There is a slight distinction to be made: it's a lie if you know what you're saying is false. If you believe what you're saying, you are simply wrong. Since it's hard to know what someone actually believes, journalists just say, "stated falsely," because that is accurate regardless. And when you're pointing out false statements, you need to be extra careful of your own facts.
There is a slight distinction to be made: it's a lie if you know what you're saying is false. If you believe what you're saying, you are simply wrong. Since it's hard to know what someone actually believes, journalists just say, "stated falsely," because that is accurate regardless. And when you're pointing out false statements, you need to be extra careful of your own facts.
If heard folks make that distinction before. To me it always sounds like an excuse being offered to get the liar off the hook. “Oh, it’s not a lie if they believe it.”
Things is, some lies are so obvious that protestations of “but he believes it” just don’t work. The evidence that Trump lost fair and square is overwhelming that his “The election was stolen” is an obvious lie and should be called one every time he makes that claim.
Doesn’t matter if Trump claims he truly believes it. To do so is such an act of willful blindness that he shouldn’t be given any credit for it. That level of willful blindness only occurs when the person KNOWS they are wrong (knows they are lying) and are is working, really, really hard to avoid having to admit it.
There is a slight distinction to be made: it's a lie if you know what you're saying is false. If you believe what you're saying, you are simply wrong. Since it's hard to know what someone actually believes, journalists just say, "stated falsely," because that is accurate regardless. And when you're pointing out false statements, you need to be extra careful of your own facts.
If heard folks make that distinction before. To me it always sounds like an excuse being offered to get the liar off the hook. “Oh, it’s not a lie if they believe it.”
Things is, some lies are so obvious that protestations of “but he believes it” just don’t work. The evidence that Trump lost fair and square is overwhelming that his “The election was stolen” is an obvious lie and should be called one every time he makes that claim.
Doesn’t matter if Trump claims he truly believes it. To do so is such an act of willful blindness that he shouldn’t be given any credit for it. That level of willful blindness only occurs when the person KNOWS they are wrong (knows they are lying) and are is working, really, really hard to avoid having to admit it.
from the piece:
"Trump and Republican leaders lie about US aid"