In the same April 15 speech, Obama stated that the tax burden on the wealthy is the lowest it has been in 50 years. A simple fact-check proves him wrong. Obama did not correct
his false statement and the media didn't either.
In January of 2009, Obama stated that it was no longer necessary to kill Osama bin Laden to win the war against Al Qaida. On May 1, 2011, after the successful raid by Navy
Seals that killed bin Laden, Obama told the nation that he made the capture or killing of Osama bin Laden a "top priority," and had instructed CIA Chief Leon Panetta to make
this job number one. Which statement is correct?
Last week, several of my friends asked me if I believed that bin Laden was really dead. The questions weren't surprising, considering the mass of mis-information and
conflicting accounts of bin Laden's death now emanating from the White House. It appears the question of bin Laden's demise was only settled after al Qaeda issued a statement
confirming it.
Giving Obama the benefit of the doubt, I'll allow for the possibility that Obama underwent a drastic change of heart and altered his position on bin Laden. It happens. But
when added to the increasing number of statements Obama continues to make that defy reality, the facts, and common sense, I'm more inclined to believe Obama's "mis-statements"
are a deliberate effort to deceive the American people.
For example: Obama told the American people that NOT spending money is "mortgaging America's future." Who knows, it's possible Obama actually believes this, but anyone with an
ounce of common sense knows we can't spend our way out of bankruptcy.
Another whopper: Obama stated that increased drilling will not solve our energy problems. Huh? Again, the media let this statement go unchallenged. (At least Sen. Vitter
called him on it.)
Obama would have us believe that the big bad oil companies are to blame for our skyrocketing gas prices, despite the fact that every energy decision made by Obama, from with
holding drilling permits to increased regulatory burdens being placed on big oil, has directly resulted in raising the cost of gasoline.
Obama would like us to ignore the fact that his Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, stated in 2008 that he wants to “figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in
Europe.” Since then, gas prices have doubled. Mission accomplished.
Despite the pain at the pump, Obama's energy dis-information campaign has been quite successful, with a new poll showing that only 9 percent of Americans believe that Obama is
responsible for rising gas prices.
Tailoring the facts to reflect the most favorable interpretation is an accepted prerogative of the bully pulpit. Every president will of course, spin the news to a certain
extent. This is not new. But under Obama, there appears to be a deliberate campaign by the White House and many segments of the government to blatantly deceive the American
people. Consider our Department of Homeland Security:
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told Congress last week that the Obama administration is trying to come up with a new yardstick to better reflect the improvements
it says it has made. The Washington Times correctly noted that, unable to meet it's border goals, the DHS merely moved the goals.
Arizona Sheriff Larry Deaver pretty much confirmed the Washington Times report, testifying before Congress that the U.S. Border Patrol has told its agents to stop arresting
illegal aliens crossing the border from Mexico to keep the illegal immigration numbers down. In other words, deceive the American people by peddling perception as reality.
Obama and his administration are masters in getting Americans to think with their hearts instead of their brains. After all, emotions are easier to manipulate than facts. And
many truths are easier to ignore than acknowledge. But not acknowledging reality, doesn't change the reality. And we ignore reality at our own peril, as we are now finding out
on a daily basis.
Though not specified in our Constitution, I believe Americans should have the right to enough information to make informed decisions. Instead, we are being fed a steady stream
of outright lies and deliberate mis-statements.
When we the people fail to challenge our elected representatives when they lie, we not only enable them, we become
complicit. We also forfeit the right to complain when reality hits us in the pocketbook while America continues its slide to the level of a third world country.
Nancy Morgan is a columnist and news editor for RightBias.com. She lives in South Carolina.