Why do politicians call every scandal "Worse than watergate"

[Oregon Eagle Politics]

Watergate was a groundbreaking political event that shook Washington to its core, and had major ramifications up and down the allot.

A phone call is not.

https://www.businessinsider.com/carl-bernstein-trump-call-with-georgia-official-worse-than-watergate-2021-1

[Damocles]

“New York mob boss makes extortion threats against local government official: audio”

[Red Velvet]

Because they want get headlines, more attention.

[Beefalow and the Consumer]

Because nobody knows about Teapot Dome.

[Santander]

Watergate was child's play compared to Trump's scandals.

[Nightcore Nationalist]

Because Boomers think they are the centre of the universe.

[Virginiá]

Watergate was a groundbreaking political event that shook Washington to its core, and had major ramifications up and down the allot.

A phone call is not.

https://www.businessinsider.com/carl-bernstein-trump-call-with-georgia-official-worse-than-watergate-2021-1

The latter part of what you said isn't something we can really know since the election was over by the time it happened. Not really too much you can infer from the GA runoffs, either.

I agree that this is hyperbole, but still. The fact that this country is so much more polarized now and conservatives have an entire media bubble set up to essentially wave away any and all scandals for Republican presidents, it is doubtful any major presidential scandal will have electoral fallout equivalent to or greater than Watergate anytime soon.

[SWE]

Because presidents commit scandals worse than watergate regularly

[omar04]

Because Watergate has been ingrained in American culture as a horrible act of corruption and mafia style politicking and is removed enough from the political landscape of today.

[beaver2.0]

Because no one has the imagination to come up with anything new.  It's easier to recycle some old cliche.