SD on 12/11/2007 at 19:18
Rudolph Giuliani has apparently been telling all and sundry that under Great Britain's "socialised healthcare" system, he'd have only had a 44% chance of surviving his prostate cancer, while under America's (incidentally, 150% more expensive, and non-universal) private health insurance system, it was as high as 82%.
Except this is all bollocks. The survival rate in Britain is actually 74%, which obviously makes for less thrilling campaign commercials.
But when this gross error (
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2205211,00.html) was pointed out to the Giuliani campaign, they said they'd still be using the original 44% figure!
I know American politics is lower than a snake's belly already, and this is as outrageous an example as you'll find, but how do people - and, for that matter, such high profile people as the potential next POTUS - get away with uttering such blatant lies?
SubJeff on 12/11/2007 at 19:32
Tis because for the most part American's don't really care about their politicians being honest or even the right man for the job - provided they cater to the ideology of the majority and promise to do things that the public believes is RIGHT FOR AMERICA it doesn't matter how crooked they are. How else would GWB get voted in a second time.
I read about his prostate cancer issue. What is even more outrageous about it is that (baring postcode lotteries oh lol) in the UK the survival rates for most cancers is similar countrywide. Not so in the US because not everyone can afford to live. And by live I mean get treatment. Rich white man don't care bout a brother though lol. Radio 4's examples in their discussion on this were oddly racist - compare rich white Americans to poor black ones like there are no poor white people.
Turtle on 12/11/2007 at 19:49
How dare you call an American politician a liar.
I demand you retract your statement, sir, or I may have some harsh words for you!
heretic on 12/11/2007 at 20:30
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
Tis because for the most part American's don't really care about their politicians being honest or even the right man for the job - provided they cater to the ideology of the majority and promise to do things that the public believes is RIGHT FOR AMERICA it doesn't matter how crooked they are.
Mostly because it's common knowledge that
all politicians are crooked anyways. Is it really that differant overthere?
Pyrian on 12/11/2007 at 20:33
I think that with the current occupant lying his ass off at every opportunity, telling outrageous long-since discredited baldfaced lies is just being presidential. :p
quinch on 12/11/2007 at 20:34
Quote Posted by heretic1dg
Mostly because it's common knowledge that
all politicians are crooked anyways. Is it really that differant overthere?
No but they are probably more likely to be asked difficult questions from other politicians and the media as to the basis of these "facts".
Well for now...
SubJeff on 12/11/2007 at 20:48
Quote Posted by heretic1dg
Is it really that differant overthere?
Well we don't have politicians coming out with real blatant nonsense like this as par for the course, and if anyone slips up they are grilled to hell and back about it and it actually affects the likelyhood of election.
BEAR on 12/11/2007 at 21:03
Well, dont think he got away with it totally. Olberman grilled him pretty good on it (and I believe iirc made him worser and worst persons of the day while he was at it). Not that anyone but me watches it, but at least I knew it.
Guilani is a fucking tool, I cant imagine any way in hell he could get elected. As much of a douche as Bush is at least he had the ability to consolidate the base, Guliani could never do that.
Honestly though, if he wins who is going to let me live with them in the UK or canada.
scumble on 12/11/2007 at 21:27
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
Well we don't have politicians coming out with real blatant nonsense like this as par for the course, and if anyone slips up they are grilled to hell and back about it and it actually affects the likelyhood of election.
Well, tell me Nulabour didn't feed us a load of crap in '97 and keep a straight face.
Incidentally, anyone who is still shocked at politicians telling porkies has a very short memory.
heretic on 12/11/2007 at 22:58
Quote Posted by scumble
Incidentally, anyone who is still shocked at politicians telling porkies has a very short memory.
Exactly, regardless of country of origin.
..and they are quite obviously grilled here as well.
Think swift-boats, or even Bush SR's "I promise not to raise taxes" quote which single handedly cost him a reelection despite almost overwhelming post-wartime support.
Or Kerry's "I voted for it before I voted against it"
Sen. Clinton is presently having a rough time due to walfling a question during a recent debate.
and on and on...
