Republican Congressman: Middle Eastern Culture ‘Includes Lying’
California Republican Duncan Hunter would be wise to never aim to be Secretary of State.
“In the Middle Eastern culture, it is looked upon with very high regard to get the best deal possible no matter what it takes — and that includes lying,” Hunter said in an interview with C-SPAN. “That’s one reason that these Gulf states like to work with the United States — because we’re honest and transparent and we have laws that we have to live by.”
The host then asked Hunter to clarify, “Are you saying all Middle East countries are this way? Willing to lie in negotiations?”
Hunter explained that Middle Eastern politicians negotiate the same way they would barter for goods.
“It is is in the Middle Eastern culture to get the best deal that you can whether you’re at the marketplace arguing over buying vegetables or buying shoes at the marketplace, to do anything that you can to get the best deal,” he said. “They like to barter there.”
