This week, Hillary Clinton raised some eyebrows by her response to CBS’s Scott Pelley question about truth telling. For those of you who may have missed it, here’s the exchange:
PELLEY: You talk about leveling with the American people. Have you always told the truth?
CLINTON: I’ve always tried to. Always. Always.
PELLEY: Some people are gonna call that wiggle room that you just gave yourself.
CLINTON: Well, no, I’ve always tried —
PELLEY: I mean, Jimmy Carter said, “I will never lie to you.”
CLINTON: Well, but, you know, you’re asking me to say, “Have I ever?” I don’t believe I ever have. I don’t believe I ever have. I don’t believe I ever will. I’m gonna do the best I can to level with the American people.
The political fallout of Clinton’s answer has been, well, as one might expect given the circumstances. The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza wrapped up the general sentiment when he wrote, “While I am less familiar with politics on Mars than I am with those on Earth, I am pretty sure that being unable to simply say ‘Yes, I have always been truthful with the public’ would be a problem on the Red Planet too.”
Of course, the problem is that Clinton could not give a straight answer because her track record is not exactly one of honesty… and the public knows it. Clinton’s effort to play with words in an attempt to cover up the truth only hurts her public image more.
The incident got us wondering: How would Inslee answer the question if it were posed to him as he seeks a second term this November? Certainly, he’ll have a lot to account for in the broken promises department.
Here are three problematic issues Inslee will struggle to account for once the election cycle heats up:
1. Inslee’s no new taxes campaign promises which he promptly broke by… proposing new taxes (to the tune of $1.5 billion and including a state capital gains income tax in 2015 alone).
2. Inslee campaigned on government efficiency in 2012. He even promised to renew taxpayers’ faith in government by enforcing “lean management” practices. Let’s just say that didn’t happen (he managed 5.9 million of the $40 million he promised).
3. Inslee’s push for his extreme “green” agenda (specifically his fuel mandate). You see, throughout 2013 and early 2014, Inslee and his staff denied the existence of any plan to bypass the Legislature and implement a fuel mandate by executive order. Only, a plan did exist… and it could have resulted in a $1-plus per gallon increase in fuel prices if Senate Republicans did not stand in the way.
Clay Fitzgerald says
Democrats are consummate liars from all of the practice they get. Inslee, Clinton (well, both of them), Obama, Reid, Pelosi, etc. they all lie through their teeth. Not saying republicans don’t, just look at all of the RINO’s in the halls of congress, but with the democrats it’s part of who and what they are.