Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

For many Americans, it’s a widely accepted truth that politicians tend to lie, especially during campaigns. It’s not a good thing, but it’s a common place thing, simply a part of the political game. Politicians make claims that aren’t true, promises they can’t keep, and distort facts to work in their favor. Whether it’s true or not, it’s the way many people view politics and politicians.

Last night, during the first televised debate between Bill Bolling and Jody Wagner at Roanoke College, Wagner confirmed that stereotype in a not-so-subtle manner. In a debate filled with attacks slung from both sides of the stage, Wagner’s strategy seemed to be to say whatever it took to deface Bolling, whether her claims were true or not. In fact, many of them were not true.

The most glaring example of this came during her response to the question of whether she would support Democratic candidate for Governor Creigh Deeds’ plan to raise taxes on gasoline in order to fund transportation initiatives. “At this point, I am not willing to raise any taxes,” Wagner said, “I don’t believe Deeds has any plan to raise taxes, but if he does, I would not support it.”

In fact, Deeds does have a plan to raise taxes on gasoline and, in fact, Wagner did say she would support his plan. To prove it, Bolling cited a recent Washington Post article in which Wagner confirmed she would support Deeds’ plan.

This did not sit well with Wagner, who claimed that Bolling was breaking the rules of the debate by citing an outside source. This, by the way, was also untrue, but that’s beside the point. What should not sit well with voters in Virginia is that Wagner, who has supported every tax increase in Virginia for the last eight years, is suddenly against any kind of tax increase. Doesn’t that sound like a claim that isn’t true? Doesn’t that sound like a promise Wagner won’t keep?

Throughout Wagner’s campaign, she has insisted that she represents a new kind of politician, a bipartisan problem solver who works in the interest of the people instead of her party, while Bolling represents the old political guard of deceit, partisanship and self-interest. If Wagner is supposed to be a different breed of politician, why is she playing right into the stereotype of a politician that lies and distorts the truth? If Wagner can stand in front of a packed Olin Theater at Roanoke College and lie about raising taxes, lie about Bolling’s attendance record and lie about the state of Virginia’s budget, what else could she be lying about?

To see more, check out this video of some of the highlights, or more appropriately, lowlights of last night's debate