Editor, Gazette-Journal:

"The truth shall set you free," the saying goes, but more than likely a little lie or enough of them will get you elected these days. The American public, or a large portion of them, prefer to hear what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear—hence the proliferation of near truths spouted by politicians during election season.

Some organizations have sprung up to "fact check" or "truth-o-meter" statements by both parties and the special interest groups such as the Tea Party in an effort to enlighten the public, but in the interest of not offending anyone gray, has been added to the traditional black-and-white landscape. Mostly true" and "barely true" descriptions pass as judgments of fact, which are later repeated as fact.

I imagine there have been retired con men writing books on how to dupe a mark using the same skills now acceptable by politicians and the American Partisan—sweeten ...