In 2012 America’s Political Universe, a hideous man made creature populates every city and town.
He’s commonly known by his alias – A Duly Sworn Elected Official.
His actual identity? The Political Liar.
At every level of government, all through our hallowed halls, he skulks and swaggers. Purporting to be a Patriot, in public he plays up The Stars And Stripes, while privately fiddling a far different tune.
How does he do it?
He invokes the evil genius of Political Marketing.
With its demonic power, no matter how worthy his opponent, he’s able to win the election.
He even wins re-election!
Instead of being gobbled by higher-order creatures in the political food chain, The Political
Liar has gained great ascendancy.
How?
By this simple fact:
American voters no longer demand that the boundary be drawn between truth and lies.
Confronted with solid evidence of political lies, to most voters, it doesn’t even register. Rather than evoking our self-protective indignation, the evidence evokes avoidance.
“That’s not true – he’d never do something like that!” Or “You must be mistaken.” Or “What’s the big deal? All politicians lie.”
Wait. What’s that?
“All politicians lie.”
How accurate this feels, in 2012 America.
In contrast, for “America’s Greatest Generation”, the opposite was true: with few exceptions, politicians were truthful.
Why the flip?
And how are we responsible?
Here’s how:
In our enchantment with political marketing – with the drama, and the hype, and the celebrity branding – We The People have cultivated reproduction and ascendancy of the worst predatory beast The America Political Universe has ever known.
The Political Liar.
Recognize him? Or her? Perhaps not at first glance. His highly finessed false self – luminously credentialed, designer-dressed, carefully crafted, impeccably scripted, and cleverly marketed – will likely fool you.
But it won’t, if you bother to look past the hype. Past the hoopla. If you look closely, you’ll see The Poltical Liar’s real self. His vile tongue, his icy heart. His arrogant eyes. His nasty, intimidating grip. His secretive prowl.
Watch. Before too long, you’ll even catch him in his favorite posture: his pounce.
These days, The Political Liar’s real self emerges in an unexpected photo. Or a bit of video footage, when he thought the camera-roll had concluded. A ‘hot mic’. It spills in conversation, when he thought the cell phone was shut off. Yes, oh yes, if you know where to look, you’ll see The Political Liar for whom he really is. If you know how to listen, you’ll hear what venom swirls in his head. If you know how to sniff, you’ll smell what evil broils in his heart.
In candid moments – as in moments behind closed doors – in all its hideous horror, The Political Liar’s toxic real self glows right through his engineered false self’s veneer.
It is solely by our giving him power that The Political Liar has poisoned America’s Political Universe.
Why, to 2012 Americans, is The Political Liar’s real self not reckoned with? Why do we not see him for who he is – or worse, pretend we don’t see?
Because this recognition jars us. It clashes with our dearly loved assumptions. It shames us to realize that this is who we elected.
Last but not least: The Political Liar’s real self terrifies us!
We much prefer The Political Liar’s false self – his sweet talk, his slick assurances, his captivating promises.
Thus, we pretend that what we saw, or heard, was him ‘having a bad day’.
See how America cultivates Political Liars?
Political Liars are often diagnosable as sociopaths. So are serial killers. In fact, if you think about it, The Political Sociopath is a serial killer. Voter after voter, he stalks. Without a care for the consequences to us, he seduces our precious votes.
It isn’t bad enough, that once he’s stolen our votes with his deceit, gleefully, without remorse, The Political Liar leaves us tossed to the roadside as he vrooms off, chasing other voters.
Then, when election-time rolls round, shamelessly, back he comes.
Conning, titillating, deceiving.
Flattering, sweet-talking, doting.
Shamelessly lying.
America, it wasn’t always this way in politics.
In 1939, we elected statesmen: individuals of impeccable integrity, who genuinely acted for the common good.
1n 1939, Political Liars stuck out. They were hated. Once identified, they were publicly thrashed, run out of Congress, and put in jail. Their families were shunned. Political Liars appropriately suffered the consequences of their evil deeds.
Unlike today – when The Political Liar models success – in 1939, his public disgracing served as a warning to others.
Here’s a dramatic example.
In the 1939 classic film Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, actor James Stewart – as United States Senator Jefferson Smith – carries our hearts from the get-go, for this simple reason: he is truth and goodness, personified. He is a statesman. He is the typical American elected official. The kind of man America entrusted with its destiny.
Poster from the 1939 Classic Movie: “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington”
All the way through Senator Smith’s ordeal fighting entrenched corruption – in the person of his senior U. S. Senator, Joseph Paine, Political Liar Extraordinaire – we cheer for him, hoping against hope that he’ll prevail.
So moving is Stewart’s integrity and endurance, he draws back to truth The Political Liar against whom he is battling.
In 1939, evil politicians were not glorified, defended, excused, or re-elected – in Hollywood, or in America.
No! They were exposed. Decisively trounced. Held up as warning to those who might try to emulate them.
1939 was Hollywood’s greatest year. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington depicted in film everyday American Integrity – in politicans, and in We The People. The kind of Integrity that afforded America the moral fiber to successfully trounce Hitler – an epic Political Liar.
Oh, 2012 America. How James Stewart would grieve for you!
Before we part, please ponder this ugly fact:
In a contemporary script on Washington politics, a man like Jimmy Stewart would have no role to play.
What’s more, being the man of outstanding good character that he was, if a role were offered, he’d flatly refuse to portray ‘the typical 2012 politician’.
For, today, America, when our politicians lie, it’s okay. Not to worry. Just say you’re sorry, his experts advise. Look like you’re sorry. Perhaps shed a tear or two.
Hey, talk about the damage you know you did to your family.
Political Marketing Experts assure the scumballs-in-statesmen’s-clothing: America 2012 knows full well that “All politicians lie.”
Wait a few days, they advise. Stay calm. Watch.
It’s magic!
In your ‘apology’ lie, 2012 Americans will accept the greatest lie of all: that you are truly sorry.
Writer’s Note:
Martha Trowbridge’s radio show “Dream Candidate, Nightmare Politician: The Political Narcissist And The Political Sociopath” is posted at http://www.marthatrowbridgeradio.org/blog/special-programs/the-psychology-of-political-immorality-series/dream-candidate-nightmare-politician-the-political-narcissist-and-the-political-sociopath/