The two worst media disasters in June

Even in unrelated situations, it seems lies and admission go hand in hand. This is certainly the case for the two public figures caught up in this past month’s biggest crises.

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This month’s two worst video media disasters couldn’t be more different from one another. One is arguably much more consequential than the other, but both (at least partially) destroyed the credibility of these two well-known public figures.

Without any further ado, here are the two worst video media disasters of June 2013:

1. U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper defends his dissembling.

Back in March, a congressman asked U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper whether the National Security Agency gathers “any type of data at all on millions of Americans.”

Clapper said “no.” But watch his body language when he said that. While answering the question, he repeatedly rubbed his forehead, often regarded as a self-soothing behavior.

When caught in a lie after Edward Snowden leaked information this month that confirmed the U.S. did gather data on millions of Americans, Mr. Clapper offered an extraordinary excuse:

“I responded in what I thought was the most truthful, or least untruthful, manner by saying ‘no.'”

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