George W. Bush - "The Prevaricator"

In one of the opening salvos of his 2004 Presidential bid, John Kerry bluntly characterized George W. Bush and his Administration as one of the worst “bunch of liars” he had seen in national government. Following vicious attacks by Fox media and CNN reporters that Kerry’s remarks were “disrespectful” of a sitting President, he backed off. Perhaps if he had been more steadfast in his resolve and criticism, public attention to the habitual and deliberate prevarication, misrepresentation and disinformation from the White House might have been greater. It was one of those campaign choices where being popular was more important that being candid.

The Bush Administration stated publicly that it did not manipulate intelligence reports to support a preconceived plan to invade Iraq. The Downing Street Memos confirm that such statements were knowingly false. The “intelligence was fixed around the policy,” not the reverse. The Bush Administration stated that there were “weapons of mass destruction,” including biological weapons in Iraq that Saddam Hussein was planning to use against America. After the "Shock and Awe" invasion of Iraq, billions of dollars spent, tens of thousands of lives lost and the country's infrastructure demolished, not a shred of evidence of weapons of mass destruction has been found. The Bush Administration even tried to claim that drainage pipes used in a manufacturing plant were "missle launchers." Intelligence reports available at the time show that the Administration statements were deliberate lies. When Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson attempted to expose the lies of the Administration, the White House conspired to destroy his reputation and went so far as to out his wife, Valerie Plame, a CIA covert operative.

President Bush told us that he doubted we would ever find out who leaked the identity of Valerie Plame. He promised to fire anyone in his Administration who was involved. He later retreated to the position that he would fire anyone “convicted” of violating the law against disclosure of classified and highly confidential national security information. We now know, through sworn Grand Jury and federal court testimony, that Vice President Cheney, Karl Rove, Scooter Libby and other high level White House officials were involved in a deliberate plot against Joseph Wilson that involved leaking the identity of his wife to the press. We even know who the members of the press were. Testimony regarding specific White House meetings also suggests that Bush knew of the operation at the time he made those public statements. No one has been fired, but Libby has been convicted of obstruction of justice and deliberately lying to the prosecutors and the Grand Jury.

President Bush is now in Latin America touting his Administration’s record of supporting the region through increased aid. He cites an increase in aid from $860 Million to $1.6 Billion in aid as proof of that support. The countries, leaders and people of the region are understandably skeptical of the claim. Since 9/11, the United States policy has largely ignored Latin American priorities other than a public war of words with Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Without the aid of pervasive news media PR that Bush enjoys in the US, people of Latin America base their assessments upon what Bush has done rather than what he says. This reliance upon actions is wise. Consider the following news report about the Bush claim of nearly doubling aid to Latin America:

Analysts note that Bush is using a misleading base line, comparing this year's figure with 2001, a year when Latin American aid was essentially cut in half temporarily to make up for a large military aid package for Colombia and five neighbors. Moreover, Bush never mentions in his comments that he just proposed cutting the figure he cites in next year's budget.
"The total aid for 2000 was actually higher than the 2008 budget request because of the Plan Colombia supplemental, and in 2002 the amount of aid was about the same as it is now," said Adam Isacson of the Center for International Policy in Washington. "So unfortunately, this change in rhetoric isn't reflected in the budget." MSNBC 3/9/2007

The Bush White House continues to prevaricate, distort and mislead. It seems to be a basic “way of doing business.” In sociological and psychological terms, one who lies deliberately and repeatedly without good reason and without fear of being discovered or remorse for the misconduct is called a “pathological liar.” Perhaps it may sound disrespectful to place that label on the sitting President, but my Grandfather used to say to me: “If the shoe fits, put it on.”