Letter to the Editor: Trump still using liar’s playbook
Trending
"I cannot tell a lie," young George Washington told his father when asked if he'd cut down a cherry tree. Ever since, Americans have opted to think their first president was a model of truth. Most of us have had the notion that our presidents were honest, even referring to Abraham Lincoln as Honest Abe.
For the most part, we have felt that our presidents were basically above board. Until, that is, President Donald Trump came along and proved that Americans could embrace a president who lies morning, noon and night -- on social media, in interviews, in the White House, on the tarmac, on Air Force One, long form, short form, whatever the season, whatever the reason. The Washington Post tabulated 30,573 presidential mistruths during Trump's first term alone
I guess we should have known this was coming, because many times when he was running for president, the first time he said two things repeatedly and I quote, "don't believe what you see, don't believe what you hear, believe what I tell you," and "if you repeat something enough times even if it isn't true, eventually people will start believing it."
In case you haven't noticed, we are only 70-plus days away from the midterm elections and Trump has the old playbook out again and is doubling down. And why not? We have watched this persistent liar lie without consequences for ten years. Some of his most recent lies leading up to the election are "we have already won the war with Iran," "prices are dropping every day," "we have the greatest economy ever and affordability is a hoax." He expects us not to believe the numbers we are seeing every day at the gas pumps, grocery store reciepts, utility bills, etc.
Trump believes that Americans don't mind that he lies and this has enhanced his skills and brazenness to say anything.
But hey, we are living in the time of Trump and he can say anything and the voters will buy it. His MAGA cult calls it Trumpism. I call it a habitual liar on steroids whose policies will negatively affect the lives of our children and grandchildren for many, many years.
Gary Cochran
Beavertown, Ohio