That’s why you’ve got to try to be sure. Since I have the time and tend to review tons of news articles, I’ll tend to remember what was fact vs. fiction (or distortion). Of course, some will argue that if the MSM said it, it means it’s a total falsehood. However, I glance at it to see if it contains a kernel of truth or if it can be blown off. Plus, add to that the ton of rumors that are spread.
I think Palin probably set the all-time record for lies and misrepresentations made about her and her family. I would literally reach the point that if an article stated that Palin claimed the sky was blue, I’d do a fact check to make sure. I remember one media photograph was circulated mocking her for bringing a hairstylist/make-up artist to an event when it turned out it was one of her daughters assisting her. That’s the kind of deranged garbage you have to keep an eye out for.
However, I’ll tell you where you make a mistake. When it comes to election time (especially true of Republicans, and even some Democrats), they all manage to turn into these dynamic, Conservative leaders when they open their mouth. I tend to dismiss all of that out of hand. I don’t even bother with watching GOP debates because it becomes the theater of the absurd. No, indeed, what is most important is to watch their record and their early stances. You’ll often find that miraculously, their current rhetoric doesn’t match their record at all. An open borders Governor turns into Tom Tancredo. A pro-abortion Governor turns into Randall Terry. The audacity of the flipfloppery is breathtaking.
Then you hear the supporters saying, “Oh, well, he HAD to take that stance in order to get elected in the state of North Wazoo.” With that one thing, it tells you right off the bat that they’re simply a rank opportunist. They’ll tell the crowd what they want to hear to get a vote. Real leaders take a stand, popular or unpopular, and stick to it. It’s one reason I wish we could draft someone like Paul LePage of Maine. He is who he says and what he is. He doesn’t con the crowd or “shape his views” to fit a constituency du jour. You take him as he is or vote for someone else. Honesty. We badly need that today. I think Reagan was our last straight-out honest President.
In a way, I feel badly for some of the Perry supporters. As I told one last night, I think it’s more that they WANT to believe in his rhetoric and stances, but when you get right down to it, he’s just doing it for show. Even though I’m far from Alaska, I knew about Sarah Palin a decade ago and could see her potential to go far with her refreshing honesty. Sadly today, being honest and telling the truth is viscerally offensive for too many, especially the elites. To speak it, as Orwell stated, has become a revolutionary act.
Well put. Governor Gardasil will be toast once the other GOP contenders start going after his liberal record.