‘Twas several nights after Christmas and a few nights before the New Year of 2023 when I first heard the news about George Santos. A recently elected Representative from NY to a very narrow Republican Majority in the US House of Representatives. Santos has been caught in a series of lies regarding his background and credentials. Tulsi Gabbard conducted an interview with him on the Tucker Carlson show this past Tuesday night (12-27-22). The transcript of this interview was published in “The Hill” by Emily Brooks on 12-27-2022. I would like to add my commentary to the views that were published regarding this interview. First, I must give my congratulations to Ms. Gabbard for her interview. She asked some hard questions and literally kept the lying Santo’s feet to the fire.
My prologue to this interview is simply this. Lying starting with Trump has become endemic in the Republican Party. They seem to have no qualms or shame when it comes to telling lies. They will do little or nothing to sanction Santos for two reasons. First, because lying is the norm for Republicans today, and it is not illegal. Second, because they do not want to risk losing Santo’s seat in the house. With this preliminary insight out of the way, I want to add my comments to the following transcript. I shall try to make my comments obvious by bolding my opinions and viewpoints.
I have one caveat to make before I start. I am not kicking a sleeping dog. This dog refuses to stop biting. He is not giving up his seat and he refuses to accept any responsibility for his lies. Instead, he says he is ready to serve his constituents and wants the world to just forget his transgressions.
Tulsi Gabbard tears into George Santos during Fox interview: ‘Do you have no shame?’ — BY EMILY BROOKS – 12/27/22 9:38 PM ET
Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) ripped into Rep.-elect George Santos (R-N.Y.) over his embellishments and fabrications about his background, asking him point-blank, “Do you have no shame?”
“If I were one of those in New York’s 3rd District right now, now that the election is over, and I’m finding out all of these lies that you’ve told, not just one little lie or one little embellishment — these are blatant lies — my question is, do you have no shame?” Gabbard asked while filling in for Fox News host Tucker Carlson in an interview with Santos on Tuesday evening. “Do you have no shame? And the people who are now, you’re asking to trust you to go and be their voice for them, their families and their kids in Washington?”
“Tulsi, I can say the same thing about the Democrats,” Santos responded. “Look at Joe Biden. Joe Biden has been lying to the American people for 40 years. He’s the president of the United States. Democrats resoundingly support him. Do they have no shame?”
Here we have the time-honored way of deflecting the blame by attacking someone else. It is a version of the philosophical “Ad Hominem” fallacy, where you attack another person to avoid taking any responsibility for your own problems. Santos attacks Biden and avoids answering the question regarding his lack thereof of any shame. If he was going to mention a President who lied, he should have mentioned Trump who undoubtedly broke all records for lying to the American people.
Gabbard interjected, saying that her question was not about the Democrats.
Three cheers for Gabbard who stepped on his strategy.
Santos has emerged from days of silence following reports from The New York Times and other outlets this month that revealed misrepresentations, fabrications and lies about his personal background.
In various interviews with the New York Post and elsewhere this week, Santos has admitted to “embellishing” his resume, including saying that he did not graduate from college and that he did not work directly for financial giants Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.
I love this. He did not graduate from college. He did not work for one of the major financial giants. But he just calls adding these lies to his resume an “embellishment”. I wonder if you went in for a job interview with lies like this on your resume whether the interviewer would see it as a simple embellishment? If they found out after you were hired, do you think they would keep you on the job? Where else in the world can you lie repeatedly and keep your job except for the US House of Representative and US Senate. The present salary for a US Representative is $174,000 a year.
Santos says a poor choice of words led to confusion about his work history, insisting that he did business with both companies and helped make “capital introductions” through “limited partnerships.” He relayed some of that explanation in the interview with Gabbard.
I did not lie says Santos, I merely chose my words poorly. Like me saying that Santos is a lying sack of putrid excrement instead of a lying sack of shit. Sorry, I just chose my worlds poorly. I hope I did not offend anyone. I promise I will choose my words more carefully in the future.
He has also come under fire for representing himself as an “American Jew” and saying that his maternal grandparents fled Europe during World War II, even though reports have emerged that those grandparents were born in Brazil before the war.
This is truly unbelievable. He is on record and on video as lying to a Jewish assembly about his religion and heritage. He claims he is culturally Jewish but was raised as a Catholic. I was raised as a Catholic but was culturally Italian since my father was Italian. I cannot see how any Catholic could be culturally Jewish. As many Jewish people will tell you, for many years, Catholicism treated Jews as “Those killers of Christ.” I remember being told that it was a mortal sin to step into a synagogue. I am sure my Catholic priest would have had a heart attack if he found out that I attended a “Seder” or Passover rite with some Jewish friends.
