The Daily Press (Tahlequah, Okla.) on how we can’t let politicians manipulate Constitution:

Those of a certain age will remember commercials in the ’70s and ’80s featuring the late, great Ella Fitzgerald: “Is it live or is it Memorex?” AI via Google explains it this way: “The slogan was used to highlight the high quality of Memorex audio cassette tapes, suggesting the recorded sound was so realistic it could be mistaken for a live performance.”

Few saw danger in a recorded performance that “sounded” live. But that was audio; visual is different.

Many people can’t distinguish “real” videos and photos from those generated or enhanced by AI. House cats do not weigh 50 pounds, and a 200-foot white shark did not swallow a small fishing boat off the coast of North Carolina.

What may not be obvious is the prevarication by most politicians, and the lengths they’ll go to malign their opponents.

Anyone who can’t tell when a politician is lying, or accepts everything one says at face value, can be fooled by anything concocted by AI.

Such naive folks should protect their assets, because eventually, they’re going to “get took.”

The vast majority of politicians are so blatantly evil or corrupt it’s stunning that anyone supports them.

Yet they do, because they can’t tell fact from fiction, thanks to the internet, social media, and now, AI.

It’s not a bad idea to consider giving incumbents — most of whom are more intent on preserving their own power than serving constituents — the boot. But voters must at least stop accepting lies just because they want them to be true.

And they need to start calling politicians on their fibs. That means the media, when they print quotes or other material that’s untrue, should point out the falsehoods.

Candidates reveal their commitment to truth by other politicians they support.

If a candidate is praising a politician who is engaging in unconstitutional behavior, voting for the opponent is the best option. and all Americans must familiarize themselves with the Constitution, so they’ll know which politicians uphold it, and which ones aim to tear it down.

Any politician who tries to circumvent it — for instance, by suppressing peaceful protests — is authoritarian, and thus unAmerican.

This is why it’s important to understand what’s real and what isn’t. The protests in Los Angeles are an example.

Many of the troops that were dispatched to LA are likely uneasy, feeling their mission isn’t exactly lawful, as was the case in the ’60s.

It’s critical to comprehend the motives for what’s happening. Americans must bear in mind that if troops can be managed this way using the claim we’re “at war,” then elections can be suspended for the same reason — especially by someone who doesn’t acknowledge the co-equal branches of government.

Protesting in and of itself is not an act of war; it’s a First Amendment right.

A recent example was the “No Kings” events earlier this month, at which participants were advised that if someone starts causing trouble, they should sit down with their signs immediately so police can tell who’s creating problems.

People of goodwill, who understand and uphold the Constitution, were invited to participate in the “No Kings.”

In fact, Congressional term limits are becoming increasingly attractive. This is a notion all of us can get behind, regardless of party.