Shading -- or ignoring -- truth on the campaign trail

Political innocents may wonder why a candidate such as McCain, whose campaign is premised on 'straight talk' -- and to a lesser extent Obama -- have veered from the truth. Because it works.
By Cathleen Decker
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

September 14, 2008

For weeks, John McCain and his campaign have made claims contradicted by reality: Barack Obama favors sex education for kindergartners and insulted Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin; Palin sold her state plane on EBay and turned down federal money for the "bridge to nowhere."

Obama has argued that McCain doesn't understand voter concern about the foundering economy and -- attention, Michigan voters -- has refused to support loan guarantees for the auto industry.

If any of those statements rings true, then a campaign adage has proved itself again: Repeat something often enough, and it becomes real, even when it isn't.

Political innocents may wonder why a candidate like McCain, whose campaign is premised on what he calls "straight talk" -- and to a lesser extent Obama -- have veered from the flat truth.

The answer is simple: because it works.

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