Why Lie?

We are told that negative campaigning "works." Perhaps it does, but why lie about yourself?

I know that politicians say what they think various groups of voters supposedly want to hear. Why does anyone want to be lied to, and why don't they react negatively when they are lied to? I must say that I am baffled, but then maybe that is why I am not a politician.

McCain claims to be a "maverick," but most of those things he stood against his party (and the President) on, he has changed his tune. Two notable changes - support for off-shore drilling, and his stand on torture.

He claims to be pro-veteran, but has consistently voted against care for veterans - and not just recently.

He supported the most recent big budget give-away ($700 billion), but has been virtually silent on his support for the conditions that led to the current mess - namely deregulation, and pro-corporate bankruptcy changes. Further, he really does want further deregulation and oversight of the medical industries. He has referred to himself (in the past) as Mr. Deregulator. In other words, he is right in there with the conservative and Republican agenda of unfettered capitalism.

Obama, has also been shifting to some hypothetical middle-ground voter. He consistently is against same-sex marriage. He consistently tries to out-hawk the hawks. He supported the essence of bailing out Wall Street. He has said he would preemptively strike inside Pakistan (and elsewhere). He has offered unqualified support and protection of Israel. Are these lies? Is he more progressive than his campaign rhetoric indicates?

Why can't folks just say where they stand and what their record is? If McCain has done noteworthy things beyond being a veteran and POW, then let him share those. If his only qualification is that he is a vet and a POW, then millions of folks are veterans, and thousands have been POWs. That alone does not qualify him for the Presidency.

Why can't Obama be upfront about who he is? If he is pro big capitalism (which his economic advisors and willingness to support the bailout seems to indicate) then just say so.

What lying says to me, is that folks care only about one thing - power. They don't care about us - or about the country.

Obama has been more honest and run a cleaner campaign than McCain, but he is a long way from where I would hope he would be. McCain is getting increasingly negative, and lying about Obama (fear mongering in fact).

I am sick of it. Aren't you?