Getting caught in a lie calls all statements into question

CARSON CITY -- Now we know: When cornered, Gov. Jim Gibbons lies.

Then he apologizes.

When are Nevadans supposed to believe him? Most likely he's really sorry … because he was caught.

KLAS-TV, Channel 8's Jonathan Humbert caught him in a lie, and the tape of that would make a fine political ad. Gibbons first denied traveling with "platonic friend" Kathy Karrasch to the National Governors Conference in Washington, D.C. The next day, in a statement, he apologized for not being truthful. He believes his private life is off-limits.

Governor, get real. You chose to be in the public eye.

Was U.S. Sen. John Ensign's private life private, especially when questions remain about payments and official actions to help the family of his former mistress?

Was Maria Shriver talking on a cell phone while driving or parking in a red zone private, when she's the first lady of California, flouting state laws?

Was former U.S. Sen. John Edward's affair while running for president a private matter?

Political hypocrisy and lies are fair game.

In Gibbons' case, there's a certain brazenness, unless he thinks he's invisible. He was flying on Monday from Las Vegas to Reno on a flight on which there were bound to be legislators and lobbyists heading to the Tuesday special session. These are folks who would recognize the governor, and some might even recognize his "platonic friend."

Video of him in the Reno airport is bound to stick in voters' minds. Some voters don't care whether the nearly divorced governor is jaunting about with a "platonic friend" and agree it's only his business, but even they should care about the lie.

Gibbons could have told Humbert it was none of his business. Instead, the governor lied, and the camera caught him cold.

Gibbons said no government money was used to pay the expenses for his "platonic friend." Let's hope that's true.

But that's not the only accusation of lying this week.

Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, who has worked with seven governors of both parties during his political career, said Gibbons wasn't truthful about Raggio's participation in pre-session hearings.

Gibbons said in a Reno television interview that Raggio hadn't participated in most of the pre-session meetings to discuss the budget shortfall. Raggio, his integrity and work ethic impugned, said he had showed up at eight such meetings, and Gibbons himself only attended two.

So who do you believe? The guy who just admitted he lied to a TV reporter?

With two lies under his belt just this week, what else is he lying about? Is he really going to run for a second term?

Filing to run for office begins Monday and ends March 12.

I'll be surprised if he files. He has an embarrassingly pitiful campaign account. He has little in the way of a campaign staff a mere four months out from the Republican primary.

Then there's what might be the biggest lie of all.

When the session ends, fees and taxes probably will be approved to squeeze out millions more to reduce the governor's proposed cuts to education.

The governor has softened his prior vow to reject any taxes or fees. Now he'll support taxes and fees that are agreed to by the parties involved … at least that's what his staff is saying.

Faced with political pressure, whatever package the Legislature approves might become law without his signature, presuming the lawmakers approve the budget changes with a veto-proof majority.

At least that's what I hear.

But who knows if it's true? It's no lie. It's speculation.

Jane Ann Morrison's column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. E-mail her at Jane@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0275. She also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/morrison.