How Liars Won in California

John Ziegler reminds us about the California vote Tuesday:

How could an anti-77 ad claim it was a "power grab" by politicians when, in fact, the initiative would take power away from politicians? How could an anti-Proposition 75 ad claim that Schwarzenegger had "tried to end death benefits for police and firefighters" when he did nothing of the sort? How could the teachers union say that the governor "cut" education spending when all he did was reduce the proposed increase (and actual spending went up by $3 billion this year)?

Unfortunately, in a country with a 1st Amendment, it is both impossible and inadvisable to ban or even restrict lying in a political campaign. However, that does not mean that there should be absolutely no repercussions for those who bend or break the truth in the pursuit of electoral victory. This is where the news media in California, as well as the public, failed in their democratic duties.

Politics is rather sleazy and unfair.But,conflict will not go away.California's budget problems will only grow and the special interests will have a more difficult time lying.