Article published in:
Occupy: The spatial dynamics of discourse in global protest movements
Edited by Luisa Martín Rojo
[Journal of Language and Politics 13:4] 2014
► pp. 837–856

Tactics of political lying

The Iguanas affair

| University of Wollongong
Political lying recurrently becomes a major issue in the media. Audience members seldom have first-hand information and hence rely on media stories to assess claims. Although background information may not be available, the tactics used by key players are more likely to be reported. Two models for analysing tactics are introduced, one based on methods of deception, detection and response, the other based on methods to reduce or increase outrage over something perceived to be wrong. Each model is applied to claims and counter-claims concerning the behaviour of two Australian politicians. Most of the tactics used in the case study fit the deception-detection-response model, but some do not; the outrage management model overcomes these limitations: nearly all tactics used fit into the model’s categories. Media audiences, by being aware of likely tactics, can better judge whether lying is involved.
Keywords: lying, deception, politicians, detection, tactics, outrage
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Political lying
  • 3.Night at the Iguanas
  • 4.Deception, detection and response
  • 5.Applying the deception-detection-response model
    • 5.1Methods of deception
    • 5.2Methods of detection
    • 5.3Responses to deception
    • 6.The backfire model: Managing outrage
  • 7.Applying the backfire model
  • 8.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
Published online: 20 February 2015
https://doi.org/10.1075/jlp.13.1.11mar
References
Alterman, Eric
2004 When Presidents Lie: A History of Official Deception and its Consequences. New York: Penguin. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Ariely, Dan
2012 The (Honest) Truth about Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone — Especially Ourselves. New York: HarperCollins. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Bailey, F.G
1991 The Prevalence of Deceit. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Barnes, J.A
1994 A Pack of Lies: Towards a Sociology of Lying. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Benns, Matthew
2010 “Bye Bye Belinda.” Sun-Herald 7 March; “Neal Dumped as Scandals Take Toll,” p. 11.Google Scholar
Benson, Simon
2008 “Are They Fit for Public Office?” Daily Telegraph 4 September.Google Scholar
Best, Joel
2001 Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Bok, Sissela
1978 Lying: Moral Choices in Public and Private Life. Hassocks, UK: Harvester. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Cliffe, Lionel, Maureen Ramsay, and Dave Bartlett
2000 The Politics of Lying: Implications for Democracy. Basingstoke, UK: Macmillan. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Coorey, Phillip, and Dylan Welch
2008 “Rudd Puts Neal on Good Behaviour Bond.” Sydney Morning Herald 4 September.Google Scholar
Corn, David
2003 The Lies of George W. Bush: Mastering the Politics of Deception. New York: Crown.Google Scholar
Cummings, Larissa
2008 “Iguanagate Whistle-blower Sacked.” Daily Telegraph 11 September.Google Scholar
Ekman, Paul
1985 Telling Lies: Clues to Deceit in the Marketplace, Politics, and Marriage. New York: Norton. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
2003 Emotions Revealed: Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life. New York: Times Books. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Ford, Charles V
1996 Lies! Lies!! Lies!!! The Psychology of Deceit. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Franklin, Matthew
2008, “Probe on ‘Demon’ Remark.” The Australian 18 June.Google Scholar
Galasinski, Dariusz
2000 The Language of Deception: A Discourse Analytical Study. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Goffman, Erving
1970 Strategic Interaction. Oxford: Blackwell. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Gray, Truda, and Brian Martin
2008 “My Lai: The Struggle over Outrage.” Peace & Change 33 (1): 90–113. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Hall, Ashley
2008 “Neal, Della Bosca Refused Interview: Police.” Australian Broadcasting Corporation Transcripts 1 July.Google Scholar
Hall, Louise, and Paul Bibby
2008 “Worming out of It: A Night to Forget at Iguanas …” Sydney Morning Herald 9 June.Google Scholar
Jamieson, Kathleen Hall
1992 Dirty Politics: Deception, Distraction, and Democracy. New York: Oxford University Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Jansen, Sue Curry, and Brian Martin
