"I’m not sure “favoring policies that benefit you” falls into the same category of real dishonesty..."

That is exactly the point I was trying to make, in fact, it's the hidden nugget in my post (whether of gold or baser metal I leave for others to decide).

People, even honest people who are trying their best to do the "right thing", will tend to see those policies that favor them as best for the community as a whole. It is not that they are evil, or hypocritical, selfish, or that they are fooling themselves. It's just human nature. When judging the pros and cons on any question they have a stake in, they subconsciously weigh them differently.

Today, we consider slavery an abomination. But a century and a half ago a great war was fought to decide that issue. It would be absurd to believe the Union was filled with saints and the Confederacy with scoundrels. Public opinion and community pressure may have played a role in how people picked sides, but I'm sure it was mostly what people in each community perceived was best for everyone involved, even the slaves.

The major difference between those communities was that one was convinced its security, prosperity and freedom depended on the right to own slaves, the other did not.

Once you realize that, you can come to the understanding that your political opponents (even if you are convinced are totally mistaken) may not be monsters or fools. They just believe differently than you do, and they do so for a predictable and very human, (and for them, good), reason.

Incidentally, have you ever interviewed a lawyer or a mercenary on this issue?
I think the founding fathers understood this. And I think we have forgotten it.