Saddam Hussein played a terrible game of trying to deceive the world that he had weapons of mass destruction. Everyone bought it. The United States called him on his braggadocio, and we are all paying for the results - especially the American taxpayer.
The public is very forgiving. So we're not trying to obtain some level of perfection that can't be obtained. But if you're straightforward and honest and your constituents trust you, they'll help you get through the times when you fall short.