Where’s the truth?

By Joe Van Rhyn, Las Vegas

Published Thursday, March 23, 2017 | 2 a.m.

Updated Thursday, March 23, 2017 | 10:27 a.m.

What has happened to society?

Lying used to be a disgusting flaw in one’s character. To be labeled a liar brought shame and distrust. We’d punish our children for doing it; a man of his word was admired.

Today, we use every euphemism known to sugarcoat and downplay how our leaders in Washington bend, twist, break and mutilate the truth. We’re even asked to accept “alternate facts” in place of it.

For this administration and this president, lying has no bounds. He lies to deflect, marginalize, minimize and demonize anything or anyone he disagrees with, and he does it without compunction.

He can spout lies, one after another, and his minions just laugh about it. I guess if the evangelicals can turn a blind eye and support a man who has bragged about grabbing women by the genitals, has committed adultery and has built a fortune by cheating small businesses that have performed work for him, lying is just a petty nuisance.

The members of this administration even lie to one another. Everyone claimed Michael Flynn misled (lied to) Vice President Mike Pence about the general’s improper contact with the Russians.

They would have us believe Flynn is so good at lying he could pull the wool over Pence. But Pence is not a neophyte, having umpteen years of experience navigating the political jungle. Would he be so naive as to take Flynn at his word? Gullible enough to go on national TV and swear to the American people no one in the campaign or the administration had any communications with the Russians? Or did he have full knowledge, as did Trump, of Flynn’s involvement and without shame or hesitation, eloquently perpetuate the lie? I suggest the No. 2 knew and was just as willing as his boss to lie for political expediency.

It will be interesting to see what if anything comes of these Russian investigations. A cover-up generally follows a lie. Without a special prosecutor, we may never know the truth whether this administration colluded with the Russians. Sad, but with so much lying coming out of Washington, it’s hard to believe anyone anymore about anything.