Karoline Leavitt's White House doublethink is straight out of Orwell
By: Ronald Reagan (Salon. com)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The press secretary's playbook is lifted from "1984"
By Laura Beers
Published December 18, 2025 6:00AM (EST)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds her first news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on January 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Facebook X Reddit Email
During a press conference on Dec. 11, 2025, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced there was good news on the state of the economy.
"Inflation as measured by the overall CPI has slowed to an average 2.5% pace," she said, referring to the consumer price index. "Real wages are increasing roughly $1,200 dollars for the average worker."
When CNN political correspondent Kaitlan Collins attempted to ask a follow-up question, Leavitt pivoted to an attack. Not on Collins, a frequent target of White House ire, but on Leavitt's predecessor in the Biden White House, Democrat Jen Psaki.
Psaki, claimed Leavitt, stood at the same lectern a year before and told "utter lies." In contrast, Leavitt insisted, "Everything I'm telling you is the truth backed by real, factual data, and you just don't want to report on it 'cause you want to push untrue narratives about the president."
The "real, factual data" that underpinned Leavitt's statement was specious at best. The actual inflation rate for September was 3%, not the 2.5% figure cherry-picked from economic data. The rise in real wages? CNN business editor David Goldman writes that in the past year, U.S. workers have experienced "the lowest annual paycheck growth that Americans have had since May 2021."
I'm a historian who has written about the enduring legacy of George Orwell's ideas about truth and freedom. Listening to Leavitt assert a "truth" so obviously discordant with people's lives, I was reminded of the repeated pronouncements from the Ministry of Plenty in Orwell's "1984."
"The fabulous statistics continued to pour out of the telescreen," Orwell wrote. "As compared with last year there was more food, more clothes, more houses, more furniture, more cooking-pots, more fuel, more ships, more helicopters, more books, more babies — more of everything except disease, crime, and insanity. Year by year and minute by minute, everybody and everything was whizzing rapidly upwards."
The novel's doomed hero, Winston Smith, works in the Records Department that produces these fraudulent statistics - figures that are so far divorced from reality that they "had no connection with anything in the real world, not even the kind of connection that is contained in a direct lie."
In the world of "1984," not only are statistics invented, they are continually reinvented to serve the needs of Big Brother's regime at any given moment: "All history was a palimpsest, scraped clean and reinscribed exactly as often as was necessary."
Transparency as doublespeak
The lack of transparency depicted in "1984" has an uncanny echo in our current political moment, despite Leavitt's repeated assertions that President Donald Trump is the "most transparent president in history."
Leavitt has made that claim countless times, including in her public defense of Trump's "Quiet, Piggy!" dismissal of Bloomberg News journalist Catherine Lucey last month.
In Leavitt's usage, "transparency" has become a form of Orwellian "doublespeak," a word or phrase which through the process of "doublethink" had come to encompass its exact opposite meaning.
"Doublethink," in Orwell's writing, was the mechanism of thought manipulation that allowed someone "to know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them."
Doublethink was the mechanism that enabled the citizens of Oceania, the Anglo-American superstate governed by Big Brother's authoritarian regime, to accept that "WAR IS PEACE; FREEDOM IS SLAVERY; IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH."
And it is the mechanism that allowed Leavitt to proclaim, in defending Trump's unwillingness to release the Epstein files, "This administration has done more with respect to transparency when it comes to Jeffrey Epstein than any administration ever." That claim was pronounced "fabulously audacious" by The Guardian's Washington bureau chief, David Smith, in a story headlined "Nothing to see here: Trump press chief in full denial mode over Epstein."
Making 'lies sound truthful and murder respectable'
In his famous essay "Politics and the English Language," Orwell wrote that "political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."
Over the past 10 months, Leavitt has, among other things, claimed that the now dismantled U.S. Agency for International Development - USAID - provided a grant of $32,000 for a "transgender comic book" in Peru. Not true. She has misrepresented the "One Big Beautiful Bill" as fully eliminating taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security. In reality, deductions for these are capped. She claimed that Trump coined the motto "peace through strength." He didn't. The phrase has been in circulation for decades, used most prominently by Ronald Reagan during his presidency.
And she recently sought to delegitimize U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly and colleagues' plea to servicemen and women not to obey illegal orders by suggesting tautologically that "all lawful orders are presumed to be legal by our servicemembers," and hence Kelly's plea could only serve to provoke "disorder and chaos."
All governments lie. But Leavitt has become a master of the art of political language, wielded to aggrandize her boss, belittle his opponents and deflect attention from administration scandals.
Laura Beers, Professor of History, American University
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I don't believe she's ever actually read 1984 or anything more challenging than Green Eggs and Ham. But somebody is writing her script.
