Recently, as congressional leaders were supposed to probe Hillary Clinton to get to the bottom of what happened in Benghazi, I got an affirmation of why the congressional approval rating continues to approach single digits.

Anyone who watched this fiasco had to have their personal opinion of Congress plummet. As you might expect, “The View From the Middle” was disappointed with both sides. If nothing else, both sides were very predictable. The left was sickeningly sweet with glowing tributes to Secretary Clinton and softball questions she knocked out of the park. It was interesting Clinton had a three-ring binder (not full of women) full of information that she used to answer questions from both sides of the aisle.

Forgive me for suggesting this, but I’m guessing that while she was recovering from her fainting spells, she somehow found time to have her staff research every angle of this issue and every conceivable question.

I will guess further that she probably found the strength and time to rehearse.

On the other side, senators and representatives alike attacked and or monologued, but left little or no time for Mrs. Clinton to answer even one question. Between the five-minute questioning format, which clearly favored the secretary, and the ineptitude of the right and the deflection of the left, Hillary was the clear winner.

Unfortunately, the real losers in this debacle were the truth and the American people.

If there is any justice, however, the media will pursue two very questionable answers given by Mrs. Clinton. First, in a heated exchange with Sen.

Ron Johnson, R-Wis., about the root cause of the attack,Hillary nearly shouted, “Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they’d go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make?”

What difference does it make? Are you kidding me?

It makes all the difference in the world. In fact, THAT is exactly what this entire hearing was about. It makes a difference, because we as a country would respond very differently during and after the event if this were a terrorist act. More importantly, however, it is about honesty and trust.

Can the American people trust our government to tell us the truth, even when it is politically difficult, or will they distort the truth and manipulate the public for their benefit? It makes a huge difference.

Finally, when asked why Susan Rice did the Sunday talk shows just five days after the Benghazi attack, the secretary nonchalantly said, “Going on the Sunday shows is not my favorite thing to do.” Really? You had five months to prepare for this obvious question, and that’s the best you could come up with? America has been attacked at one of our embassies and four Americans are dead, one a dear friend of yours, and you just didn’t want to be bothered to do the right thing? Instead, you send someone who you later confirm knows nothing about the event to take your place. This seems to me to be the height of callousness, deception or incompetence.

Take your pick; there is no good choice here.

This whole scenario reminds me of the old saying, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave … ” Personally, and I think most Americans agree, I don’t blame Clinton or the president for the attack on Benghazi. It is a dangerous world. The government has done a remarkable job of protecting us since 9-11.

But once people go down a path designed to manage and manipulate rather than inform and educate, they begin to trip over their own words. In one sense, I have to agree with Hillary when she said, “what difference does it make?” The origin of this event is far less important than how it was portrayed by our leaders.

According to Pew Research, only 22 percent of Americans trust the federal government. This is well below the average for this measure and battles for the lowest rating in trust for the last half-century. Obviously, it takes more than words like “transparency” and “unity” to build trust. It takes honest and forthright actions. Here’s some advice for all of our politicians in Washington. Bite the bullet!

If you want the trust of “We the People,” tell the truth. It is easier to remember, and doesn’t require ridiculously contorted explanations for your actions.

KEVIN CANFIELD, A SPRINGDALE RESIDENT, IS A PROCTER & GAMBLE RETIREE AND AUTHOR OF “MASTERING SALES.”

Opinion, Pages 11 on 02/03/2013