So how do we do it?\u00a0 How do we ensure that our \u2018yes\u2019 means \u2018yes\u2019 and our \u2018no\u2019 means \u2018no\u2019?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd don\u2019t say anything you don\u2019t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, \u2018I\u2019ll pray for you,\u2019 and never doing it, or saying, \u2018God be with you,\u2019 and not meaning it. You don\u2019t make your words true by embellishing them… Just say \u2018yes\u2019 and \u2018no.\u2019\u00a0 When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Why do we have such a hard time telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Or perhaps better said:\u00a0 why are we so tempted to distort the details?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wouldn\u2019t we have more respect for the person who leveled with us \u2014 who didn\u2019t attempt to manipulate the facts and therefore manipulate the impressions we possess?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As most of us are aware, last week was the first presidential candidate debate.\u00a0 It was watched by an approximate 60 million people.\u00a0 It has also been widely reported that Gov. Romney exhibited a clear, superior performance; in fact, according to Gallup, Mitt Romney won the debate by a jaw-dropping 52-point margin \u2014 the most resounding margin since the independent polling company began tracking debates 20 years ago.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now let\u2019s be clear, friends; there is no reason for Romney surrogates or supporters to initiate any attempt at a victory dance.\u00a0 This was the first of three presidential debates and one vice presidential sound off.\u00a0 This is also only one of many<\/em><\/strong> aspects and incidents that influence the eventual outcome.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And yet…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Instead of acknowledging Romney\u2019s clear, better debate performance, several Obama surrogates and supporters attempted to steer the conversation elsewhere; they attempted to distort the details.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From Obama spokeswoman, Stephanie Cutter…<\/p>\n “I sometimes wondered if we even needed a moderator because we had Mitt Romney.”\u00a0<\/em> [… blaming the moderator…]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From senior advisor, David Plouffe…<\/p>\n \u201cHe [John Kerry, Obama’s debate preparer] couldn’t keep his pupil in the seat… We thought being an older, white rich guy, him and Mitt Romney would have a lot in common. We didn’t take into account that John married money, twice, and Mitt earned his through capitalistic thievery.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>[… blaming the debate coach…]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Campaign advisor, David Axelrod, blamed Romney.<\/p>\n Filmmaker, Michael Moore, also blamed John Kerry.<\/p>\n David Letterman blamed George W. Bush (with yes, his tongue semi-in-cheek).<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n But the most obvious distorter?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Former Vice-President Al Gore…<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to say something controversial here.\u00a0 Obama arrived in Denver at 2 p.m. today, just a few hours before the debate started.\u00a0 Romney did his debate prep in Denver.\u00a0 When you go to 5,000 feet, and you only have a few hours to adjust. I don’t know…\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yes, Al Gore blamed the altitude.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Friends, while many of the undecided were undoubtedly influenced, most of us won\u2019t be voting for one candidate or the other solely based on last week\u2019s debate performance.\u00a0 But note to all:\u00a0 please have the decency to be honest \u2014 to let your \u2018yes\u2019 mean \u2018yes\u2019 \u2014 to refrain from distorting the details in order to serve your own purpose.\u00a0 \u201cWhen you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 That was obvious after last week\u2019s debate.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully… always…<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So how do we do it?\u00a0 How do we ensure that our \u2018yes\u2019 means \u2018yes\u2019 and our \u2018no\u2019 means \u2018no\u2019? \u201cAnd don\u2019t say anything you don\u2019t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, \u2018I\u2019ll pray for … <\/p>\n