I believe that she knows exactly what she is doing. I would be surprised, were I a believer in revealed religion, that she isn't a charred lump for wearing that pendant.
We have observed a tragic display of how quickly corruption can spread through government. We watch daily as sycophants prostrate themselves to please/defend a tyrant. They will shamelessly lie and (as in this seed) engage in outrageous projection. Leavitt criticizing anyone else for lying is outrageous.
Methinks thou doth protest too much
Apathy as you are displaying is bad for this nation.
Opinions do vary and as is usually the case here, mine is the polar opposite of yours
So you think apathy is good for the nation?
Because dismissing everything bad by Trump as a ‘meh’ is apathy.
I believe that very phrase is owned by dumbest of people thinking it makes them sound smart.
It's overused and boring
Short of a few partisans here, no one cares.
Except they care enough to post about it on NT. That includes you.
Opinions do vary
So, you are saying that you don't care enough about it to post about it on NT????
What I’m saying is: I post what I want, when I want, to who I want. No one here has anything to say about that. Least of all my fan club here who have me on double secret probation.
Wow! I'm kinda paranoid, but I only claim simple secret probation.
I avoid ascribing motivation, but you might like to know that "Opinions do vary" is levees you looking to be without an opinion.
Don't worry about the Mods. Sure, they occasionally get a call completely wrong - they too often believe they know what the poster "means", even if the words don't actually say that. But hey! That's a mistake we all sometimes make, and if that's all that happens, you'll never get suspended.
Give your opinion. If it has weight, it will be discussed. If it is vacuous, it will be mocked.
It's a learning process....
What we have here ….. is failure to communicate.[✘]
With that, you could post the text of the phone book.
We have to have some reason for spending time here, posting. I'm here to learn. My primary learning topic right now is "the MAGA mind". So I often try to engage our NT MAGAs. It's not easy.
I do not believe you post random text. You post with purpose. It's that purpose that interests me, more than the text itself. I've been on NT for a long time, I can pretty much predict what anyone here will think of any other's posts. But that's just "what". I wnat to know "why".
I think you are one of the few NT MAGAs who can align three rational sentences. That's why I regularly try to engage you.
Why are you here?
lol Bob, look for someone else to pin on your bug board. Not interested in your strange mind fuck techniques but you have a nice day now. Ya hear!
Semper Fi!
Were you really in the Marines?
Yes
Do you realize how revelatory this is? I said I was interested in the MAGA mind. You equated that to pinning a bug on a board.
What does that say about your opinion of MAGA minds?
Why would you need to know that?
Please do not just jump into a conversation. Please read previous Comments before joining in.
It's hard.
People don't easily talk about "why" they think what they think. That reticence is in itself significant, I suppose.
Interestingly, in trying to get others to explain the sources of their beliefs, I've had to dig into my own. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is the first expression of morality that I can remember. I don't know if that phrase started something, or simply resonated with something I already felt. In either case, I've calibrated morality according to the Golden Rule ever since.
Yes I do. Which is why I said it the first place but keep spinning. Maybe some folks new to NT will buy it if there are any.
That is one of the funnier things I’ve read here in awhile.
No, 1st is spot on. I answered your question but it nothing to do with this conversation. Nothing.
It's an open board Bob - you should remember that from years past.
I think it isn't that it is hard to get people to talk about how they got their opinions. It is the aftermath where the saying "They don't want to hear your opinion, they just want to hear your opinion coming out of their mouth" comes into play. I will be happy to give my opinion to those that actually want to hear it and I will happily listen to anyone's opinion for those that want to give it. And ultimately I agree to disagree, respect the individual that has different thoughts than my own and move on with my life. Not every exchange needs to be a debate. You don't need to justify your opinion if someone happens to disagree with it.
Do unto others is a great place to start. And if you are not given the same in return there is always the impasse comment
Perhaps I wasn't clear... NT members' opinions rarely interest me. I've been here a very long time, so it's very rare to see a post that surprises me. MAGAs say MAGA things. Libs say lib things.
Libs often gives facts to support their opinions, and MAGAs usually deny those fact. This dance has been going on for years.
It's human nature to "believe" facts that fit one's opinion. It's their motivation for their "beliefs" that interests me.
Well, i'll have to try harder to celebrate that party
[✘]
I don't read your posts, Iggy.
I decode them.
yea, i gotta get me one of those Lil Orphan Annie decoder rings myself, sew eye can sea watt deep thoughts a tempted conveyed, and also figureout w\hat i attempted to have sayed...
Good luck with that.
It's hard.
Many people have never really thought about "why" they believe as they do. So of course they're reticent to talk about the subject with others.
