL]

true

[unique]

I keep thinking that since Obama states “my plan” and also, “it’s not in the plan”; “it’s a lie”, perhaps he’s referring to his own plan that no one has seen, probably because it doesn’t exist on paper.

[John Valentine]

What Obama said is more like “MY greyhound can outrun a cheetah.” Presumably we could take that as more than a mere opinion on the relative speed of two animals. He is saying that he has personal knowledge of his greyhound’s speed - in this case “His” plan.

The man is a liar, even if he is also a fool and a knave.

[tbw2]

One can hold an opinion that no one else shares and be:
wrong
ignorant
willfully ignoring that which is contrary evidence
crazy
a visionary
all of the above

[slickfree]

Is it Wishful Thinking or Lying

It is according to whether any one of these questions apply:

1) The cheetah is asking, and his life depends on the answer?
2) The question is from a "dog race" promoter?
3) The greyhound is a Democrat and the Cheetah is Republican?

I am guessing the hound (Obama) is on the run and the Cheetah
(Tea Party) is in the chase ... and NO LIE ... Obama is in trouble.

He will find out in 2012 and his Facist friends will find out in 2010.