Public Reaction to Presidential Dishonesty Indicative of Decline in Morality in the U.S.

When 38th American President William J. Clinton announced that he “did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky,” few could have predicted the firestorm that would ensue when President Clinton eventually admitted to having had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky. In particular, Americans were offended by the fact that they had been lied to by their commander-in-chief. The revelations of President Obama’s dishonesty with regard to the framework of Obamacare have not generated comparable outrage on the part of the American people. Indeed, the American public’s reaction to casual manner in which President Obama excuses his far-reaching dishonesty, relative to its reaction to the serious manner with which President Clinton acknowledged his circumscribed dishonesty, suggests a decline and change to morality in the U.S.

It is beyond question that all politicians lie and always have. While President Clinton did lie to the American public, he did so in overt fashion just once and with regard to a strictly personal matter; never was it suggested that President Clinton’s sexual indiscretions somehow impeded execution of his presidential duties (Nelson). Moreover, he profusely apologized for these indiscretions. President Obama, on the other hand, has demonstrated no remorse for the willful dishonesty that has come to define his presidency, disingenuously suggesting only that he “could have been more clear” about Obamacare and that he regrets that the public so heavily relied upon his representations of it (Thiessen).

The lack of outrage at President Obama’s premeditated dishonesty, which has permeated his presidency and his policies, is stunning in light of the overwhelming public outrage that accompanied President Clinton’s singular act of dishonesty. That Americans are so casually willing to accept a leader who so casually lies to his people indicates a decline in U.S. morality.

Works Cited

Nelson, Steve. “Bill Clinton 15 Years Ago: 'I Did Not Have Sexual Relations With That Woman'.” US News. 26 Jan. 1998.< http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/press-past/2013/01/25/bill-clinton-15-years-ago-i-did-not-have-sexual-relations-with-that-woman>

Thiessen, Mark A. “A Dishonest Presidency.” Washington Post. 4 Nov. 2013. < http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/marc-thiessen-obamas-dishonest-presidency/2013/11/04/841947c6-4561-11e3-b6f8-3782ff6cb769_story.html>