Haunting campaign promises scarier than any Halloween decoration: Column

A Washington Post column warned Wednesday of something even scarier than Halloween lawn ornaments: campaign promises that can't be kept.

Garrett Graff, author and director of cyber initiatives at Aspen Digital, noted this is a spooky time of year.

"It’s promise-making season, when candidates are making all sorts of crazy, unkeepable vows about what they’ll do — and won’t do — if elected. Inevitably, though, when the winners settle into their new job, some will realize they’ve made promises they can’t keep," he warned.

This time of year is "dangerous" for leaders, he said, as once the public loses its faith, it's difficult to earn again.

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Graff cited famous "broken promises" including President George H.W. Bush’s vow: "Read my lips: No new taxes." The pledge later led to a "brutal" New York Post headline: " “Read my Lips … I Lied!”

John H. Sununu, Bush’s first White House chief of staff, told Graff that leaders ought to be specific in their campaign promises, but leave wiggle room.

"Bush’s political nightmare might have been avoided had he pledged to not raise income taxes for everyone or made clear there might be exceptions. That way, the ambiguity is clear — and no one has to read, much less interpret, anyone’s lips," wrote Graff.