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Suppose you honestly believe something.
Suppose someone asks you to lie about that thing, publicly and repeatedly, because it’s part of your job to “take one for the team.”
Should you lie?
I’d think you would first ask, “Who’s the team?”
Should I lie for God’s team?
That doesn’t make much sense. God’s never wrong, and all that, so you wouldn’t possibly have to lie on His behalf. Just speak His truth.
Should you lie on behalf of your religion’s team?
Again, the question doesn’t make much sense. There could be a mistranslation between God’s goodness and your religion’s interpretation of God’s will. But, if you’re devout, you presumably honestly believe the things that your church says, so you would not be lying on your religion’s behalf.
Should you lie on behalf of the team of all mankind?
This is harder. The team of “all mankind” might require you to say something antagonistic to the team of “all Americans.” But again, if you honestly believe that you’re saying something that benefits “all mankind,” then you’re not lying. You’re simply speaking the truth on behalf of all living creatures.
At this point, things get harder. Suppose you were asked to lie on behalf of the team of “all Americans.”
This surely happens. When the United States is at war, for example, government officials might have to deceive the public about certain aspects of war strategy. Even when the country isn’t at war, the president might have to lie to you. The United States might want to arm Ukraine not for Ukraine’s sake, but for the purpose of degrading the Russian military. It’s a tad gross to say that out loud, so perhaps the president has to lie about it. Or folks in the C.I.A. presumably regularly lie about things to advance the greater national good. I can see a reason for lying for the benefit of all Americans.
As you think about smaller teams, you surely should have less willingness to lie for a team.
So let’s think about Ronna McDaniel. When McDaniel was the chair of the Republican National Committee, she repeatedly said that violent protestors on January 6 should be freed. Now that she’s no longer chair of the RNC, she says that isn’t true. She doesn’t think those violent protestors should be freed, and the only reason she previously lied is because “When you’re the RNC chair, you kind of take one for the whole team.” She also lied on behalf of the team about whether the 2020 presidential election had been stolen.
Who’s the team? Why would anyone think this sentence makes any sense?
McDaniel didn’t say that she lied for God, for mankind, or even for the country.
She knowingly lied for the benefit of the Republican Party, presumably to the detriment of God, mankind, and the country.
Does that make sense?
The truth is that McDaniel lied to benefit herself.
She liked being the chair of the RNC. She was a powerful person. People sought her opinion. The job was cool.
To keep that job, she knowingly lied.
Indeed, she actually lied not for the Republican Party, but for Donald Trump, a man who lies as easily as he breathes, and has been found liable for rape and indicted for multiple felonies.
Is this noble?
Is this something that an intelligent person would say to a nationwide television audience?
How’s this for a better rule? If you’re required to lie for the benefit of God or mankind or country, we’ll accept that.
If you’re required to lie because you’d like to keep your cushy job, we’ll be less forgiving.
Think about that, McDaniel. And think about that, all Republican members of Congress.
To lie in this situation is not noble; it’s a disgrace.
Mark Herrmann spent 17 years as a partner at a leading international law firm and later oversaw litigation, compliance and employment matters at a large international company. He is the author of The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law and Drug and Device Product Liability Litigation Strategy (affiliate links). You can reach him by email at inhouse@abovethelaw.com.
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