Of all the falsehoods and distortions in the political discourse this year, one stood out from the rest.
"Death panels."
The claim set political debate afire when it was made in August, raising issues from the role of government in health care to the bounds of acceptable political discussion. In a nod to the way technology has transformed politics, the statement wasn't made in an interview or a television ad. Sarah Palin posted it on her Facebook page. Link
The lie of the year wasn't committed by a talk show host like Rush Limbaugh (althouth it is probably already assumed most of what he says is a lie), but by the Vice President nominee of the Republican Party last year. And possibly the 2012 Republican candidate for president in 2012.
