"If they tell the truth"
Its just not in their nature to tell the truth. If you spend all of your time believing that there is no real right and wrong in the world (i.e. Abu Graib was the moral equivalent of 9/11) then you have probably stopped believing in truth a long time ago. If they belived in and told the truth they wouldn't be liberals.
If my aunt was man...
I believe many people just nod yes just to keep or get a job. They know the difference but their silence has been bought. For those you describe, it's fun to watch them when they get busted by both sides.... their inner squishy is impossible to control..... 5, 4, 3, 2, BOOK DEAL!