# 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:** 6
**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, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/101 "2017-03-08T22:51:57Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > I think the two people most afraid are Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Does that mean you are in favor of a complete, open, and honest investigation? ---
**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, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/102 "2017-03-08T22:53:08Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > 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. Cite for the hissy fit? ---
**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, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/103 "2017-03-08T23:00:27Z")
nm ---
**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, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/104 "2017-03-08T23:01:33Z")
nm ---
**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, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/105 "2017-03-08T23:06:23Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Cite for the hissy fit? It’s what Obama does. You know, because he’s a Secret Muslim from Kenya, an’ shite. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/106 "2017-03-08T23:07:40Z")
> [@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. I’m sure **Doorhinge** would have no problems with liberal groups being investigated. ---
**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, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/107 "2017-03-08T23:23:33Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I’m sure **Doorhinge** would have no problems with liberal groups being investigated. And you’d be wrong. Probably somehow related to your inability to capitalize names properly. But it is the best you can do. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/108 "2017-03-08T23:25:46Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > And you’d be wrong. Probably somehow related to your inability to capitalize names properly. But it is the best you can do. I capitalized your name _perfectly_. ---
**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, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/109 "2017-03-08T23:27:44Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I capitalized your name _perfectly_. And you’d still be wrong. ---
**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 9, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/110 "2017-03-09T00:55:37Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Does that mean you are in favor of a complete, open, and honest investigation? Trump would never go for that. Not volunteeringly, anyway. Unless it deflected attention from some other unhinged thing he tweeted. And then, the investigation would be rigged, rigged I tell you. ---
**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 9, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/111 "2017-03-09T01:36:40Z")
Michael Hayden, formerly CIA director and NSA director, was on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert yesterday. Among other things, they discussed Trump’s allegation. Hayden pointed out that after Nixon, the authority to issue wiretaps was given to the courts (presumably the FISA courts). He also mentioned that if Trump wanted to know whether the eavesdropping occurred, he just had to ask the FBI director or the director of national intelligence. So why didn’t he do that instead of tweeting in response to a news story? ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/112 "2017-03-09T02:52:56Z")
Think how much funner life would be if we had a president that believed everything he read in the Weekly World News instead of some nut wing political conspiracy rag. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/113 "2017-03-09T03:04:43Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > …tweeting in response to a news story? I assume by “news story” you mean uninformed but passionately vitriolic partisan rant based on the thinnest sliver of just barely tangentially related information. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/114 "2017-03-09T03:46:53Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > He also mentioned that if Trump wanted to know whether the eavesdropping occurred, he just had to ask the FBI director or the director of national intelligence. So why didn’t he do that instead of tweeting in response to a news story? Because that approach leads to facts and fails to support outrage. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/115 "2017-03-09T03:49:47Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Michael Hayden, formerly CIA director and NSA director, …also mentioned that if Trump wanted to know whether the eavesdropping occurred, he just had to ask the FBI director or the director of national intelligence. So why didn’t he do that instead of tweeting in response to a news story? Because he doesn’t give a rat’s ass whether it’s true or not. Like the birther thing, he just wants the story to simmer for the entertainment pleasure of his sycophants. He’d also like Obama to jump in the mud pit and wrestle him, but Obama has too much 1) class and 2) good sense to take the bait. And, **Dewey Finn,** you’re doing it, namely, asking a reasonable question. Won’t get very far in Trump World with that tactic. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/116 "2017-03-09T04:01:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Michael Hayden, formerly CIA director and NSA director, was on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert yesterday. Among other things, they discussed Trump’s allegation. Hayden pointed out that after Nixon, the authority to issue wiretaps was given to the courts (presumably the FISA courts). He also mentioned that if Trump wanted to know whether the eavesdropping occurred, he just had to ask the FBI director or the director of national intelligence. So why didn’t he do that instead of tweeting in response to a news story? > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Because he doesn’t give a rat’s ass whether it’s true or not. Like the birther thing, he just wants the story to simmer for the entertainment pleasure of his sycophants. He’d also like Obama to jump in the mud pit and wrestle him, but Obama has too much 1) class and 2) good sense to take the bait. > > And, **Dewey Finn,** you’re doing it, namely, asking a reasonable question. Won’t get very far in Trump World with that tactic. Indeed. Trump doesn’t even have to call anyone, because he already knows it’s not true since he just made it up out of thin air. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/117 "2017-03-09T17:41:20Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Trump would never go for that. Not volunteeringly, anyway. Unless it deflected attention from some other unhinged thing he tweeted. And then, the investigation would be rigged, rigged I tell you. Does that mean you are in favor of a complete, open, and honest investigation? ---
**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 9, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/118 "2017-03-09T17:45:39Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Does that mean you are in favor of a complete, open, and honest investigation? My god man, everyone wants that. Except Trump and his fellow travelers. ---
**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 9, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/119 "2017-03-09T17:46:20Z")
The wiretapping was supposedly done by the FBI under a FISA warrant. And given that James Comey was the FBI director all last year and is still FBI director, why doesn’t Trump just ask him directly? ---
**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 9, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cnn-calls-out-trump-as-a-liar-trump-falsely-accuses-obama-of-wiretapping-his-phone/781423/120 "2017-03-09T17:48:54Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Does that mean you are in favor of a complete, open, and honest investigation? Sure, after a smidgeon of evidence is offered. Although this thread has made it clear to me that an expensive investigation could be avoided if Trump were to simply ask the intelligence agencies about it. That won’t cost a dime, and Trump didn’t do it before he tweeted it. [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=5) [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=7)