Gabbard pressed Santos on those points.
“My heritage is Jewish. I’ve always identified as Jewish. I was raised as a practicing Catholic,” Santos said. “Not being raised a practicing Jew, I’ve always joked with friends and circles, even within the campaign, I’d say, guys, I’m ‘Jew-ish.’ Remember, I was raised Catholic.”
This sounds like some sort of Orwellian Double Speak. “Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it.” — George Orwell. 1984. Part 1, Chapter 5.
Santos uses some convoluted thought to try to convince us that deep down he is Jewish. I suppose if he were running in Alabama, he would be a Baptist and in Utah, he would be a Mormon.
“So, look, I understand everybody wants to nitpick at me. I’m gonna reassure this once and for all. I’m not a facade. I’m not a persona. I have an extensive career that I worked really hard to achieve. And I’m going to deliver from my experience because I remain committed in delivering results for the American people,” Santos said.
Boohoo. Please feel sorry for me. Santos must have picked this shtick up from Nixon. He needs a small dog in his lap while giving us this speech before I can feel sorry for him. Yes, I know he has a mother who loves him.
“Congressman-elect Santos, we’ve given you a lot of time. I think the time that is owed is to the people of New York’s 3rd. It’s hard to imagine how they could possibly trust your explanations when you’re not really even willing to admit the depth of your deception to them,” Gabbard said.
This coming from a Tucker Carlson show host really surprised me. Gabbard skewered him mercilessly. She must have forgotten that she switched parties and was now a Republican. I would not be surprised to see a rebuttal from the Republican party concerning her remarks.
Gabbard is the second former Democratic member of Congress to interview Santos this week. He also spoke with former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), who resigned in 2011 after the revelation of sexually explicit messages he sent to a minor, on WABC radio this week.
My guess is that Weiner and Santos have a lot in common and it is not their Jewishness. You might remember Weiner as the man who sent a picture of his penis through a text to one of his girl friends while he was married. Birds of a feather flock together.
I have nothing more to add folks. As they say, actions speak louder than words. When are we going to demand some level of truthfulness in our politicians and trouble them for their lying ads and words? Even now, I hear people saying “Well, he did not do anything illegal.” Whatever happened to unethical and immoral? Are we willing to tolerate deceit and falsehoods regardless of the circumstances because they are not illegal.
There is a difference between justice and the law. Justice demands that people we elect are honest and ethical and moral. Any less should disqualify a person from holding a public office.
Aging Capriciously 
Dec 28, 2022 @ 09:48:25
Lying in Congress? What next, gambling in Casablanca? I’m shocked . . . JUST SHOCKED!
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 10:54:43
Majik I like your sense of humor or is it irony? Happy New Year to you and your family. John
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 11:13:21
John, I like to think of it as an ironic sense of humor.
I DO LOVE your seeming naivete which your friends know is feigned. Of course, that would all depend on what the definition of “is” is, huh? “Happy” A.D. 2023 to you and yours too indeed! “Mercy” may be more what we need, most likely. I think that you know what is liable to really hit the fan this coming year. I sure hope not, but we’ll soon see. Peace and Love, Friend.
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 15:42:27
Majik, Pope Francis actually wrote a book called “The Works of Mercy”
by Pope Francis | Aug 17, 2017/ I read it a number of years ago and it was quite good. Francis said Mercy was greater than Love if I remember right. Kind of surprised me but I guess it depends on your definition of love. Love leaves a lot to be desired when people love their cars, their shoes, their houses and even their socks. Happy New Year again. By the way, I was looking for a happy inspiring heartwarming topic to start the New Year off with and instead ended up writing about this weasel. I will have try to be more positive in 2023. John
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 16:41:33
John, why did Pope Francis say that mercy was greater than love if you can summarize the papal pontification in a sentence or two? I should just read the book myself, but I’ve got a half dozen half-started or not-yet-started tomes that I’ve yet to read from last year. For whatever it’s worth, I think that mercy is an aspect of what the New Testament terms “agape,” a love that counts the other more important than the self and is willing to die to give life. What’s the next St. Francis say? By the way, I forgive your whiff with the swing at politics or at this particular politician. I once advised Frank Schaeffer, if you know who he is, to “Fuck politics!” It messed him up as a young right-wing fire brand and is driving him nuts as a left-wing old fart. Frank is capable of writing about so many more interesting and/or beautiful things, but Trump got in his head like a COVID virus, and he can’t seem to shake the thing. You’re too good a man to let that happen to you, Pal. So glad that you landed in our bland and placid state where there’s not much to talk about politically! :v
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 18:01:41
Majik, If I remember Francis would agree with you about Mercy and I think that is why he thought it was greater than love. Too much definition for me to worry about. I think they are both important so I cannot choose or prioritize. I only wish I were better at both. As for politics, I think it could drive anyone insane. I try to balance my writings some 900 plus blogs with political satire and commentary and some feel good stuff to help make life better for people. Every time I swear off politics, some asshole like Santos does something so egregious that I cannot help commenting on. I hope I help some people to see the “truth” about the issues or people and open their eyes to their responsibilities. They say “people get the government they deserve.” Maybe we do not deserve better but maybe we just need to be more “woke.” John
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 18:11:51
As The Bard sang, “When You Gonna Wake Up?” Huh!
