Dick Polman: MAGA has perfected the unrepentant lie

Key Takeaways:

• Politicians have lied since the early days of American democracy.
• John Adams’s surrogates claimed Thomas Jefferson would close churches if elected.
• JFK embraced a nonexistent “missile gap” against the Soviets.
• Dick Polman contends that MAGA takes lying to a new level.
• Unchecked falsehoods can degrade public trust in democratic institutions.

The Roots of Political Deception

Politicians have been bending or distorting the truth since the dawn of America’s democracy. Dick Polman opens with a stark reminder: “Politicians have been lying since the dawn of our formerly vibrant democracy.” He suggests that while lying in politics is nothing new, it still deserves scrutiny for how it affects public trust.

Historical Examples of Misleading Claims

Polman points to multiple episodes in history to illustrate that falsehoods aren’t confined to the modern era. In one striking anecdote, John Adams’s “pamphleteering surrogates” warned that if Thomas Jefferson were elected president, he would shut down all the churches. In the mid-20th century, President John F. Kennedy purported a “missile gap,” casting the Soviets as more threatening than they truly were—despite that gap not existing in reality. The article also alludes to Bill Clinton (“Bill […]”), although details remain brief in the snippet.

The Modern Twist: MAGA

In Polman’s view, contemporary politics—particularly within the MAGA movement—has brought an “unrepentant” quality to these historical patterns of distortion. The assertion is that while past leaders occasionally recanted or faced backlash for misleading statements, there is now a new boldness in embracing deception without apology.

Implications for Democracy

Polman’s underlying concern is how ongoing political lies, repeated and accepted, can challenge democratic norms. If voters grow accustomed to misinformation or fail to question blatant falsehoods, the risk is a weaker collective understanding of facts and an erosion of trust in governance.

Looking Ahead

By tracing examples from the birth of the United States to the present, Polman argues that recognizing—rather than dismissing—the potency of political lies is key. Public vigilance and accountability, he implies, are essential for sustaining a healthy democracy.