I have. I am confident I can explain my positions and beliefs.
Sure, it is called blind partisanship and they often don't see they are just looking for confirmation bias to help "prove" their critical thinking abilities.
You should probably get a screen,
to better illuminate, the not so veiled
projection.
Perhaps if we discuss "the source of lib morality" we can get a MAGA or two to discuss the source(s) of their morality.
Some of my oldest memories are of Sunday school. I loved the parables. Kinda like Grimms' tales, but "happy end". "Do unto others..." seemed logical to the exclusion of any other ethical rule. Seventy years later, that still seems true.
You?
Qualifying: I am not a 'lib' (rather, I am socially liberal, fiscally conservative) and certainly do not ascribe to all the socially liberal notions (e.g. allowing transgender females to compete in female sports).
But I am happy to participate. Morality to me ultimately boils down to what is good for human beings as a whole. That is vague, but we are at a high level of abstraction. Seems to me that moral acts will not intentionally bring harm (physical, financial, mental, ...) and would generally be helpful to fellow human beings. And I think I can extend this to animals too with caveats. It would be immoral to torture an animal for pleasure or even to place an animal in a position where it will suffer (e.g. abandoning a troublesome pet in the wild).
So there is a starter.
"Greatest good for the greatest number" is a pretty good alternative to the golden rule. Assuming that minorites' rights are protected.
Now let's see if any of our MAGAs contributes.
After four years of Orwellian behavior from the Biden admin and it’s just now you notice concepts like Doublespeak in our government?
Hilarious!
Just amazing how Trump supporters attribute everything that Trump does to Biden no matter how utterly absurd.
Trump is so over the top, there is no way to sweep all his crap under the Biden rug.
Do you approve of the stream of lies Trump is trying to sell to the American people (referring to his speech last night)?
Or (much worse) do you actually believe his bullshit?
I don't think he does, it's just so many have committed so much in order to defend their defense of the mental midget miscreant with the orange underwear crust, that it's Trump 2028 or bust. That they are now having diffiCulty admiting they were duped, buy the won loser who in a golden toilet pooped, cause it has to be pretty shitty now knowing the guy you've enabled is a mentally deficient child co rather efficient POS, grabber of pussy and tit, and not every one wishes to be taken by a rube, or a boob, asz they keep abreast of watt the LIAR heaves off his chest, the protector of those who molest, and dream of incest, so they have decreased their Christmas presence, due to Clean Coal Technology, for all of US, and the world to see
No, I attribute Bidens actions to Biden. I don’t play that distinctly liberal blame game.
I do however enjoy reading the hypocrisy of some here. As they make accusations of things like apathy today. When a good, long, honest look in the mirror would reveal the same in themselves. Big time.
Classic projection
So, you only come here to re-read your own comments?
Conservatives haven't had a single second of self-reflection for decades. They're the same old useless bags of religious fantasy wrapped in their self-righteous religious bigotry they've been for ages now and real Americans are sick of them and their putrid ideology. The pendulum is swinging back already and will wipe the floor with the brain-dead bigoted conservatives trying to destroy our constitutional Republic. It's going to be fun to watch and there's simply nothing the whiny lazy useless MAGAites can do about it.
Just like Trump, forget about what is true and just make any claim you desire.
Bullshit. Puppet boy ruled by Autopen for 4 years and all left wing lookie loo’s here whining today were completely silent.
Your comment is complete nonsense.
What is the point of making such a threadbare, absurdly naive, and nakedly partisan claim?
It is pretty funny. People hiding and twisting everything Biden ever did to hide all his issues and bad calls seem to think they have credibility with anyone other than themselves. Watching them get upset because no one with actually thinking skills are not buying what they are trying to sell. It is the job of every press conference person to spin things in the presidents favor.
There is nothing illegal or even improper about the Autopen. So, even if true, why should anyone care? You don’t even know. You can’t even say why it’s a problem. Presidents have used devices like this for 200 years. Constitutionally, the president’s personal signature is never required on anything. Trump (who has also used Autopen) told you to be outraged about it, so you are. That’s the limit of your analysis on the matter.
And you’d rather talk about that non-issue than address the seed you’re commenting on. Trump has you well trained. Congratulations. You swallowed the distraction. Again.
Fiddle louder ….
This Autopen nonsense comes from Trump. He says shit like this so that his supporters will mindlessly spread it about as if true.
Yeah, yeah and the left mindlessly looked past Bidens mental issues from the start.
The guy could barely string two sentences together. But then, his debate performance …. uh-oh ….. better slip Kamala in there without one primary vote.
Please, mindless is as mindless does.
The 'left' is not some monolithic entity with a single mind. That kind of thinking is just naive and superficial.
There were plenty on 'the left' who recognized Biden was not sharp and were less than thrilled that he decided to go for a second term, but they were defending against attacks from GoP partisans who (of course) exaggerated Biden's condition as you have done right here "The guy could barely string two sentences together.".
Trump is the PotUS. Biden is not a factor anymore. When Trump is (rightly) criticized, one can always count of Trump supporters like you to deflect to Biden, ignore facts, invent bullshit, parrot Trump, etc. rather than objectively deal with reality.
Christmas - and this is all there is on NT????
Pure BS. The U.S. doesn't revolve around bashing Trump and most of you know it.
Trump continues to be top of the news and continues to damage this nation. If you are not going to voice your opposition then step aside. Complaining that people rightly oppose Trump is both pointless and counterproductive.
You would hope that yet there is so much evidence to the contrary.
No, Trump does not continue to be the top of the news. How 'bout checking other "links" such as BBC, Reuters, Al-Jazzara, API, NPR, PBS, WSJ - "MAYBE" one Trump story.
The "comments" that some claim to be proper because they oppose Trump is pure BS and cowardly. Just like little kids in middle-school.
If mouthing off 'bout Trump is what floats a person's boat, they need to float someplace else because those comments are ruining a very good, well run site.
That is demonstrably false! Amazing that you would pen such nonsense.
Comments about current events dealing with Trump are exactly what this site is about because he is the current PotUS and he is in the news daily, and mostly the news is outrageous.
Comments like yours that merely complain that Trump is criticized go against the spirit of this site.
As you can see from above, and from comments following, they think Biden should be the topic of conversation.
Trump is the top of the news only to people that want Trump to be top of the news.
That is ridiculous. What drives you to deny this demonstrable reality? Trump is in the news on an almost daily basis.
ChatGPT:
The main proponent of Trump being at the top of the news every day is Trump. The rest of us simply want him to be gone.
[deleted][✘]
Yet again you blatantly deny reality. Even with a detailed explanation provided by ChatGPT you figuratively shake your head with a repeated 'nuh-uh' (while trying to move the goal posts).
It is beyond absurd for someone to claim that Trump is not the topic of news almost daily. And that is a direct result of what Trump is doing and the position he holds.
Chat GPT did not apply to my comment
He is A topic, not THE only topic. Thousands of news articles that are not about Trump for those that don't want Trump to be the all encompassing thing in their life. They realize that is a choice they make, no one forces them to spend their lives regurgitating all things Trump; some true, some hysterical spin and some bullshit and they choose not to live with Trump in their head. It's a great big world out there.
I thought the spirit of the site was to "speak your mind".
[deleted][✘]
It is not surprising that people who dont want their lunatic leader discussed keep talking about "TDS". Trump is the most corrupt and worst president in US history, of course he is going to be constantly discussed.
Yes, and now pay real close attention:
It is within the spirit of this site to opine on current events ... especially when the events are 'front page' news.
It is not within the spirit of the site for you to whine about people opining on current events. We are "speaking our mind" about news.
Or to make this ridiculously obvious: we are talking about the news.
Of course, you move the goalposts again. Nobody claimed Trump was the ONLY topic. The claim was that he continues (almost daily) to be top of news and thus we will talk about him.
You are demonstrably dead wrong. Trump is almost always 'front page' news and thus this site will talk about it.
While I understand that trying to defend Trump is a nightmare and that life would be easier for Trump supporters if Trump did not keep manufacturing crap to criticize. The unfortunate truth is that he does and will continue to do so. Complaining that his crap is rightfully criticized is an act of futility.
I’m sure that is what many of you think. That when you “opine” here that is speaking your mind but when others “opine” a differing view, it’s whining. Then the four step liberal gambit is employed that was mentioned in another seed or the ticketing gambit for meta or taunting or no value, etc, etc.
The spirit of speaking your mind on this site is righteous. The implementation of it by some here is far from it. Very far from it.
Complaining that others criticize Trump, given he is in the news almost daily, on a site that is designed to discuss the NEWS (and more) is whining.
It is even more absurd when someone like you is on a seed discussing the Trump administration, yet trying to defend a complaint that people are critical of Trump (again, on a Trump seed).
While I understand that trying to defend Trump is a nightmare and that life would be easier for Trump supporters if Trump did not keep manufacturing crap to criticize. The unfortunate truth is that he does and will continue to do so. Complaining that his crap is rightfully criticized is an act of futility.
Why wouldn't trmp be the headliner nearly every day? He is the POTUS
also an attention whore, who always wants more and more
That and the fact that Trump is constantly trying to make himself the center of attention.