2003 “Making Censorship Backfire.” Counterpoise 7 (3): 5–15.Google Scholar
Jay, Martin
2010 The Virtues of Mendacity: On Lying in Politics. Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Latimer, Jon
2001 Deception in War. London: John Murray.Google Scholar
Lawrence, Kara
2008 “Police Ordered to Sort Truth from Lies.” Daily Telegraph 13 June.Google Scholar
Lewis, Michael, and Carolyn Saarni
(eds) 1993 Lying and Deception in Everyday Life. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Lubbers, Eveline
2012 Secret Manoeuvres in the Dark: Corporate and Police Spying on Activists. London: Pluto.Google Scholar
Marr, David, and Marian Wilkinson
2003 Dark Victory. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Martin, Brian
2007 Justice Ignited: The Dynamics of Backfire. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.Google Scholar
Martin, Clancy
(ed) 2009 The Philosophy of Deception. Oxford: Oxford University Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
McDonald, Paula, Tina Graham, and Brian Martin
2010 “Outrage Management in Cases of Sexual Harassment as Revealed in Judicial Decisions.” Psychology of Women Quarterly 341: 165–180. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
McDougall, Bruce, Joe Hildebrand, and Clare Masters
2008 “Della’s Friends in All the Right Places.” Daily Telegraph 11 June.Google Scholar
Mearsheimer, John J
2011 Why Leaders Lie: The Truth about Lying in International Politics. New York: Oxford University Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Miller, Gerald R., and James B. Stiff
1993 Deceptive Communication. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Moïse, Edwin E
1996 Tonkin Gulf and the Escalation of the Vietnam War. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press.Google Scholar
Moore, Barrington, Jr
1978 Injustice: The Social Bases of Obedience and Revolt. London: Macmillan. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Norington, Brad, and Matthew Franklin
2008 “Rudd Orders Neal into Anger Counselling.” The Australian 12 June.Google Scholar
Norington, Brad, and Lex Hall
2008 “Police Quiz ALP Couple on Club Row.” The Australian 4 July.Google Scholar
Norington, Brad, and Samantha Maiden
2008 “Neal in Clear with Police, but not PM.” The Australian 4 September.Google Scholar
Nyberg, David
1993 The Varnished Truth: Truth Telling and Deceiving in Ordinary Life. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Poole, Steven
2006 Unspeak™. London: Little, Brown. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Riddick, Brendan
2012 “The Bombing of Afghanistan: The Convergence of Media and Political Power to Reduce Outrage.” Revista de Paz y Conflictos 51: 6–19.Google Scholar
Robinson, W. Peter
1996 Deceit, Delusion and Detection. London: Sage. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Rue, Loyal
1994 By the Grace of Guile: The Role of Deception in Natural History and Human Affairs. New York: Oxford University Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Salusinszky, Imre
2008 “Two Versions as Della Sidelined.” The Australian 14 June.Google Scholar
Shulman, David
2007 From Hire to Liar: The Role of Deception in the Workplace. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Silmalis, Linda
2008 “Calls for ‘Bullying’ Della Bosca to Go.” Sunday Telegraph 8 June.Google Scholar
Silmalis, Linda, and Andrew Chesterton
2008 “The Night a Power Couple Came Undone.” Sunday Telegraph 15 June.Google Scholar
Tobias, Fritz
1964 The Reichstag Fire. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons.Google Scholar
Vrij, Aldert
2008 Detecting Lies and Deceit: Pitfalls and Opportunities (2nd edn). Chichester, UK: Wiley. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Walsh, Kerry-Anne
2013 The Stalking of Julia Gillard. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Weaver, Paul H
1994 News and the Culture of Lying. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Welch, Dylan, and Alexandra Smith
2008 “Police Frustrated by Long Wait for Iguana Duo.” Sydney Morning Herald 1 July.Google Scholar
Welch, Dylan, Alexandra Smith, and Andrew Clennell
2008 “Iguanas Witness Cover-up.” Sydney Morning Herald 18 June.Google Scholar
Willacy, Mark
2008 “Neal to Face Parliamentary Disciplinary Body.” Australian Broadcasting Corporation Transcripts 17 June.Google Scholar
Wilson, Lauren
2008 “Women MPs Back Neal.” The Australian 21 June.Google Scholar
Wolk, Robert L., and Arthur Henley
1970 The Right to Lie: A Psychological Guide to the Uses of Deceit in Everyday Life. New York: Peter H. Wyden.Google Scholar