Why don't presidents or politicians get punished when they lie or commit scandals?
109538
Because it would take the whole point out of having more power than other people.
498225
Some leaders know that if they lie to the people and confuse them, it's easier to control them and get the people to like them and to do what they want. Some leaders believe in telling the truth (rare but it happens) and gaining the trust of the people even though it means not being as popular as the ones who lie all the time. Most often, it's the fault of the people for not taking the time and making the effort to really find out what's going on and not simply accepting an  8 second sound bite that the agenda driven media has to offer on some of the most complicated issues that face the world.
851220
Deciet is not limited to just elected officials, ever see a criminal trial, as soon as a police fficer takes the stand the lies begin, its common practice, they lie to get elected, they lie to increase their power and usurp our constitutional rights, lie when they get caught, if poligraphs were reliable, I'd say give them all one every time they speak
677313
corruption in government is a given. as far as i know the data to support the claim that the number of corrupt politicians is increasing are incomplete. so we cant really say. it could only be that people are becoming more aware of their leaders' corrupt ways.
940961
I'm so sick of staunch conservatives bringing up the Clinton scandal.  Almost every president we've ever had, had mistresses. Apparently there was a time when the media didn't feel the need to air dirty laundry. It is rather comical, however, that the same people lampooning morality and declaring gay marriage a sin often turn out to be a pedifiles and closet homosexuals.
345438
Because either people are apathetic, or, they are hypnotized by these  crooked politicians.  Very few of us are immune  to it. I am one. I do not vote for those who want to rule for  a 2nd or 3rd term or beyond. They have gotten rich enough, and don't need any more of my money.
1117858
yeah go toot that horn somewhere else. Do you not know all the lies that Bush told to send our young men to war? What I say is why don't they stay out of peoples bedrooms and take care of the boardroom. Who gives a shit if Clinton got a little on the side and lied. do you know a man who has cheated who admitted it from the start? Not! Maybe if Bush would get a little on the side his mind wouldn't be so full of shit he might be able to speak in complete intelligible sentences. I would much rather have a lie about sex than a lie about lives.
161522
The President is not immune to the laws of our country, if that's what you are asking.\n\nDo not confuse the statements made by the news services with fact.\n\nThe screams of the opposition (right or left) are just that.  \n\nIf there were any cause to charge the President, the screams would subside and the grins would start.  As long as they scream, it's only a tantrum.
604252
You can look at this situation in one of three ways:\n\n1) Only liars run for office.\n2) Politicians lie because of their job.\n3) Everyone lies, but politicians are the only ones whose lives we scrutinize closely enough to notice.\n\n#1 doesn't make sense - why wouldn't there be any honest people who wanted to make a difference?\n#2 doesn't make sense, what is it about serving the public good that would make ALL of them liars?\n#3 is the only plausible solution.
800597
I believe it is merely an extension of the overall problem of lying that is prevalent in our society. The 90's encouraged people to lie any time they did something illegal. Examples would be, the Definition of (is), killing a former friend/attorney to shut him up, getting involved in subdivisions that required more than WHITE lies to cover their involvement. When people in influential positions use lies to cover up their illegal activities, and then are treated as hero's it encourages people to lie.
705750
They have too long... and how I wish they could be charged with war crimes.. but it will never happen.  If it was me or you.. we'd be in jail , likely in front of a firing squad within a minute... but not them.. politicians are invincible.. they can lie and cheat and kill and.. it just doesn't matter.
1055419
Politics has always been a way for people wth low or no ethics to make a good living and have a good time at the expense of the Taxpayers. You really have NO supervision so you can lie cheat and take bribes. Lobbiest pay for some really good weekend with prostitutes and all the liquor that you can handle. Lawyers are especially suited for politics because they are taught to lie in college and usually have no problems with doing anything wrong.\nTo sum it up...Politicians are the "Scum of the Earth". From local to national.
752257
If politicians were held accountable for their lies, then Washington would be a ghost town
568676
The only thing they change is the party in power.  Sorry but I can't see 10 cents worth of difference if you look at the parties in power over the years. So scandals hurt the party not the presidency.  Nixon got full retirement pay and all the benefits that the good guys got.
136321
It is so obviously true that I wonder why you bothered to ask.\n\nWorld leaders -- politicians -- are like the artist who used to live next to me, who said that the truth had no particular appeal for him over an interesting or useful lie.\n\nWe've gotten to the point where there is simply no value placed on truth, honesty, integrity, by those who wield power.  I have long and tedious theories as to why this is so, but suffice to say that as long as we continue to permit them to behave this way, and vote for them anyway, we may deserve our fate.  In any case, those of us who HAVE a vote, whether we bother to use it or not, must share in the blame for dishonesty in our elected leaders.
774463
Because thats politics. Jimmy Carter broadcast the U.S. stealth planes on national T.V. during his presidency when we were having trouble in Iran about the hostages from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Nobody knew about the stealth fighters and bombers until then or that we were working on such technology.\n All the scandals about the republicans just before the mid-term elections were released in an effort to dislodge as many republicans from congress as possible (that was admitted to in the news by the Democrats).\n The liberals have just as many scandals,but they go unreported in the liberal news media.
781464
I'm sure all human beings on the planet have done something sometime that we are not proud of. If someone brings it up, we say sorry and move on. \nDenying and lying only serves to discredit us, the way Lynn Cheney discredited herself when she lied to Wolf Blitzer (I saw the show). \nAs for your question about Republicans ever dropping their holier than thou pretensions- the answer is no, they won't drop that facade because they think the American people are all real stupid. The problem is, some of the American people who consider themselves Republican do not tend to see through the lies, even when they are the blatant and in your face kind of lies.\nFrankly, I don't care what kind of books her highness writes, or wrote in the past. I just resent her implication that she is above reproach because of her party affiliation. We all know how corrupt her husband is, so we should not be surprised that she would be any different. \nWhat is really appalling is that no matter how transparent these people are, it is just the game of politics, and they know they will not lose their wealth or status because the American people know they lied. They are laughing all the way to the bank, at our expense.