Our leaders in the U.S. House and Senate and the Executive Branch of the federal government now accept lying as normal, acceptable behavior.

During the last few years our politicians have lied so often any observer could fill a book with examples: “You can keep your doctor”; “What difference does it now make?”; “The border is secure”; “The United States is a racist nation.” I could go on and on.

Recently, a most despicable lie has come to light. Sen. Harry Reid, speaking on the Senate floor, accused Mitt Romney of not paying any taxes. This lie was spoken during the last presidential election.

At the time, Sen. Reid said he had sources and the nonpayment of taxes was a fact. We now know Sen. Reid lied on purpose with malice.

Why do we accept leaders lying to us? Why do our senators, Susan Collins and Angus King, not call out Sen. Reid for this behavior? When we observe Sens. Collins’ and King’s silence over Sen. Reid’s lie about the Romneys, it tells us something about the character of Collins and King.

Unless Sens. Collins and King publicly condemn Reid’s lie, they are condoning the lie.

Remember the saying we learned as children, “Birds of a feather flock together”? When our senators condone a lie stated with malice on the Senate floor, they are then a part of the lies and liars in Washington. Lies from our leaders cannot be tolerated.

God help us.

James Waterhouse

Dayton

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