The article concerns the matter connected with relations between political rhetoric and unethical manipulation leading to success in public sphere. The research tool are references to the tradition of classical ethics and to modern philosophers like Derrida and Hannah Arendt. The background of discussion is offensive nature of public discourse and decline of political tactics striving for the common good. I am also referring to the significance of lie in European culture from era of Homer to our times. In this context, the most difficult question to discuss is the exact definition of a political lie, because it is hard to refer a true/false dichotomy regarding political worldviews. In conclusion I am presenting the research methodology that distinguishes manipulation from sound political action.