Keep fiddling …
No comment on the actual story. How unsurprising.
[✘]
Y'know.... you listen to these people talk and read what they write... and you wonder.... do they realize how completely they engage in exactly the behaviors they accuse their enemies of doing?
It's like Bernie Madoff accusing somebody else of fraud.
Is it just so ingrained at this point they don't realize they're doing it? Serious question.
It’s manic really and reminiscent of Jr High. Cliques and all.
I did assume that by "these people" you were referring to Karoline Leavitt and similar and NOT referring to NT members and comments.
Was that a correct assumption?
you can't tell with that one, as somedaze he has much too offer and makes sense,
while others he seems to not no Jack, and be on or over the fence,
and seeing who B sides U, voted up his post, i'd say his ambiguity will certainly enable him to boast, and say from it, he got the most, as he strains, and we coast, cause just because one might be inbred, doesn't always make one toast, yet cheers we do, cause when we have a beef, I prefer to roast, for when one chooses to host, some choose to ghost, at least when they get the most, satisfaction, from a fraction times the common denominator, cause sum times u just gotta luv the instigator, unless won chooses to lose, and debater, either way, rather like, than hate her, for easier to take ones ball and go home, than castrater ...
I was specifically referring to Collins and more broadly to mainstream journalists in general.
I've never actually heard a NT member speak, so it wouldn't be about them.
Or trump calling someone else a criminal.
Or Hillary calling someone else deplorable.
Or Biden calling Trump supporters garbage
Or certainly Trump calling anyone a liar. Exactly.
When you are a known repeat perpetrator of an offense, you lose the moral authority to accuse others.
You almost have to worry when the "Biden is sharp as a tack!" "hands up don't shoot" "suggesting the covid virus escaped the lab in Wuhan is a conspiracy theory" "Trump colluded with Russia" "unedited videos of Biden are cheap fakes" "no one celebrated Charlie Kirk getting murdered" crowd start calling others Orwellian. The projection must be approaching lethal levels.
Deflection … yet again.
What is the purpose for defending a corrupt administration?
That you read criticism of progressives lying as a defense of Trump is odd.
I read consistent deflection from any criticism of Trump as defending a corrupt administration.
Why anyone would do that is odd (euphemism); it seems to defy rationality, responsibility, and patriotism.
what defies rationality, responsibility, and patriotism are those who consistently attack those for engaging in the same behavior they cheer on when it suits their partisan purposes. Forgive me if I can't take criticism from those who act like that seriously.
It is impossible for people who are criticizing Trump to be guilty of defending Biden for the same acts at the same level. There is little overlap (and even then, one needs to exaggerate to make the comparison) and Trump is so beyond the pale for any PotUS that comparing him to past presidents is patently ridiculous.
Why do you defend this abysmal human being?
Deflection is all that some people have.
Then what is the point?
If someone cannot put forth a legitimate, honest, reasoned defense then they surely realize that the criticism of Trump is warranted. What drives people who must know better to prostrate themselves in a foolish attempt to defend the indefensible?
The problem with that argument is that IT'S NOT THE SAME BEHAVIOR!! You have to be a complete imbecile to believe that anything Trump is doing now was EVER done by any former President. Religious conservatives "what-about-ism" is off by margins that can't even be measured. In their witless brains filled with conspiracy theories they imagine their foes have done all these bad things, which apparently perfectly justifies their guy doing it even if a former President did something similar, they're still BAD THINGS! Just because you claim someone did it before IS NOT a justification for doing it yourself. Only a complete dumb fuck bigot would believe that kind of horse shit nonsense.
If a former President was proven to have raped a woman, does that mean that frees the other party up so they can now vote for their candidate raper? Really? Is that the low conservatives have sunk to? Not just being no better but justifying being ten times worse. It's truly sick.
Possibly an Uber fast Lift driver, for as long as they don't have to accept, what they know to be true, because that would make some correct about the right, meaning possibly me, and more often you.
Something they wish not, at least just yet, to be willing to do...
The insatiable need to be the center of attention
Indeed. What is going on in their heads? It's mystifying.
Hint: The magas LOVE him. They don't think he's abysmal, they think he's their kind of guy.
And why do they think he's their kind of guy? Because they are as racist, bigoted, homophobic, and xenophobic as he is
And denial is all others have.
The addition of material additional information is only "deflection" to hardcore partisans.
What administration did he mention?
And you are back defending Trump again.
So you buy into the exaggerated bullshit? There are always a minority of people stating nonsense. The dishonesty is when someone suggests that this is the norm. The sick part is when they try to use these extremes to defend Trump.
Citation? Or are you just making shit up again because you don't have a meaningful point?
