"You prevaricate"

Words. Words have meaning.

Two examples came to visit us over the last several days. Last night one of the news shows aired an interview with Mr. Obama. It was, unfortunately, another in a series of scripted interviews designed to capture an audience and deliver the scripter’s message. One part of the message was very revealing. The obeisance interviewer asked Mr. Obama about socialism and the government takeover of car companies and banks. Mr. Obama interrupted to say (TheFundamentals is paraphrasing here) wait a minute, these actions were underway when we got here, started by the previous administration; don’t lay that on me. The obedient newsman said nothing; no follow-up; no simple question like, “Well you signed the legislation; do you stand behind it; was there a better alternative that you should have taken?” Or, the newsman could have broadened the issue and asked, “When do you become responsible for events, actions and legislation that occur during your term?” So the message stands; not my fault. That is prevarication and Obama should have been called out on it immediately.

A few days earlier a man from South Carolina, who knows a prevaricator when he sees/hears one, made a small mistake. No, the mistake was not the audacity of speaking his mind in a simple declarative statement of two words in the people’s chamber. Nor was it the timing of the utterance of the simple two word statement. For these reasons the man from South Carolina should be praised. He should be an example of representing the best of America – the single individual who, upon seeing and hearing prevarication, speaks out; stands alone; willing to subject himself to the disdain of the crowd. No, his mistake was the second word he used. He should have said “prevaricate.”

Mr. Obama is a prevaricator of the first degree. Trained, practiced, slick. And one man, one person out of more than 500 had the audacity to call him out on it. Only he chose an easier word, one more clearly designed to effect his communication. He said “You lie.” The technical and accurate word is/was and will, unfortunately for all of us, be “prevaricate.” He should have said, “You prevaricate.” Before political correctness, when the American male species had higher standards, the term most frequently used in lieu of “prevaricate” was, and for men who still set their own standards is, “bulls**t.” A prevaricator is a “bulls**ter.” And that is different than a liar. Real men do not prevaricate!

It’s a guy thing.