Honesty in Politics

In response to Bruce Weinstein’s plea for honesty from politicians (New York Times, August 7, 2012), I would say that while the current presidential candidates are both less than honest in their campaign, it must be recognized that politicians always relied on rhetoric to persuade the populace and, granted that rhetoric overstates for effect and thus verges on fibbing, it is a language of marketing. In the heat of deplorable negative campaigns in this election year, candidates themselves characterize each other's rhetoric as lying, and the media shows no compunction in ignoring the distinction between them for the sake of sensationalism.  An honest advertising may not be totally truthful but it is not necessarily dishonest.  Voters should wise up to understand this. Once in the office most politicians are, if occasionally specious, more or less honest in their speech and action.