There is exhaustive evidence of selective and biased reporting from mainstream news sources over several decades. I'm not sure how you've missed it.
There has been a well documented systemic bias in most of America's largest newsrooms for decades. NYT, WAPO, CNN, ABC, NBC, NPR, USA Today, etc, etc, etc.
Are you actually pretending this isn't real? Are you actually pretending there aren't published charts on this? WTF?
Are we also now going to pretend Fox News is unbiased? How deep does this batshit run here?
Again, cite me defending Trump. That accusation is just the saddest admission that you have absolutely zero actual point here.
One can always find some people making stupid claims. Using stupid claims to justify the behavior of the current administration is foolish.
Calm down ... your exaggerations are now beyond ridiculous.
Anyone who tries to counter legitimate criticism of Trump is ipso facto defending Trump.
Cite me doing so.
The real foolishness here is the ridiculous partisanship that causes political zealots to demand everybody ignore that their tribe is at least as guilty of the exact same offenses they condemn in others. It's a massive character flaw.
You don't say. That wasn't the whole point or anything....... *eyeroll*
Riiiiight. So anyone who doesn't completely endorse your batshit bias is your enemy? Interesting.
More emotional nonsense.
Anyone who tries to counter legitimate criticism of Trump is ipso facto defending Trump.
And when someone is trying (even if feebly) to defend Trump, attempting to shore up their weak argument is, ipso facto, defending Trump.
This seed is legitimately criticizing the Trump administration for its outrageous lies. There is no defending this practice. There is no denying that it takes place. So any attempt to deflect or make ridiculous comparisons to justify the outrageous lies, etc. is defending Trump.
More personal insults.
Why are there always only two options? Seriously. Why is that?
I believe that's the only point you took from it.
I believe that you saw the entire Orwellian diatribe and it never once occurred to you that it is at least as true about Democrats.
You've read an article from a well-established very left biased source, and it does not seem to even have occured to you to consider the assertions through that critical lens. Instead, you prefer (again) to attack personally anyone who dares mention additional pertinent information that might distract from the confirmation of your bias.
Sean simply pointed out that these people throwing stones live in very fragile glass houses.
The idea that these people have any standing in truthful reporting is insane. Entrusting them with the concept of truth is like hiring a fox to protect the henhouse from wolves.
I doubt you would object at all if, during a conversation about Trump, someone said "it is irrational to believe known liars". Well... that's true about Trump. It's also true about other known liars.
When people have enthusiastically abandoned their integrity they no longer get to complain about anybody else's lack of it.
Yes Jack, we all know ALL Politicians LIE!
Yet none have been as destructive in their pseudo facts as the abomination whose LIES have more negatively affected this nation for over a century, with the exception of Bush/Cheney's mushroom clouded visions. There are no other potUS's that even come close. To attempt whataboutisms with this cataclysmic criminal creature and any other is just not possible.
There is NO DEFENSE of Trump !
And as you claim to not, your and you're, points and pointing, very often seem to be, in defense of the one in a gated community, who knows no boundaries around his offenses.
If you are not defending Trump, you are not convincing, and it is certainly not just eyes, who see it this way.
I think there are people who would rather not defend Trump but have come to the conclusion that their political worldview requires them to.
As for the total nonsense that all politicians are equally untruthful as Trump, it is an opinion that is laughable.
Let's not settle for "good" and "evil". Let's find a third way...
O... M... G...!!
Iggy speaks English.
What you believe is not important.
Let's see if we can establish something here.
Do you recognize that the Trump administration (and especially Trump) routinely lies about their accomplishments, statistics, etc.? And not just 'white' lies but sometimes outrageous lies?
Do you recognize that Trump does this intentionally? That his modus operandi is to lie repeatedly and forcefully with the intent to get enough people to believe his bullshit in order to get his way?
Do you see the reason why the Trump administration is compared to 'the Party' in the 1984 novel?
[deleted][✘]
We've always know that. That's not new.
What has changed in the last 20 years is the level which journalists intentionally report with open bias.
When the people who are supposed to hold the responsibility of informing the public cannot be relied upon to do so impartially, that's a massive problem
Karoline Leavitt gets paid to be the mouthpiece of the President, just like Jen Psaki or Karine Jean Pierre or George Stephanopoulos or James Brady or Bill Moyers did before her. That's her job. I didn't criticize Psaki for doing her job, I'm not going to criticize Leavitt for doing hers.
Kaitlan Collins gets paid to report news objectively, just like Tom Brokaw or Peter Jennings or Walter Cronkite or Edward R Murrow before her. There is a code of ethics involved, and she and others of her generation violate it regularly.