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Dec 29, 2022 @ 10:11:13
YOU got balls, Dr. J., BIG COJONES! I didn’t think that you’d post The Bard. Great and timely song . . . and from over forty years ago! GOOD for you. When ARE we gonna “WAKE UP?” SOON I hope! I LOVE ya, Man!
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 10:35:34
Wow, we truly have devolved into an Orwellian world.
The voters need a right of recall and a new election.
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 10:54:04
I certainly agree with that Wayne. BTW, Happy New Year to you and your family. I hope this is a better year for all of us. John
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 11:57:25
John. Hope AZ is all you hoped it would be. I am watching the Santos story with interest. No way will Republican leadership either censure him or refuse to seat him. They want to keep their razor thin majority as robust as possible. McCarthy can use seating Santos as leverage to get another vote for the Speakership. Disgraceful on SO MANY levels.
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 15:36:10
Hi Nancy, it is funny though but you are right. No way will they kick his lying butt out. I am enjoying it down here but it does take getting used to. Have a happy New Year, John
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 13:41:30
I know, it’s beyond comprehension, isn’t it?! John, if anything I think you’re being to easy on him. First of all, I’m beyond dumbfounded that the district Republican committee or whatever it’s called didn’t vet him thoroughly themselves before letting him even try to become their candidate. Is there no vetting process for prospective candidates in the US??? I’ve served on such cmttees in what we call our riding associations (and the process is called green-lighting); we go through social media, contacts, etc. And once he was a candidate why did the opposing Democrats not find any of this out? It was journalists who ferreted this out, and once it started there was no end in sight. I can’t begin to say how appallingly poor this makes the U.S. candidate selection process appear. I’m flabbergasted.
And you’ve just scratched the surface with his lies. Apparently he said he was making all this money – although there is no clarity as to how or where the money is – but he was living with his mother in her small rental apt and they were kicked out at least once for not paying the rent. Santos’s story is going to get a lot worse before it gets better! I’m particularly appalled that he’s currently living in Huntington (although outside his district), since I grew up just a few miles from there!
It will be interesting to see this saga unfold. You’ll be able to write a continuation! 😊
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 15:35:01
Hi Jane, Yes, politics makes not only for strange bedfellows but mega-strange stories. Hard to believe the chutzpah of this asshole but then it has become a signature of Trump style republicans. I think it would make a great comedy show like “Spring time for Hitler” or some other type of satire. Do you want to see if we can make a good sitcom out of “American” style politics? Have a very Happy New Year. John
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 16:51:55
Sigh. The material’s all there, but it’s too real to be funny! 😥
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 18:04:23
Jane, Kimmel, Jon Stewart, Colbert and Trevor Noah, are having a heyday with Trump and his ilk. Maybe we could grab a little of the fun. 🙂 🙂 Just a little. How about a blog about humor and politics? We could co-write? John
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Dec 28, 2022 @ 20:51:34
Hmm. Humour and politics. An interesting thought, I agree. But I’m going to have to leave this one to you. Although Santos is such unbelievably bogus, and the fact that he got so far on such an enormous pile of lies is mind-boggling, there’s too much about American politics these days (and British) that is so unfunny that I can’t go there. And it’s not my country, so I wouldn’t feel comfortable. I don’t want the U.S. to be in the situation it’s got itself into, and it’s scary and heartbreaking to make fun of, especially as a non-American. So this one I’ll leave to you and look forward to reading! I admit, it is an interesting thought!
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Dec 29, 2022 @ 13:18:52
“I did not lie says Santos, I merely chose my words poorly.” ….. 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
This makes me laugh John because how many times do we hear excuses for downright lies. Philosophical essays about the meaning of ‘truth’!
Well it’s fairly clear to me, but then again I’m just a straightforward, uncomplicated sort of person.
It’s all very sad because there are those out there who are honest, reliable and truthful who are getting branded with the same brush.
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Dec 29, 2022 @ 20:44:03
Hi Margaret, I guess I am simple too. I can’t call lying anything except what it is. Trump seems to have made lying legitimate for a public figure. How do we erase this trend or reverse it? Happy New Year to you. John
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