The American people do not believe that Hillary Clinton is honest or trustworthy. Poll after poll has shown it. It is the number one thing that is dragging down her campaign. Here CBS Anchor Scott Pelley tries to throw her a lifeline and get her to say that she would never lie to the American people. It doesn’t really go very well, to the obvious astonishment of Pelley:

Pelley: You know, in ’76, Jimmy Carter famously said, “I will not lie to you.”

Clinton: Mmhmm. Well, I have to tell you, I have tried in every way I know how, literally from my years as a young lawyer all the way through my time as Secretary of State to level with the American people.

Pelley: You talk about leveling with the American people, have you always told the truth?

Clinton: I’ve always tried to. Always. Always.

Pelley: Some people are gonna call that wiggle room that you just gave yourself.

Clinton: Well, no, I’m…

Pelley: “I’ve always tried to.”

Clinton: No, I’ve always tried.

Pelley: I mean, Jimmy Carter said, “I will never lie to you.”

Clinton: You know, you’re asking me to say, have I ever, I don’t believe I ever have. I don’t believe I ever have, I don’t believe I ever will. I’m going to do the best I can to level with the American people.

There’s an awful lot of dishonesty in here, and Hillary Clinton (unlike Bill Clinton) is a terrible liar. But I do give her points for at least not trying to say with a straight face that she’s never lied to the American people, and that she won’t in the future. The key to telling a really good lie is that it has to be believable, and Clinton knows that this one would be.

So, at least a couple points for honesty about not being a completely honest person.