Not Much “Fact” to Politifact
on February 15, 2012 at 1:34 am
Those of us who are here in Ohio knew this already; we’ve seen Politi”fact” twist itself into a pretzel to try to declare some of Czar Kashitch I’s idiotic mumblings to be “true” or “mostly true.” I have been advising people for awhile to quit using Politi”fact” on their blogs, or advocating it, because there is an apparent bias that shows itself more and more every day.
Well, you know, a lot of people think I’m a hillbilly with a chip on his shoulder. And they might be right. But, as of now, it isn’t just me calling out Politi”fact.”
MSNBC host Rachel Maddow on Tuesday once again blasted the fact-checking website PolitiFact.
In January, she accused PolitiFact of undermining the word “fact.”
This week, the fact-checking website drew Maddow’s ire after rating Sen. Marc Rubio’s comment that the majority of Americans are conservative as “mostly true.”
PolitiFact cited a 2011 Gallup poll, which found 40 percent of Americans described themselves as conservatives, 21 percent described themselves as liberal and 35 percent described themselves as moderate. The website also noted that Gallup has never found that a majority of Americans describe themselves as conservative.
The site was apparently conflating a majority and a plurality — which is not at all uncommon, but technically wrong.
“Seriously,” Maddow said. “Claim A, false. Claim B, false. Overall PolitiFact rating, ‘mostly true.’ PolitiFact, please leave the building. Do not bother turning off the lights when you leave. We will need them on to clean up the mess you have left behind you as you are leaving.”
So, my brethren of the left, tread lightly when using these clowns to call something a “fact.” Their “facts” are aligning more and more with the “Fair and Balanced” approach of FOX “News.”
Psst: I’m sure you didn’t mean to write, “I have been advising people for awhile not to quit using Politi”fact.’”
I saw Maddow’s segment on this also. The guy in charge at Politifact recently drew a lot of criticism for the site’s Lie of the Year Award. See PolitiFact ought to be ashamed of itself. I read the PolitiFact guy’s response to all the criticism, in which he dug in his heels and came of looking and sounding like a stubborn jerk.
After that, PolitiFact shot its credibility with me. I won’t have anything to do with it.
They had my head turning round and round after I read their “true” and “mostly true” concerning Czar Kashitch I’s assertions about matters related to job creation, turnpike privatization, promises kept, etc.
It is disgusting to see the downward slide by this once fairly-reliable site.