I am not willing to ignore that, simply because they happen to spout bullshit I might like to hear. Their accusations that anyone else might be less than truthful are laughable, given their own contempt for accuracy or honesty.
There is also no citation of me doing so.
And yet you still offer no example of me doing so. So why is it that you seem to readily believe something for which you cannot produce a single example?
Look, think of it this way... when Donald Trump accuses someone else of lying, what goes on in your mind? Are his accusations credible? I would suggest not. Why is that? I would suggest it's because so much of what he says himself is so obviously false.
Do you see how this works????
Correct. Because we're not five years old anymore.
How about "evil and evil"? How about a "pot calling a kettle black"?
Person A tries to downplay lies by Trump by citing falsehoods and conspiracy theories articulated by a minority of Ds. The implication is that the lies by Trump are in balance with those by others and thus 'okay'.
Person B criticizes this sophistry as another feeble attempt to defend Trump with deflection and major league downplaying.
Person C tries to defend Person A's argument with obnoxious commentary and sarcasm.
Person C is trying to defend Trump. Even if he does not realize it.
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It's every bit as important as what you believe, and obviously more accurate.
Yes. But I also think he personally simply misstates things unintentionally because he's irresponsible with what he says. Not every inaccurate statement is an actual lie. This puts his team in the position of having to either rationalize his comments into something that might make sense or distract from the fact that there isn't any way to make them make sense. It's the same job Biden's team did for him, although his misstatements were of a different nature.
Yes. As well as wildly inaccurate non-lies that he just doesn't bother to check.
See how multiple things can be true simultaneously?
I think he's a NY real estate mogul who has made his living with bluster, embellishment, hardball negotiations, questionable to non-existent ethics, and he has brought that to the WH.
I don't think many of our previous presidents had great ethics, either. They were just smart enough to STFU about it.
He's compared to "the Party" for the same reason he's been compared to Hitler for the last many years... because Trump-o-phobes can't stop themselves from making ridiculous, over the top comparisons. It's very similar to the behavior of various other religious zealots over the years.
The entire premise is moronic, especially coming from the very people who have spent the last two decades doing the very things that they seek to raise alarm about today.
This is like my Southern Baptist friends crying about cancel culture. Really? From the people who canceled drinking, dancing, Sunday commerce, rock music, the Teletubbies, Barney the Dinosaur and Disney's Pocahontas? We're supposed to take these people seriously?? Stop it.
You would never, ever, ever listen to those people try to warn you about anybody else "canceling" anything, just like you should never, ever, ever listen to some lunatic left wing journalist complain that somebody else is misstating the facts.
By which you mean "your inference". Your projection. Your assumption.
Never mind that he never said any of the things you infer.
He has dared to point out that the people stirring up the lynch mob have a lot to gain by the lynching, so you declare him an accomplice of the criminal.
Because there can't be more than two options, now, can there?
It is Salem witch trial level logic.
What is the point?
They are so deeply entrained into the doublethink quagmire that they have nothing else to "cling" to as a reference point: The President is heroic! OK! The President is heroic, not because he is, but because we say he is...
I could provide more examples, but I do not wish to pollute my mind with nonsense.
Mere belief is irrelevant.
No doubt.
Correct
Another smart-ass comment. Nowhere do I suggest otherwise.
If they did articulate depravity then they would have been criticized. Since nobody has access to private thoughts, what matters is what a PotUS says and does.
And here you go again downplaying Trump's bad behavior. More of the 'nothing to see here' ... 'this is all normal' crap. The attempt to normalize Trump is yet another way of defending Trump.
By which I mean to point out how you try to defend Trump.
You are then not paying attention.
Again with your ridiculous accusation.
Questions as answers... Sure. Bothsidesism applied to morality.
Again... your imagination. Your projection. Your assumption, because once again you fail to consider all the possible outcomes.
Well let's have a look, shall we? Here is the comment in question:
Hmmm. No mention of Trump whatsoever.
So it's definitely your pretending somebody said something they didn't.. Again. Bit of a pattern forming here.
"Bothsidesism" is a leftist phrase used to change the subject when somebody points out that leftists are also full of shit.
So Bob, if two child molesters get in a knife fight in prison, which one is "good" and which one is "evil"?
Two cartels get in a firefight over a truck full of young girls they want to traffic. Which one is "good" and which one is "evil"?
C'mon Bob. If "evil and evil" is not an option. Do tell.
This is now ridiculous. You actually are pretending that you cannot see that this is a list of claims made by a minority of Ds that are portrayed as equivalent to the litany of lies by Trump and his administration.
'Oh nothing to see here, perfectly normal' 'Trump lies daily as PotUS but that is okay because other people lie too.'
Get serious.
