Every political campaign does things that the other disagrees with: presidential campaigns are by definition a hard-fought competition to present a compelling case to the voters.

But this campaign season, we’re starting to see something new, something that we haven’t, quite, seen before. I’m talking about lies.

While most campaigns can be accused of hyperbole or exaggeration, there’s usually a kernel of truth somewhere in there upon which a claim is based. But recently the McCain campaign has abandoned reality, and begun to make claims that have no truth in them whatsoever. When I was a kid we called them lies.

In the latest ad, the McCain campaign accuses Democrats of killing campaign finance reform. That’s simply not true – the Republican party killed campaign finance reform on . The McCain campaign claimed that Governor Palin opposed the so-called “bridge to nowhere” when in fact she supported it, and kept federal funds allocated to Alaska for the project.

Time and again the McCain campaign is simply misrepresenting the truth – that is, they’re lying. Lying in a manner that is quickly and easily disproven, and which can be reviewed on my website.

This strikes me as a reckless and disrespectful way to treat the American voter, suggesting as it does that people aren’t going to see through these lies. It’s a desperate tactic from a party seeking to distract the public from the economic crises resulting from Republican policies.

So I’m calling upon the McCain campaign to reject lies, both its own and those of its surrogates and 527’s. Respect the American people and our most important political process by confining your claims to those that are true… or at least those that contain a kernel of truth.

C’mon John: you’re better than that!

I’m Barack Obama, and I approve this message.”

Maybe because I think I coined it.

This is only the latest lie coming from these people, as we all know, and it has permanently changed the campaign narrative. McCain’s campaign has officially become the Fast Talk Express.

Actually, Jon Stewart had a funnier line with a cute picture: the Circular Talk Express…..

FunnyD

Might that clip of the GOP debate, plus subtitles to this smear ad make a decent response ad?

FunnyD