PolitiFact for Pundits

[sunzt]

Finally, someone is holding people on TV, radio, and internet accountable for their words. Politifact is now expanding to cover pundits from all ends of the political spectrum. Their analysis of statements include thorough analysis and explanation Here's some examples:

http://www.politifact.com/subjects/pundits/

Lawrence O'Donnell: ""The IRS has been specifically forbidden ... from ever actually pursuing either civil or criminal remedies" for people who don’t purchase health insurance." - Mostly True, IRS left mostly toothless

Hannity: "In 45 out of 50 states, on average men are seeing their premiums double, going up 99 percent. Women up 62 percent." -Mostly False, applies limited findings to everybody

Sam Stein: "No one beta-tested" healthcare.gov." - Mostly True, not a google-like launch

Ann Coulter: "No doctors who went to an American medical school will be accepting Obamacare." - Pants on Fire, "outrageous, ridiculous, ludicrous"

Newt: "(Obamacare) is a bill which has never once had a majority of Americans favor it." - Mostly true, yes but majority favors most elements of reform

Stephanie Cutter: "One out of 10 minimum-wage workers in the U.S. live in Texas." - True, nearly 1 in 5

Van Jones: "1 percent of candidates that (the National Rifle Association) endorsed in 2012 won." - False, well over half

 

[umbrella39]

Might be easier to print their statements that have no spin/lies instead ...

 

[Matt1970]

That site is somewhat fair however the always stick in their spin. Case in point:

Newt: "(Obamacare) is a bill which has never once had a majority of Americans favor it." - Mostly true, yes but majority favors most elements of reform

 

[Moonbeam]

This will be a great place for Liberals to go to find errors in their thinking and a great place for Conservatives to go to prove Liberal media bias.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

That site is somewhat fair however the always stick in their spin. Case in point:

Newt: "(Obamacare) is a bill which has never once had a majority of Americans favor it." - Mostly true, yes but majority favors most elements of reform

Please explain how that is spin. When asked about "Obamacare" the response is negative. When asked about the individual reforms in Obmacare the response is very favourable to each.

 

[ivwshane]

That site is somewhat fair however the always stick in their spin. Case in point:

Newt: "(Obamacare) is a bill which has never once had a majority of Americans favor it." - Mostly true, yes but majority favors most elements of reform

Yep they always insert their facts I mean spin! /shakes head

 

[sunzt]

That site is somewhat fair however the always stick in their spin. Case in point:

Newt: "(Obamacare) is a bill which has never once had a majority of Americans favor it." - Mostly true, yes but majority favors most elements of reform

Republicans also want health care reform.

 

[Matt1970]

I don't mean to rehash this one again but here is one they failed on miserably:

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin...arack-obama-break-promise-keep-gm-plant-open/

"And I believe that if our government is there to support you, and give you the assistance you need to re-tool and make this transition, that this plant will be here for another hundred years. The question is not whether a clean energy economy is in our future, it’s where it will thrive. I want it to thrive right here in the United States of America; right here in Wisconsin; and that’s the future I’ll fight for as your president."

That's a statement of belief that, with government help, the Janesville plant could remain open -- but not a promise to keep it open.

Obama didn't say that with government assistance, which they got, the plant "could" stay open, he said it "will" stay open. That's a promise.

 

[Matt1970]

Republicans also want health care reform.

That would be spin.

 

[sunzt]

That would be spin.

......um ok..... you're saying Republicans don't want healthcare reform? Are you serious? Are you saying the republicans don't want to improve healthcare through reforms?

 

[Matt1970]

......um ok..... you're saying Republicans don't want healthcare reform? Are you serious? Are you saying the republicans don't want to improve healthcare through reforms?

sigh......

 

[MomentsofSanity]

I don't mean to rehash this one again but here is one they failed on miserably:

http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin...arack-obama-break-promise-keep-gm-plant-open/

"And I believe that if our government is there to support you, and give you the assistance you need to re-tool and make this transition, that this plant will be here for another hundred years. The question is not whether a clean energy economy is in our future, it’s where it will thrive. I want it to thrive right here in the United States of America; right here in Wisconsin; and that’s the future I’ll fight for as your president."

That's a statement of belief that, with government help, the Janesville plant could remain open -- but not a promise to keep it open.

Obama didn't say that with government assistance, which they got, the plant "could" stay open, he said it "will" stay open. That's a promise.

Right... If you ignore where he said "I believe that". But I guess stating a belief isn't really a statement of belief.

 

[Matt1970]

Right... If you ignore where he said "I believe that". But I guess stating a belief isn't really a statement of belief.

I want it to thrive right here in the United States of America; right here in Wisconsin; and that’s the future I’ll fight for as your president

And that part? Still waiting for that fight.

There is a huge difference between saying I believe I want to help out the auto industry and I believe if we help you that your plant will stay open.