Life as I Know It; Family; Lifestyle; and Healthy Living!
would you be the 'fall guy'?
Published on March 7, 2007 By foreverserenity In Blogging
I saw on the news this morning that Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby was found guilty of lying and obstructing justice in the CIA ‘leak case’. Poor Libby will be the fall guy, taking one for the team.

I was surprise at the outcome of this, I really was. Because to me it seemed he did as he was told, he was protecting his boss.

So here he was, going to have to go to jail and have this period of his life tainted all because he was doing his job.

I wondered if I was faced with something like that, of course not in such an extreme and it would not be so high profiled, would I have lied.

The more I thought about it I have lied for my bosses before! I’ve had to cover for them when they weren’t where they were supposed to be, missed a deadline or were in office and just didn’t want to talk to anyone.

I’ve also covered for people I worked with who have been in the same situations! I did it because I was a team player and I respected the people I worked for and the circumstances that occurred to have me cover for them. While my fibs didn’t hurt anyone and didn’t cause any major catastrophe, I did lie because I thought that was expected of me and because I was asked to do so.

In doing it though I didn’t expect to get into trouble for doing it and I didn’t! These days I don’t lie. I will cover for them, but instead of saying, “He’s not in”, when he’s there, I’ll say, “He’s in but he’s unable to talk to you right now”. That’s so much better! With age comes wisdom!

I would never jeopardize myself for my job, though, nor would my bosses ask me to do that I’m sure!

Have you ever done it, taken one for the team? If not, would you do it, and how far would you go, or not go?

Comments (Page 1)
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on Mar 07, 2007

Actually, he was protecting no one.  It has already been revealed that Richard Armitrage was the leaker, and that Patrick Fitzpatrick knew that within a month of his investigation.  So Libby was not protecting anyone.  And given the fact that no laws were broken (did Fitzpatrick go after Armitrage?), why would he intentionally lie?  If the jury could have heard all the evidence, they would have believed that he just simply forgot names and dates on a non-issue.

Too bad the MSM still cant get the facts right.

on Mar 07, 2007
Actually, he was protecting no one. It has already been revealed that Richard Armitrage was the leaker, and that Patrick Fitzpatrick knew that within a month of his investigation. So Libby was not protecting anyone. And given the fact that no laws were broken (did Fitzpatrick go after Armitrage?), why would he intentionally lie? If the jury could have heard all the evidence, they would have believed that he just simply forgot names and dates on a non-issue.Too bad the MSM still cant get the facts right.


Regardless of everything that lead up to it, he's the one that's taking the fall and unfortunately it looks that way.

I wonder though how many times people have had to lie because of their jobs, whether they're asked to do it directly or indirectly?
on Mar 07, 2007

Regardless of everything that lead up to it, he's the one that's taking the fall

he is taking the fall for lying to a grand jury. The same Grand Jury that Cheney testified in front of and didn't lie to. I think he was convicted because he had a shitty memory and the jury wasn't really sure what he did but seemed convinced that he needed to be convicted of "something".

on Mar 07, 2007
I'm not going to get into the politics. Instead, I'm going to answer the question:

Yes, I have taken the fall for someone. And I would do it again... but only for a few people. The last time it happened, I was working with my best friend. She did something that, in a normal person's mind, was not bad at all. However, our boss was psycho and was on the war path. I had recently gotten out of the dog house and my friend was back in. Had she gotten in trouble, she would have been fired. I, on the other hand, could handle getting in trouble again without getting fired.

Long story short, I jumped on that grenade for her.

For other people, however, not so much. There aren't many people I would risk getting fired for.
on Mar 07, 2007
I've taken the fall once or twice for very close loved ones. I did this because I love them and wanted to protect them.

As for the workplace, I honestly don't think I would. Too much of a risk for me.
on Mar 07, 2007
I think he was convicted because he had a shitty memory and the jury wasn't really sure what he did but seemed convinced that he needed to be convicted of "something".


Thank you for saying it in a very eloquent way.
on Mar 08, 2007
I think I'm a good team player, depending on the sport. I would take the fall for family and friends but that is about it.
on Mar 08, 2007
There isn't too much I wouldn't do for loved ones. But that's about the extent of it. It's a fine line between being a team player and being a patsy.
on Mar 08, 2007
I think he was convicted because he had a shitty memory


I hear ya Graywar! See, that's why it's always good to take notes or keep a diary!





Long story short, I jumped on that grenade for her.


Wow SHE, brave girl! It's good that you weighed the risk involved before jumping! I hope she didn't disappoint you and got her 'act' together or what you did was a waste. I've been down that road before!


I've taken the fall once or twice for very close loved ones. I did this because I love them and wanted to protect them.


They're lucky to have you Rose!




Thank you for saying it in a very eloquent way.


Some people just have the gift don't they!  



