Can someone please tell me why one of these is wrong (as in, not acceptable) and the other is right?
Vermont Republican Party Chair Rob Roper in response to a statement made by VT-NEA President Angelo Dorta:
“That is a lie.”
Democratic House Speaker Gaye Symington in response to a statement made by the Governor of VT:
“[That] is just not a truthful representation”
Bonus points to anyone who can name the song that I haven’t been able to get out my head since I wrote the title of this post.
Double bonus points if you can do it without the aid of Google.
October 29th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
In a word: duh.
If there was no difference between using the words “lie” or “liar” and saying a statement wasn’t truthful, why wouldn’t they have just called him a liar?
Because there is a difference. Obviously. If not, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. Liar is still a specific accusation. “Not a truthful representation” still leaves room for mushy misunderstandings. And that’s exactly why they opt for that sort of language rather than just putting it out there. The phrase is downright tortured.
What’s most interesting to me is that, even though Roper has moved the bar, the Dems still aren’t quite willing to join him…. going absolutely as close as they can without using the “l” word, and watch all hell break loose in the media as a result.
Frankly, after Roper called the question, I don’t necessarily think they should shy away from it anymore. Or at least, I’m not so sure as of now. Roper wants to make it a rhetorical gunfight. It’s dangerous, as they say, to bring a knife to a gunfight.
January 12th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
GnR baby!!!