Vigorous Political Debate or Partisan Lying: Who Owns the Truth?

The Challenge

In a cover story called "Blue Truth, Red Truth," Newsweek magazine suggested that Americans have become so polarized that their perceptions of the truth are dependent on their politics. When does a one-sided presentation of the facts become a lie, and what effect has this heightened partisanship had on the chance for fruitful public discourse after the election?

What's at Stake

In a September poll by Reuters/Decision Quest, 61 percent of Americans surveyed reported that they had lost faith in leaders and institutions over the past four years. Both candidates for president received C grades from respondents. Some part of trustworthiness is certainly people's perception of the politician's truthfulness. Writer Joan Didion charged in the New York Review that the Bush administration redefined the very meaning of truth, substituting faith in particular propositions for evidence. On the other side, the Washington Times editorialized, "With a pattern of self-contradictory statements, unscrambling what Mr. Kerry might actually believe is no easy task." In the past, many have looked to media to unravel the truth, but a recent survey by the Pew Foundation found that people's perception of the credibility of various news organizations was highly influenced by the respondents' party affiliation. Some argue the media themselves, especially partisan cable stations, talk show hosts, and bloggers, have redefined the truth. In the meantime, coming to a common understanding on important public issues has become much more difficult.

Critical Questions

• The philosopher Immanuel Kant argued that truth telling is a "perfect duty"; that is, it trumps all other principles. Can we apply Kantian thinking to the realm of politics? Can politicians running for office be expected to always tell the truth? Are there situations where it is imprudent for our political leaders to tell the whole truth?

• Many news organizations offered "truth squads" during the past election, evaluating the claims of both presidential candidates. What is the role of media in determining the truth or falsity of political statements?

• Has the collapse of civility in the recent campaign season led partisans of both parties to justify lying? Is the truth an inevitable victim of strident politics?

November 18, 2004

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