Kellyanne Conway used the term "Alternative Facts" to explain the lies Sean Spicer told during Trumps first official press conference. To quote one of Spicer's lies, "This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration -- period -- both in person and around the globe."
As a patriotic American, I was insulted by Spicer and his lies. I saw with my own eyes the small crowds on the parade route and during the inauguration. I remember thinking, why are the crowds so small? I was looking for a reason other than the obvious, but then it became plain that people did not show up. I want truth. We want truth.
Lying about the little things is a bad sign. It points towards dishonesty in all communication. Lying about verifiable facts is an insane act when what Trump seeks is legitimacy. Lies discredit everything. How is this good strategy?
Kellyanne Conway furthered the damage while appearing on Meet the Press. She repositioned lying as an honorable act. Spicer was fighting the media's alleged biased reporting with alternative facts. Any reasonable person knows alternative facts in this context means falsehoods.
"Don't be so overly dramatic about tit Chuck. You'er saying it's a falsehood. .. Our press secretary, Sean Spicer, gave alternative facts to that."
Trump and his minions are dishonest. His first press conference fixated on trivial issues and spread deliberate falsehoods. The size of the crowd is unimportant and not an urgent issue. Crowd size does not need correction. Crowd size does not need a press conference nor does it mention in Trump’s speech to the CIA.
"I get up this morning, I turn on one of the networks, and they show an empty field. I'm like, wait a minute. I made a speech. I looked out, the field was, it looked like a million, million and a half people. They showed a field where practically no one was standing there and said ‘Donald Trump did not draw...'... Honestly it looked like a million and a half people. Whatever it was it was. It went all the way back to the Washington Monument." He added even 250,000 people would be “not bad ... but it’s a lie”.
I fear for our democracy. I fear for our country.
