Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for November 04, 1984
Transcript:
Person: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Here are today's press ground rules....the president will cup his ear, and take one question before boarding the helicopter. Mark: Mr. President, you have been campaigning this fall on the themes of religion, hard work and traditional family values...and yet you yourself rarely attend church, you work part-time, and you and your children have three divorces aomgn you. Sir, how do you square all this? Rick: He doesn't have to, Mark. He doesn't konw he's being hypocritical. Man: That's right. No one cares because he seems sincere. And he seems sincere because he is. Rick: That's why Reagan could never have a Watergate, Mark. Even though nearly 50 of his appointees have been involved in scandals. Man: Exactly! When Reagan says, "They didn't do it," people actually belive it, or at least they belive he believes it, which removes personal responsibility. So they forgive him. Mark: Wow...so that's how it works. Thanks a lot. Man: Not at all. Fascinating stuff, isn't it? Mark: It really is. Ronald Reagan: Excuse me, could I say... Man: I mean you can't take what he says seriously, for god's sake. Mark: Well, see, I didn't know that.