Is this Reagan quote supposed to make him look good?

[Cocoa]

I keep seeing this clip played, and the commentary always suggests this was a positive for Reagan.

Am I alone in thinking, isn't this one of the most cynical things a president has ever said, and how stupid did he think we are?

"I told the American people I did not trade arms for (US hostages in Iran). My heart and my best intentions still tell me that's true, but the facts and the evidence tell me it is not."

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/06/1086460172971.html

[w13rd0]

1. It makes him appear to do something...

...Chimpy is completely unwilling to do, and that's acknowledge his mistakes...

The contrast is clear.

[DenverDem]

3. A cynical and cowardly way of admitting treasonous prevarication.

And the complicit citizens of amerikka (not the real country of America) all said, "Ahh, that's OK. You're a funda-mentalist, after all."

12 years of rage, that's my reminiscence of the raygun years. (Yes I'm including the bushlerco I administration.)

[Cocoa]

5. it seems to make Reagan look like a victim

Commentators always look like they feel sorry for him.

How very un-Reagan-like, he broke the law, a big law, and asks for sympathy.

[demnan]

2. No, but it's a famous part of his administration

sort of his, "I did indeed have sexual relations with Miss Lowensky" momment.

[DenverDem]

4. Yes, but one was an instance of consensual sex,

the other an instance of treason.

[NWHarkness]

6. Parse it

And what it amounts to is "The evidence says I did it, but I don't believe it."

[Bandit]

7. It tells of a President who was not

He doesn't know whether he did something or not because he was not in charge. He was another puppet with people behind the scenes pulling the strings. He says he would never have done such a thing but evidence proves he did. :shrug: And people eat this shit up.

[Vickers]

8. Translation: "I'd lie some more, but these goddam facts are in the way"

:crazy: