Lying Politicians
So, there are some of you who will read the title of this particular post and think, quite cynically, that it is redundant. While I understand this sentiment, I continue to believe in the possibility of a politician who is not, at the very least, willfully deceitful. I turn to Merriam-Webster's dictionary for a definition of the verb "to lie":
1 : to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive2 : to create a false or misleading impression
Now, I expect that all people, at one time or another, will make an untrue statement. And many people go about creating false impressions. I admit that I am guilty of both, probably more often than I should. But, I also know that many people are earnest, well-meaning individuals who may make mistakes now and then. All that being said, there is a big difference between making a mistake, such as saying one thing, then later saying another, and then later yet realising that the two don't really agree with each other.
What makes me really sad, especially when it comes to our government leaders, is when someone purposely, willfully, and obviously lies through his or her teeth, and then insists that he or she did no such thing. And it seems that Illinois politicians are particularly guilty of this. I take this blurb from an article by the Associated Press, posted on Yahoo! News about our Junior Senator, Roland Burris:
Burris testified before the Illinois House committee that recommended Blagojevich's impeachment in January that he hadn't had contact with key Blagojevich staffers or offered anything in return for the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.Last weekend, however, Burris released an affidavit saying he had spoken to several Blagojevich advisers, including Robert Blagojevich, the former governor's brother and finance chairman, who Burris said called three times last fall asking for fundraising help.
The article goes on to say that Burris denies lying under oath. Now, in January, he was asked, under oath, if he'd had any contact with Blagojevich staff members and he said no, with one exception. You can read the transcripts of his testimony and see that he was given plenty of opportunity to explain any contact with the former governor's brother or various staff members. Then, about a month later, he suddenly releases an affidavit saying, "Oh, yeah, about that... I actually had contact with most of those people you asked me about. But I didn't lie."
Well, Sen. Burris, you may not have lied in the sense that you told an untruth, but you did lie in the sense that you gave an answer that was very misleading and gave a very different impression from the one you are now giving us. And, according to the good folks at Merriam-Webster, that is, indeed, a lie. Under oath. And, according to the United States Code, Title 18, Part I, Chapter 79, § 1621, that qualifies as perjury. Thus, I join the many individuals in this state, and in this nation, in calling for Sen. Roland Burris to resign.
Now, I expect that all people, at one time or another, will make an untrue statement. And many people go about creating false impressions. I admit that I am guilty of both, probably more often than I should. But, I also know that many people are earnest, well-meaning individuals who may make mistakes now and then. All that being said, there is a big difference between making a mistake, such as saying one thing, then later saying another, and then later yet realising that the two don't really agree with each other.
What makes me really sad, especially when it comes to our government leaders, is when someone purposely, willfully, and obviously lies through his or her teeth, and then insists that he or she did no such thing. And it seems that Illinois politicians are particularly guilty of this. I take this blurb from an article by the Associated Press, posted on Yahoo! News about our Junior Senator, Roland Burris:
Burris testified before the Illinois House committee that recommended Blagojevich's impeachment in January that he hadn't had contact with key Blagojevich staffers or offered anything in return for the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.Last weekend, however, Burris released an affidavit saying he had spoken to several Blagojevich advisers, including Robert Blagojevich, the former governor's brother and finance chairman, who Burris said called three times last fall asking for fundraising help.
The article goes on to say that Burris denies lying under oath. Now, in January, he was asked, under oath, if he'd had any contact with Blagojevich staff members and he said no, with one exception. You can read the transcripts of his testimony and see that he was given plenty of opportunity to explain any contact with the former governor's brother or various staff members. Then, about a month later, he suddenly releases an affidavit saying, "Oh, yeah, about that... I actually had contact with most of those people you asked me about. But I didn't lie."
Well, Sen. Burris, you may not have lied in the sense that you told an untruth, but you did lie in the sense that you gave an answer that was very misleading and gave a very different impression from the one you are now giving us. And, according to the good folks at Merriam-Webster, that is, indeed, a lie. Under oath. And, according to the United States Code, Title 18, Part I, Chapter 79, § 1621, that qualifies as perjury. Thus, I join the many individuals in this state, and in this nation, in calling for Sen. Roland Burris to resign.
Comments
It really would have been best to call for a special election. It wouldn't have to be an admission of guilt, just an acknowledgment that with the criminal case still under investigation, even an innocent appointee would be brought under a cloud of suspicion.