Lying, a long American tradition, is no longer a political death sentence

JFK lied to the country about his severe back pain and Addison’s disease, not to mention his mistresses.

LBJ lied by saying “we are not about to send American boys nine or ten thousand miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves” – before blundering into Vietnam.

Richard Nixon lied about his leading role in the Watergate coverup, which was revealed by his own White House tapes. 

Ronald Reagan lied by saying that despite “false stories…we did not, repeat did not, trade weapons or anything else for hostages” – only later admitting that’s what happened in the Iran-Contra scandal.

WHY BIDEN DAWDLED AS ONE JUDGE DERAILED HIS TRANSPORTATION MASK MANDATE

Bill Clinton lied by saying “I did not have sex with that woman” – before finally telling a grand jury that he did indeed have sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky.

Presidents, not to mention candidates and other political types, have a long history of deception in this country. 

Some paid a heavy price: Nixon was forced to resign and Clinton was impeached. 

Others not so much – Reagan was popular when he left office, and so, for that matter, was Clinton.

But these days that price is far lower, and sometimes negligible. The political polarization is so deeply ingrained that those who deliver falsehoods simply shrug it off, refuse to discuss it or – and this is becoming a common tactic – blast the other side for lying.

Some media outlets blame Donald Trump for his years of misstatements and disputed claims that did little to hurt his standing in the Republican Party. But while Trump continues to declare without evidence that the last election was stolen, he insists that those who challenge the unproven claims and…