Here are a few phrases that became part of the lexicon of pop culture because they all stem from the criminal activities of one man.
"cover up" -- Republican President Richard Nixon (AKA the dumbest president in American history), had the courtesy to record his criminal activity so that his "cover up" efforts were futile. When you think "cover up," you automatically conjure up that infamous "I am not a crook" lie.
"(whatever)gate" -- Whenever a real or imagined scandal pops up, the media immediately links it to "Watergate," the Republican scandal that brought down a president. When you think "Watergate," you automatically picture a bunch of bungling republican burglars getting caught in the act.
"plausible deniability" -- A Reagan phrase. Reagan learned from the criminal activities of the dumbest president in American history NOT to record his crimes. Let somebody else do it so he would have "plausible deniability."
All linked to the republicans and the dumbest president in American history, Richard Nixon. Whenever the scandal mongers from the right want to create a phony scandal, variations of these phrases are used. I say keep the phony scandals coming. That way the public will always be reminded that the REAL scandals emanate from the Party of No Principles, No Morality, No Ethics, and No Integrity. Keep them phony scandals coming, I say.