What is it the man says in the Hunt for Red October?
"I'm a politician. When I'm not kissing babies, I'm stealing their lolipops."
I make it a point to assume that a politician is dishonest. Rather dishonest than stupid. As long as it's not something REALLY serious, like proper corruption or massive criminal activities.
Two qualities will get a man elected in the states. Beliving in God, and military service. When those are requirements, I'm amazed so few people lie about military records. Though, it is obviously a point that you can prove that a politician's lying when he says he served in 'Nam, but it's damned near impossible to prove they're lying about beliving in God, just so they might get elected. Come to think of it, I guess from my POV, that's even more dishonest and disrespectul.