# CNN calls out Trump as a liar - "Trump falsely accuses Obama of wiretapping his phone" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423 "2017-03-04T20:05:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/81 "2017-03-08T12:24:34Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > A statement from an Obama’s spokesmodel is not the same thing as a statement directly from Obama. Obama isn’t that difficult to find. Even CNN could do it, if they wanted to. Obama is too dignified to respond personally to random crazy things Trump says. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/82 "2017-03-08T12:58:49Z")
Plus I doubt that Obama could respond without openly laughing at the ridiculousness of Trump’s claim. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/83 "2017-03-08T19:21:53Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Obama is too dignified to respond personally to random crazy things Trump says. Hahahaha. So no one should dare expect Obama to respond in person because you love and admire him so much? Responses from Obama spokesmodels, and surrogates, should be sufficient for all of those non-Obama worshippers who expect him to clarify this issue. What did Nixon know, and when did he know it, oops, I mean, what did Obama know, and when did he know it. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/84 "2017-03-08T19:30:01Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Hahahaha. So no one should dare expect Obama to respond in person because you love and admire him so much? Responses from Obama spokesmodels, and surrogates, should be sufficient for all of those non-Obama worshippers who expect him to clarify this issue. What did Nixon know, and when did he know it, oops, I mean, what did Obama know, and when did he know it. _Respect_ him. And he earned it. What I’m enjoying about Trump is that he can accuse someone of something terrible, but he’s the one who comes out looking worse. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/85 "2017-03-08T19:36:11Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > No, you aren’t in favor of investigations. When the IRS wanted to investigate whether political organizations were skirting tax laws, you freaked out that the IRS was out to get the Tea Party. Hahahaha. Yes, I am in favor of investigations. As that turned out, after an actual investigation into the matter, the IRS finally admitted targeting conservative groups. The investigation took longer than it should have because Lois Lerner, and others, had repeatedly denied that it had done. It’s a good thing that someone had finally conducted an investigation to uncover the truth. \*IRS admits targeting conservatives for tax scrutiny in 2012 election The Internal Revenue Service on Friday apologized for targeting groups with “tea party” or “patriot” in their names, confirming long-standing accusations by some conservatives that their applications for tax-exempt status were being improperly delayed and scrutinized.\* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/irs-admits-targeting-conservatives-for-tax-scrutiny-in-2012-election/2013/05/10/3b6a0ada-b987-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8\_story.html?utm\_term=.97a3a6cb2f1a](https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/irs-admits-targeting-conservatives-for-tax-scrutiny-in-2012-election/2013/05/10/3b6a0ada-b987-11e2-92f3-f291801936b8_story.html?utm_term=.97a3a6cb2f1a) ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/86 "2017-03-08T19:43:29Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > This has nothing to do with what people want to believe or don’t want to believe. Belief doesn’t enter into the equation at all. It’s about events and facts, not wishes or beliefs. (post shortened) Then there should be an investigation into this matter, and all of those involved can make their statements under oath. No more “believe or don’t want to believe”. No more “wishes or beliefs”. Just the “events and facts”. I’m beginning to suspect that some people are afraid of what an official investigation might uncover. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/87 "2017-03-08T19:49:48Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > I’m beginning to suspect that some people are afraid of what an official investigation might uncover. Not me. I’m looking forward to Trump having to eat his words in front of the whole world. It’s hard to shame a man who knows no shame, but I’ll appreciate the event nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/88 "2017-03-08T19:49:56Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Hahahaha. So no one should dare expect Obama to respond in person because you love and admire him so much?.. No. He doesn’t respond because that is beneath his dignity. I don’t have anything to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/89 "2017-03-08T20:19:37Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Then there should be an investigation into this matter Agreed. And the investigation should involve a mental health professional who can determine if Trump is suffering from dementia. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/90 "2017-03-08T20:27:28Z")
> [@Evil\_Economist](#): > > Agreed. And the investigation should involve a mental health professional who can determine if Trump is suffering from dementia. [Link](https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-time-cure/201702/the-elephant-in-the-room). [Emphasis mine.] > [@](#): > > Both Gartner and Dodes agreed that as far as the depth of mental illness, this is the “worst case” scenario. “He’s just sane enough to ‘pass’ but detached from reality,” said Gartner. “So that what is ‘real’ is fluid…it’s totally malleable according to his personality disorder. And so you have someone handling the nuclear codes who is not in touch with reality and who’s paranoid. Who actually imagines he is under attack by people who are not actually attacking him. Then what you have is a very dangerous combination of someone who can act on his paranoid fantasies in a way that can have catastrophic consequences.” > > _The Elephant in the Room_ > > O’Donnell was so fascinated by the topic that the following day, he interviewed author Lee Siegel. Siegel recently wrote an article, _Avoiding Questions About Donald Trump’s Mental Health Is a Betrayal to Public Trust_, for the Columbia Journalism Review. Dodes was, once again, part of the interview. While we won’t go into detail as we did above, it’s important for us to note that Siegel wrote: **“Mental illness does not need to be professionally diagnosed. We don’t need to be told by a doctor that the guy coughing and sneezing at the other end of the train car is probably sick** , though we don’t know if it is a cold, the flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, or an allergy… When someone is compulsively lying, continuously contradicting himself, imploring the approval of people even as he is attacking them, exalting people one day and abusing and vilifying them the next, then the question of his mental state is moot. The safe thing to do is not just to stay away from him, but to keep him away from situations where he can do harm.” ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/91 "2017-03-08T20:34:24Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Not me. I’m looking forward to Trump having to eat his words in front of the whole world. It’s hard to shame a man who knows no shame, but I’ll appreciate the event nonetheless. Can’t uncover the facts without having a proper, and open, investigation. Why more of the Democrat collective aren’t demanding an investigation suggests that they may be afraid of the outcome. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/92 "2017-03-08T20:37:05Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > I’m beginning to suspect that some people are afraid of what an official investigation might uncover. I think the two people most afraid are Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/93 "2017-03-08T20:47:57Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > Did you actually read the story? They had something like eight primary sources – including the judge who would have had to issue the order and several other who would have to have known about it – say it wasn’t true. Not “no comment” or “I cannot talk about current whatever” – they said “this didn’t happen.” > > Exactly what level of investigation does this not count as? I read this post and immediately went and read the story. Because I was surprised to hear that a federal judge (especially a FISC judge) would comment on whether or not a secret FISA warrant had been issued and wondered how we knew which of the 11 FISC judges was “the judge who would have had to issue the order.” But I’m not seeing it in there. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/94 "2017-03-08T20:55:17Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Can’t uncover the facts without having a proper, and open, investigation. Why more of the Democrat collective aren’t demanding an investigation suggests that they may be afraid of the outcome. :eek: Pretty much all of the liberals are calling for investigations. But 45 says, ‘No! I’m the Messiah! The Left are just being mean to me! I won’t allow any investigations! I haven’t done anything wrong, and I won’t allow any stupid investigations uncover any of my crimes! Which I didn’t do! Because I’m the Messiah! I won, and that _proves_ I’m right! And it’s Obama’s fault! SNL is a terrible program! Sad!’ . ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/95 "2017-03-08T21:05:36Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Link](https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-time-cure/201702/the-elephant-in-the-room). [Emphasis mine.] That’s really interesting. Especially the first part you quoted: > [@](#): > > “So that what is ‘real’ is fluid…it’s totally malleable according to his personality disorder. And so you have someone handling the nuclear codes who is not in touch with reality and who’s paranoid. Who actually imagines he is under attack by people who are not actually attacking him. Then what you have is a very dangerous combination of someone who can act on his paranoid fantasies in a way that can have catastrophic consequences.” Which interestingly, and presciently, was written prior to the latest paranoid rantings of our CIC. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/96 "2017-03-08T21:11:49Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Hahahaha. Yes, I am in favor of investigations. As that turned out, after an actual investigation into the matter, the IRS finally admitted targeting conservative groups. You’re ignoring that the FBI found that the IRS also used keywords to scrutinize liberal groups, and that the FBI found there wasn’t any “enemy hunting” as you insinuate there was. But mostly, you’re against the IRS investigating whether political groups are abusing tax laws. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/97 "2017-03-08T21:14:59Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Why more of the Democrat collective aren’t demanding an investigation suggests that they may be afraid of the outcome. I haven’t received my Democrat daily hive mind email to tell me what to think about everything, but I bet you that every Democrat on the planet is fully in favor of investigating what was going on inside Trump Towers and if anyone was paying attention to it. All the President has to do is throw open the doors (of both his skyscraper and all government records) for investigators to get to the bottom of everything. How about, “What do Trump’s tax returns look like, and oh did anyone steal them?” I look forward to such an investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/98 "2017-03-08T21:15:47Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > You’re ignoring that the FBI found that the IRS also used keywords to scrutinize liberal groups, and that the FBI found there wasn’t any “enemy hunting” as you insinuate there was. He was ordered to ignore it by the right wing propaganda machine. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/99 "2017-03-08T22:43:16Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > You’re ignoring that the FBI found that the IRS also used keywords to scrutinize liberal groups, and that the FBI found there wasn’t any “enemy hunting” as you insinuate there was. > > But mostly, you’re against the IRS investigating whether political groups are abusing tax laws. Hahahaha. You’re ignoring the fact that the IRS actually did apologize for targeting conservative groups. How democratic of you. Is your false claim that I’m against the IRS investigating whether political groups are abusing tax laws based on horseshit, or bullshit? ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/100 "2017-03-08T22:50:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Pretty much all of the liberals are calling for investigations. Hahahaha. The Democrat collective is already having a hissy fit about Obama actually providing his own statements/answers instead of relying on the usual Democrat surrogates, and operatives. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423.md?page=6)