2007-09-17 07:06:09 · 18 answers · asked by Brain 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
no, as a voter you need to be smart enough to figure out when some one is lying and not vote for them.
if under oath it is illegal but Clinton got away with it when the dem's said they did not care and would not look at any evidence. just vote to keep their man.
2007-09-17 07:38:59 · answer #1 · answered by ron s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Office :
Yes. Paying off a Judge with a future commitment of a place in a Higher Court...hmmm unless you get caught it is not illegal yet . The cream always rises to the top and like OJ some just can not help themselves. Expect numerous Clinton outings this time around. They set the bar and will trip on it. Of that I am certain. Many do not like being fooled more than once. Being disbarred did not stop WJ from making millions on speaking tours, books and PR. Blowing his own horn if you forgive the pun. "Giving" to his bank accounts & stock portfolios. When he went nuts with the finger on the Chris Wallace Sunday show weeks ago you just knew he was up to his old noise. He is transparent that way.
To embellish on the truth as a Candidate is a time honored tradition in politics. A "lie" is rarely confirmed. And after the fact, hard to prove it. So, illegal here? Good luck.
Thank you.
2007-09-17 14:27:31 · answer #2 · answered by Mele Kai 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure. People lie all the time. There's no law against lying-- just a law against lying in certain circumstances (like in teh sale of securities, while under oath, while making factual misstatements about a product to sell a product, etc...)
Now, even if the candidate could be liable for "false advertising" (although he's not selling a good or service; he's asking for votes), liability would almost never be found because most of the statements are statements of "opinion" or of "future possibility" rather than "present fact" or "mere puffery..." all buzz-words the law has created to exempt out certain classes of speech from liability for false advertising, deceptive trade practices, etc.
And of course, if a politician is TESTIFYING at a hearing (although very few do) they have to be under oath, and can be convicted for perjury if, once again, they intentionally make a mistatement of present fact.
There is a remedy, though. Simply vote him out next time.
2007-09-17 14:15:19 · answer #3 · answered by Perdendosi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, they can lie and rearrange the truth all the want. Lying is only illegal for anyone if they are under oath. While campagining and in office, they are not under judicial oath so they can do what they want. That's why we vote on them regularly.
2007-09-17 14:14:58 · answer #4 · answered by puppyraiser8 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sort of depends. If he did it under oath, yep, it sure is illegal. That's why there are so many lawyers on the staffs of political figures...to help them figure out how to say something that's not the truth without getting into trouble...
2007-09-17 14:22:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, but it's unethical. It's only illegal to lie when you are speaking under oath, that goes for anybody. Exceptions include slander: you cannot defame another person's character telling lies about that person, in any circumstance.
2007-09-17 14:11:12 · answer #6 · answered by Pfo 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what they're lying about. Usually yes, they could get in trouble for lying. They are never allowed to lie under oath.
2007-09-17 14:16:01 · answer #7 · answered by Josh 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yea. Like obeying the speed limit.
2007-09-17 14:12:41 · answer #8 · answered by TedEx 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Should be , but they get away with it , for awhile . Until they try to step up the ladder and then every blurb, will be ground up and used as fodder against him.
2007-09-17 14:13:44 · answer #9 · answered by fuzzykitty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no only if testifying before congress,,,and as bill Clinton proved illegal depends on what the definition of illegal is..is..
2007-09-17 14:12:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