“The modern right has achieved its successes knowing that it represents a minority of the country. This is why its leaders lie all the time about their true intent." -- Michael Tomasky
Anyone who follows contemporary political debates will have noticed that American conservatives' rhetoric on behalf of their political program is inevitably drenched in lies. Yes, this is a contentious way to put the point, but it is glaringly true.
Whether the subject is the January 6 riot at the Capitol (even among folks, like Kevin McCarthy who at one time forthrightly acknowledged the truth, but now deny it) or the insistence that Congressional Republicans are absolutely not intent on cutting funding for Social Security or Medicare (when GOP caucus members can be counted on to propose such cuts within days of issuing their blanket denials), conservatives (and the major political party that embraces movement conservatives) persistently resort to falsehoods to advance their arguments.
Yes, this is a pet peeve of mine. Something is very wrong when you must lie to make your case politically. While enduring this is chronically annoying, it is hardly a mystery why it happens. The Republican agenda is unpopular. Republicans nationally can't tell the truth about it without suffering at election time. To state -- straightforwardly, truthfully, and without sleight-of-hand duplicity -- their views and intentions would be an election loser. They represent a minority faction of Americans. When elections are free and fair, and the outcome is up for grabs, the right can't be counted on to be truthful. Instead, "it's leaders lie all the time ...."