‘Pinocchio in chief’

We’ve had some presidents who stretched the truth but none like the current occupant, who has transformed lying into an art form.

Close to six months in office, his claim that he had signed more bills (42) than “any president ever” was completely wrong. Among recent presidents, he’s behind Jimmy Carter (70 bills signed), George H.W. Bush (55) and Bill Clinton (50).

According to the Washington Post’s ‘Fact Checker,’ in his first 100 days he averaged 4.9 false or misleading claims a day- making him “the most fact-challenged politician that the Fact Checker has ever encountered.” After six months, the president’s tally is 836 false or misleading statements- or 4.6 a day.

Some 30 times he has claimed arranging business investments and job announcements that were previously announced. A claim that “in one sentence” he got the Chinese president to allow U.S. beef to be sold in China happened because the Obama administration had already arranged the beef deal last September.

In his previous life, he could get away with these exaggerations. But as “Pinocchio in chief” he will find closer attention to the facts will be required in dealing with complex issues facing our country.

James W. Ramsey

Sandpoint