Franken-Lies-And-the-Lying-Liars-Who-Tell

27
The Lying Years
I've known since the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia that if Bush and
Cheney were elected, their time in office would be remembered by history as "The Lying
Years." That's because, for the first time since the Free Soil convention of 1852, both the
presidential and the vice presidential candidate of a major political party lied in their acceptance
speeches. 1
Bush lied while claiming that Clinton had undermined the readiness of the military.
He said, "If called on by the commander in chief today, two entire divisions of the Army
would have to report, ‘Not ready for duty, sir.' "
That was contradicted by the chairman of the joint Chiefs of Staff, General Hugh
Shelton; by Defense Secretary William Cohen; and by Bush's own foreign policy advisor at
the time, Richard Armitage, who is now deputy secretary of State. The following is an excerpt
from a hearing of the Senate Arms Service Committee held a few days later. Carl Levin
was the committee's ranking member.
CARL LEVIN: But I want to get back to the two divisions not being ready for duty, because
Mr. Armitage has not answered that. Are those two divisions ready for duty, or aren't
they?
RICHARD ARMITAGE: I believe those two divisions, Senator, are ready for duty.
LEVIN: That's not what Governor Bush said the other night, and that's why I think an apology
is appropriate.
But instead of apologizing, Armitage bolted from the hearing room, knocking over veteran
reporter Helen Thomas, breaking her hip and jaw.
Cheney's lie was more subtle, but I think more telling. After a speech bitterly denouncing
the Clinton/Gore legacy of peace and prosperity, he switched to a more reflective
tone and told a personal story. Describing the helicopter ride from Andrews Air Force Base
1
In his acceptance speech at the 1852 Free Soil convention in Pittsburgh, presidential candidate John P.
Hale grossly overstated the incidence of flogging in the United States Navy. His running mate, George W. Julian,
falsely charged that Whig standard-bearer Winfield "Old Fuss and Feathers' Scott had personally flogged dozens
of soldiers under his command during the Mexican War. This was particularly insidious given Scott's commitment
to professionalizing the military.