TimothySexton.com | A Lot of Learning Makes You A Dangerous Thing

Dana Perino's Video Tutorial on Lying Like a Pro

If you want to learn how to tell the biggest lies imaginable while still maintaining a disarming smile that doubtlessly convinces people you are, in fact, furthering the effort at verisimilitude, then I have discovered a terrific video learning series. And best of all: it is completely free! Lying, when you get down to it, is really nothing but acting. And acting is really nothing more than being a terrific liar. There is currently in our midst one of the most astoundingly talented actresses this country has ever produced. Watching her perform every day is better than a full scholarship to The Actor's Studio. In fact, I predict that one day we will be watching James Lipton ask Dana Perino for her favorite curse word. I predict she will answer: Bush.

Being a Bush Butt Buddy is never easy, but Dana Perino belies the complexity that comes with the job. She has risen to take on the job of Pres. Bush's press conference following the announcement that Tony Snow's cancer was no longer in remission. Unlike Tony Snow, who often looked physically ill when called upon to face the press and pass on the latest lies about...well...everything from the White House, one can be forgiven for being blinded by Perino's smile as she says the most outrageous and surreal things. There is something about a toothy smile such as Perino's that psychologically compels us to believe whatever words are spouted by the lips that occasionally hide it. To be sure, Tony Snow has a smile that can light up a room, but if you watch closely you'll notice his eyes never smile when he lies for Bush and Cheney. Ari Fleischer was never believable; he also seemed to be trying to too hard make himself believe the incredible web of deception it was his job to help spin. Scott McClellan, of course, spent most of his unhappy term as Pres. Bush's Press Liar trying vainly and desperately to explain his own words when Bush's actions would pull the carpet out from under him almost the next day. It would be interesting to go back and see just how many times Scott McClellan resolutely denied that the administration had done something or not done something one day only to have to explain why they had done or not done those very things a few days later.

None of the previous press secretaries for Pres. Bush can even begin to compare to Dana Perino. She may go down in history as the only unqualified person in the entire Bush White House to actually overachieve instead of rise to their level of mediocrity. Despite the fact that Perino's resume is nearly as thin as Harriet Miers, unlike Miers she has done her job extraordinarily well. In fact, Dana Perino is, so far, the only appointee during the last six years-and I'm including the appointed President here-to actually do their job well. It is Dana Perino's job to lie and make it look like George W. Bush and the rest of the gang that couldn't shoot straight not look like the utterly incompetent boobs they are. Well, okay, that's not really her job. Heck, God couldn't do that. Dana Perino's job is actually to appear as though she is being truthful when she asserts that this administration is bungling every decision they make. And goodness knows, with her flashing smile and eyes, she does appear to believe what she is saying. One might well compare her to Pres. Bush himself, who appears as though he believes even the most startling lies that come out of his mouth. The difference, of course, is that Pres. Bush is delusional; he actually does believe what he says. Dana Perino knows she is lying; of that there can be no doubt. But boy, for a brief millisecond you've got to admit you almost really believe it when she says things like those e-mails weren't erased on purpose.