As recorded in the eighth chapter of the New Testament book of John, Jesus told a group of Jews: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The Lord was referring to the truth that leads to salvation or freedom from sin — not truth in the realm of worldly affairs such as politics and journalism.
President Donald Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, in a recent television interview, came up with the remarkable quote “truth isn’t truth.” Called on to explain the statement, Giuliani later said it was “not meant as a pontification on moral theology,” but instead was “referring to the situation where two people make precisely contradictory statements, the classic ‘he said, she said’ puzzle.”
Maybe Giuliani wasn’t so far off base. There’s plenty of “truth isn’t truth” being practiced these days, from the White House to the Mississippi State Capitol.
Even his most ardent supporters must recognize that President Trump tells lies. Frequently his statements contradict his own previous statements.
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is a big fan of the president and vice versa, but Bryant’s public record on veracity is much more reputable than the president he admires.
So, It was surprising that at one point during the recent special session of the Legislature, Bryant sounded more like Trump than Bryant.
Miffed that lawmakers in the House had voted down a lottery, Bryant blamed Democrats, writing on Twitter: “House Democrats voted to continue losing more than $80 million to Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee.”
He went on to say $10 million to $20 million could have gone to education. With federal matching funds included, that could be a $160 million loss. “Hope they can explain that to their communities,” Bryant concluded.
The Clarion-Ledger, which reported the tweet, pointed out, however, “that Republicans hold a supermajority in the House, meaning votes from Democratic lawmakers are not needed to pass legislation.
“Thirty-six Republicans and 18 Democrats voted for the bill, while 34 Republicans and 26 Democrats voted against it.”
Obviously, it was a bipartisan defeat, but Bryant blamed Democrats.
The House later reversed itself and passed the lottery in a bipartisan vote, putting the governor in a better mood.
Sometimes it is difficult to ascertain what is true — what is consistent with facts — and other times it’s rather easy. “Are you going to believe me or your lying eyes” is the punch line of an old joke.
In McComb, the city’s new mayor, Quordiniah Lockley, appears to be attempting the impossible task of controlling the truth of the news that comes from city government.
He isn’t the first to attempt it, and it’s unlikely he’ll be any more successful at it than others who have tried.
Lockley has forbidden city employees, including the chiefs of the police and fire departments, as well as the city administrator, from giving information to the news media.
All city information to the press must come from the mayor as the spokesman for the city, Lockley has decreed.
It’s a ridiculous rule that won’t work.
Probably most city employees will abide by the rule. But there will always be some who will share off the record information with a friendly reporter they trust to keep their identities secret.
Moreover, Lockley’s edict can not apply to the six city selectmen who, like him, are elected officials who are not answerable to the mayor.
President Trump isn’t able to keep leaks from coming out of the White House. I doubt Mayor Lockley can plug them from City Hall or the police station.
— Charlie Dunagin, Enterprise-Journal
