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“Taking into account all the health insurance expansions initiated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), an estimated 20 million Americans have gained coverage as of May 1, 2014.” —The Commonwealth Fund, from “Health Care Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act—A Progress Report,” July 2, 2014 Overview “Gained” gains an expanded meaning? The Facts On July 3, The Commonwealth Fund…
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In June 2014, FactCheck.org and PolitiFact Florida fact checked the same ad from the Florida Democratic Party. The ad attacked incumbent Florida Governor Rick Scott (R-Fla.). A comparison of the fact checks helps explain why we view FactCheck.org as the current king of the fact-checking hill, with PolitiFact occupying the other end of the spectrum. The Florida Democratic Party aired…
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“(Debbie) Wasserman Schultz said that ‘nearly 60 percent of women who use birth control do so for more than just family planning.’ … The statement is accurate but needs clarification or additional information. We rate it Mostly True.” —PolitiFact Florida’s June 30 rating of a statement by Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz Overview The “Mostly True” rating of Wasserman Schultz…
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“Palin wrote on Facebook, “As unbelievable as it sounds, your tax dollars are funding the federal government’s Zombie Apocalypse Plan. I kid you not.” … Palin’s claim is False.” —PunditFact, from a May 28, 2014 fact check of Sarah Palin Overview PunditFact’s ruling hints it used zombie-like research methods to fact-check Palin, followed by zombie-like stubbornness in refusing…
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We ran across a fact check from May of 2013 recently while looking at search hits on the 97 percent consensus claim. The Washington Post Fact Checker, Glenn Kessler, gave four “Pinocchios” to a Republican who denied a scientific consensus on the role of humans in driving climate change. Kessler’s fact check topped the list of search engine hits. That…
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“Most people on the individual market are getting more benefits under the law. At worst, they’re paying more to get more, though in many cases they’re actually paying less.” —PolitiFact, from a March 20, 2014 fact check of an Americans for Prosperity ad. Overview Is “Fact Checkers for Mendacity” the answer to Americans For Prosperity? The Facts The political…
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“The ad certainly leaves the impression (Andrea) Kodad had to give up her plan. Given the circumstances, her tale of woe from November seems rather out of date.” —Glenn Kessler, The Washington Post Fact Checker, in a column from May 7, 2014 Overview The Washington Post Fact Checker fails to offer charitable interpretation to an Obamacare attack ad, with…
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“It’s too soon to say that Obama has deported more people than any other president. But with the information available, it looks like he’s on track to do so. We rate her claim Half True.” —PolitiFact, summarizing a March 9, 2014 fact check of National Council of La Raza president Janet Murguía Overview PolitiFact’s balancing act on President Barack Obama’s…
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Jack Marshall of the Ethics Alarms blog slammed Democrats for their gender wage gap demagoguery with an April 15 post. That post directly inspires this critique of Glenn Kessler’s treatment of the gender pay gap. Kessler writes the Washington Post’s fact checks as the Washington Post Fact Checker. The key deception the Democrats use on the gender pay gap issue…
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“Barack Obama, in State of the Union, says women make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns … We rate the claim Mostly True.” —PolitiFact, from a Jan. 28 fact check of President Obama’s 2014 State of the Union speech Overview If the presidential State of the Union address is the Super Bowl for fact checkers then PolitiFact…
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