And that right there is the tell. It does not matter that he is an atrocious human being because they like him that way.
It is nice to see that you finally admit it. Good for you. Tomorrow you can comment unencumbered by lies.
The truth will set you free.
Have you ever downplayed what Trump has said...?
Have you ever said, it's no big deal, he is just exaggerating, that's not what he meant, he is only joking, people can't take what Trump says literally, he may of said that, but you know he can't actually do that, or words conveying a similar sentiment at one time or another in regards to Trump
...???????????
Cause I, as well as many others I do believe, can say yes or no about what your words have conveyed. And yes, perception is unique to us all, but I B leave i am not alone in my interpretation of your written words.
I am not excusing others for doing like things, but I have seen NO OTHER come even remotely close to what 47 does. And no, it is NOT NORMAL, or even close to other presidents actions.
Your acceptance and constant downplayment of the severity of Trumps words and deeds, is why I most certainly do and will continue to claim that you are a Trump defender.
Now, I got A LOT OF ALCOHAUL to consume !!!
Shhhhhhhhh, donot tell n e 1
You disappoint me, Jack. I know you are smart, and reasonably knowledgeable... so how can you post such brainless crap?
Mystery...
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And yet here you are claiming people have said things simply because you believe it to be so, with zero evidence. So make up your mind.
If you don't want to fight, stop throwing punches.
Nonsense. Your whole string of misrepresentations is rooted in your refusal to admit the obvious and acknowledge its relevance. Again.
And here you go again making ridiculous accusations.
You think Trump is the equivalent of Hitler? Because that's absolutely insane.
And we're back to the batshit dual option. Either Trump is Hitler or he's normal. That's not completely ludicrous or anything.
No I don't, Bob. You clearly enjoy this, as misplaced as your condescension may be.
Well Bob, I actually think about things before I post them instead of just slapping down an emoji. I recommend the practice. It's challenging at first, but you'll get the hang of it eventually.
Do I point out that people are overreacting? Yes. They do that a lot.
No.
Not "just" exaggerating, no. But he does exaggerate regularly.
I don't even attempt to guess what he means and I don't think I've ever heard him joke.
Yes. I say this frequently. It is a fact, and there is a mountain of evidence to prove it.
Somebody someday is going to be able to explain to me the Trump-o-phobe "logic" of screaming that he lies all the time while simultaneously taking him literally.
Yes. Because he often claims he's going to do things he absolutely cannot do.
I'm not sure how pointing out that he's full of shit, should not be taken seriously, and has an idiotic overestimation of his own power could possibly be construed as "support" by any sane individual. Are those the type of things you say about people you support? I seriously hope not.
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Well now you have totally gone off the deep end. Hitler comparisons?? A fabricated binary comparison to match your fabricated 'always binary' bullshit claim?
Get a grip.
Bottom line, if someone tries to downplay Trump's words and/or acts by making comparisons with words/deeds by 'some people' (who are not PotUS and arguably not even relevant) they are trying to defend Trump. When you come in and try to defend that argument you are trying to defend Trump.
Whether you get this or not, expect such a comment to be criticized.
That's why.
Gotta build that strawman somehow....
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You literally cited that and replied to it. I said comparing Trump to Hitler was a "ridiculous comparison", and you immediately accused me of "downplaying his bad behavior".
Make up your mind.
Bottom line, if someone tries to downplay Trump's words and/or acts by making comparisons with words/deeds by 'some people' (who are not PotUS and arguably not even relevant) they are trying to defend Trump.
Bottom line, you have joined the throng of people who brainlessly throw "Trump supporter" accusations at anyone who fails to fully validate their personal hatred of the man.
Go through the comments and identify who brought Hitler into the discussion.
The answer is:
My reply (not even mentioning Hitler) was:
You are now grasping at imaginary straws.
Bottom line, if someone tries to downplay Trump's words and/or acts by making comparisons with words/deeds by 'some people' (who are not PotUS and arguably not even relevant) they are trying to defend Trump.
Yes. As an example of how nonsensical that is. You keep citing this like it doesn't make your accusations more silly.
You conveniently omit that you cited the Hitler verbiage and then responded to it. Nice try.
Your posts have turned into complete nonsense now.
You brought up Hitler. The only way it appeared in my posts is when I quoted you with an embedded Hitler reference. I never typed the word Hitler nor did I even allude to Hitler.
Grasping at imaginary straws.
You have been downplaying Trumps "bad behavior" for years, basically saying "who cares?"
Anyone who cares about the president being fit for office cares.
No he hasn’t. He just doesn’t froth at the mouth at the mere mention of anything Trump like a few folks here do.
You’re not fooling anyone John. No matter how hard you try to spin it.