This is the unfortunate consequence of a significant portion of the US electorate not punishing, and even rewarding, politicians for simply lying, as long as it

This is the unfortunate consequence of a significant portion of the US electorate not punishing, and even rewarding, politicians for simply lying, as long as it's lies that they agree with. You now have a group of politicians who will use any scenario where there is raised attention and tension to claim their particular issues are the cause for it because their supporters have absolutely no care for the truth value of what they are saying.