The Lies of Obama are more consequential than those of Trump

I think Pro has diverged somewhat in R3 from the question of the "bigger" liar into partisan angling. Tempting as it is to engage on politics, those questions can and ought to be separated from Pro"s thesis. A lie is not less of a transgression because it accords with our political outloo. The truth does not become false just because it contradicts our philosophy. That Trump is the most prolific liar in presidential history is not in question. Nearly every editorial board and presidential historian in the nation has characterized Trump"s disengagement with the truth as unprecedented. [1] Bush biographer and editor of Presidential Studies Quarterly George Edwards plainly states. , "He is by far the most mendacious president in American history." [2] Pro"s go-to source, politifact.com concurs. Politifact has documented more lies told by Trump in his first six months in office than Obama"s 8 years. [3][4] A compendium made last year of all US politicians with 50+ fact checks rated Trump the biggest liar at 70% false and Obama the most honest with 74% true. [5] Trump earned a new one today for lying that his latest healthcare plan would continue to cover pre-existing conditions [6] Pro quotes the NYTimes saying that Obama can't be trusted on national security but fails to note the same editors came to the same conclusion about Trump over his Russian spy cover-ups, [7] or further, that they called out Trump for corrupting the very institution of America: "Trump"s incessant lying is obscene. It is a collapse in morality; it is an ethical assault." [8] Similarly, Trump dismisses the Times as failing and "fake news" while simultaneously granting that paper more access and interviews than any other media. And that"s really what makes Trump the bigger liar- there is no core principle, no unassailable truth. Trump lies about healthcare: lies about the successes of Obamacare, lies about having a plan that would be cheaper, lies about cutting Medicaid and essential services. He even lies when he says he wants to replace Obamacare: he wants to repeal Obamacare and replace it with Obamacareby another name. [9] Trump lies about 3 million illegal aliens voting in the election, corrupting Americans" faith in free & fair elections. [10] Trump lies about the Muslim ban being a ban on Muslims, requiring an appeals court to call the POTUS a liar in open session. [11] Trump lied when he said Obama wasn't a US citizen and was probably a Muslim. [12] Trump lied when he accuse d Ted Cruz of Canadian citizenship [13], when he said Cruz"s father was seen with Oswald just before Kennedy's Assassination, [14] when he accused Cruz of distributing nude photos of Melania. [15]. Trump lies about his rivals past limits of moral outrage and never apologizes for the harm his lies cause. Trump lied about giving millions to charity when in fact he"d never registered the Trump Foundation as a charity, and hadn't put in any of his own money since 2008. [16] Trump has admitted spending the money on personal portraits, on reimbursing himself for celebrity galas and on bribing DA"s investigating Trump University. [17] Remember all those times on Celebrity Apprentice when Trump promised to donate to someone"s favorite charities? Turns out none of that money came from Donald Trump. [18] The Washington Post documented at least 5 instances of Trump boasting of donating to charities who never received any money. Trump consistently lies about crime being on the rise in the US- stating the murder rate is at a 45 year peak, [19] exaggerating black on white crime by 500%, [20] exaggerating crime by illegal immigrants. [21]. Although the last year has proved the second safest since 1990, people who believe Trump feel far less safe. [22] Trump lied when he promised to immediately terminate DACA [23], and lied again when he finally rescinded the order in Sep 5. Now he says dreamers are not at fault & has promised to sign a DACA bill. [24] Trump lied when he said he"d build a wall between the US and Mexico and he"d get Mexico to pay for it. Having failed twice now to find funding, Trump now says, "the wall will come later". Trump lied when he said the Mexican President complimented Trump on border security, no such conversation ever took place. [25] Trump lied to soldiers when he tweeted his Govt. will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military, [26] but 2 months later no such ban is in effect. Trump is now waiting for a Pentagon report next year. Trump has made no apology to those active duty soldiers he pretended to fire. Obama lied in office for what he thought was the greater good. Unlike Trump, it's pretty hard to find times when Obama lied about political rivals, or covering up some meeting, or pretending to do something he didn't. Trump's lies corrupt US institutions, unravel American norms, mostly in a desperate attempt to keep from being held accountable by those institutiom's