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: Althouse

"Obama is telling members of Congress that failure to pass the tax-cut legislation could result in the end of his presidency..."

Or so says Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio.

The White House denies it: "The president hasn?t said anything remotely like that and has never spoken with Mr. DeFazio about the issue." Denies even speaking to DeFazio?

There's a discrepancy. Maybe both are lying, but both can't be telling the truth.

The quote from the White House has internal indicia of dishonesty. The spokesman (Tommy Vietor) is asserting, with respect to another person (the President), that things have never happened. Vieter makes 2 extreme statements in rapid succession: 1. "The president hasn?t said anything remotely like that," and 2. The President hasn't even "spoken with DeFazio about the issue." How can a person who cares about the truth make such expansive statements?

That doesn't mean DeFazio is honest. He goes on TV ? the Eliot Spitzer show ? and portrays Barack Obama as a big drama queen: "The White House is putting on tremendous pressure, making phone calls, the president is making phone calls saying this is the end of his presidency if he doesn't get this bad deal." DeFazio is against the tax deal, and he's trying to sink it by acting like Obama's desperately and selfishly obsessed with his own interest in prestige and reelection.

What's the truth here?
	Obama is pleading to save his Presidency, and DeFazio exaggerates to kill the deal.
	Obama calls for support are unremarkable. DeFazio is swinging wildly.
	Obama is selfish and desperate. DeFazio dares to tell the truth.
	Obama hasn't even spoken with Mr. DeFazio about the issue.
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Full post as published by Althouse on December 16, 2010 (boomark / email).