IOKTLIYAR

by David Safier

I've added a few letters to the well known IOKIYAR. My version is IOKTLIYAR: It's OK To Lie If You're A Republican. Especially if the person you're talking to doesn't know enough to catch you at it.

It's SOP for Republicans to make stuff up when they're backed into a corner. All too often, they get away with it, because, who knows if it's true?

Latest example. Chris Matthews had Texas State Sen. Jeff Wentworth on Hardball, asking him about his legislation to allow guns on campus. When Matthews brought up the problem of "booze and guns" on campus, Wentworth said, "We don’t have bars on campus in Texas . . . No alcohol allowed."

Good answer — except that it's absolutely wrong. Media Matters did some careful investigation about the sale of alcohol on Texas campuses and awarded Wentworth a "Pants on Fire."

• University of Texas at Austin has two establishments in its Texas Union building with liquor licenses, and contractors in other areas can sell alcohol.
• Texas Tech University sells alcohol "in suites and club areas where university donors often sit in the football stadium and basketball arena."
• Texas A&M's University Club has a "Social Hour" Wednesday through Friday, advertised on its website, where it sells cheap drinks.
• Texas State University San Marcos serves beer in the student center.

No fault to Chris Matthews for not calling Wentworth for his misstatement. First, how could Matthews know? And second, what kind of responsible person just outright lies like that, without hesitation? The answer, of course, is IOKTLIYAR.