I think I'm a good team player, depending on the sport.


  


It's a fine line between being a team player and being a patsy.


Well said Chris!





on Mar 08, 2007
Wow SHE, brave girl! It's good that you weighed the risk involved before jumping! I hope she didn't disappoint you and got her 'act' together or what you did was a waste. I've been down that road before!


She actually hadn't done anything wrong. Our boss was constantly on her back or mine... she just took turns. I know people say that all the time when they really were doing bad things, but we honestly weren't. If we let the residents get away with a few things, she yelled at us. If we wrote them up for doing bad stuff, she yelled at us and let the residents off the hook. She yelled at us for calling the cops before we called her. She yelled at us for calling the RC on duty before we called her. She actually yelled at my friend for calling the RC on duty after calling our boss and discovering that she wasn't on campus, like she was supposed to wait for our boss to get back to deal with the volatile situation. I took the bullet when my friend said, "Maybe your parents should call and complain about the back door being broken and your safety compromised. We've tried, and we can't get it fixed." Apparently, that comment was disloyal to the school... even though our boss had made the same comment at a staff meeting the week before.

Wow. You probably didn't need to know all that.
on Mar 08, 2007
Regardless of everything that lead up to it, he's the one that's taking the fall and unfortunately it looks that way.


Regardless of the fact that no laws were broken a man will go to jail and you thnk that is good? Process crimes are difficult to win because they are so stupid. Martha Stewart was convicted of a process crime. Seh broke no laws but lied to the cops.

I wonder though how many times people have had to lie because of their jobs, whether they're asked to do it directly or indirectly?


I had an officer ask me to be a team player. I informed him the only sport I play is golf. I don't know any team sports, He went to jail after the third officer in as many years went to jail the officers figured out I did not plan to take one for the team.

on Mar 08, 2007

I'm not sure what being a team player has to do with compromising one's belief system, one's values,  and how they live their life.

I was under the impression that being a team player meant being able to get along with others on the job, brainstorm together to learn ways to make things work better, and help each other get the job done

Corporations don't give a flying fart if someone can't work anymore,  or if they have problems,  to them all that matters is accomplishing what they want.  They wouldn't have my loyalty if it meant being a liar.

My loyalties are to my loved ones and myself,  and if I was still working I wouldn't lie for anyone.  I might say "my boss isn't available right now"  however to lie goes against my upbringing and to do so would make me squirm!  Ain't worth it to me! 

on Mar 08, 2007
Your mom's the speed limit.
on Mar 08, 2007
Corporations don't give a flying fart if someone can't work anymore, or if they have problems, to them all that matters is accomplishing what they want. They wouldn't have my loyalty if it meant being a liar.


This is because you are young, too young to remember a time when there was coprorate loyalty that ran both ways. Unions destroyed this loyalty. It used to be that if you worked for a company they took care of you. By the early to mid 60's it became an us verses them mentaliity. By the 80's the greedy corporations were treatng workers like dirt, cut wages and got rid of people because there were more people looking for work than there were jobs. Now there is no loyalty so I understand why you don't understand why taking one for the team means nothing to you. But I am old enough to remember seeing how it was and how well it worked. Loyalty back then meant that you did what was best for the company because what was good for the compnay was good for you the worker. If it meant working off the clock to finish a project on time and on budget you did what you could. Because how well would you be able to feed your family if your companay lost the contract and went oug of business? Yes, it was a different time and a different way of thinking that most people today would not understand.
on Mar 09, 2007
I think corporations are acting in the best interest of themselves and job loyalty just isn't affordable. Much more so because of economic forces then "Unions". You can blame worker productivity slackness or better worker productivity on the dedication of a team, but it comes down to a variety of factors, both internal and external. If those factors don't like up favorably for that company that company loses business or it's value and the business goes elsewhere, where a better company, i.e. more profitable or productive more valuable, does the work.

"I did lie because I thought that was expected of me and because I was asked to do so."

What is expected of someone when they are asked a question is the truth. Not B.S. If you were expected to lie by someone or cover up their mistakes, then that person doesn't respect you and you should not be comfortable with that at all. There are few people and very few situations where lying is the best choice, working situations unfortunately aren't often in that circle of trust. It is far worse for you and another employee to be caught lying, or for the decision made because of your lie potentially far greater damaging to others, then telling the truth or choosing your sharing of information very wisely.

It isn't about taking one for the time, it's about doing what is right, facing the consequences either way. If you lie and are caught or lie and are not, but suspected of doing so, then the consequences are far greater then if you just tell the truth.

Mr. Libby's economy with the truth is far beyond, a white lie, it will destroy his credibility in the public eye, for the rest of his life. Beyond that, he will always be questioned behind closed doors, at employers in the future, about his honesty and ethical judgment, and that is a pretty difficult burden for any man to bear.

Simple lesson, Don't lie.
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