During the current immigration debate, a lot of conservatives have suddenly discovered that the president sometimes uses deception as a public relations tactic. Jonathan Chait observes:
This outbreak of unflattering conservative insights suggests two possibilities. The first is that, until this moment, Bush never used dishonest tactics to frame his views and those of his critics, and conservative activists never displayed a fanatical aversion to compromise. Somehow, though, Bush and the conservatives are suddenly using tactics against each other that they were too honest and thoughtful to use against the Democrats.
The second possible interpretation is that they’ve been like this all along, and the conservatives are only starting to notice because for once they’re on the receiving end.
I know which interpretation I’m going with.
It sure is hard to decide.
