The Washington Post has a column called Fact Checker
It’s time for our annual round-up of the biggest Pinocchios of the year.
The 2016 presidential campaign has dominated our coverage of false claims. In particular, businessman Donald Trump — who has soared to the top of the GOP field — kept us busy. In the space of just six months, he earned 11 Four-Pinocchio ratings, far more than any other candidate.
Most politicians drop a claim after it has been fact-checked as false. But Trump is unusual in that he always insists he is right, no matter how little evidence he has for his claim. Frankly, it’s really not interesting to fact check The Donald, as his assertions are so easily debunked. Still, he scores a hat trick on this list.
We also devoted a number of columns this year to exploring the dubious statistics about sex trafficking of children in the United States. It’s a terrible crime, but we are giving a special award for statistical mendacity to the many politicians and organizations who have recited dubious facts about it. To their credit, some have pledged to do better.
In compiling this list, which has no particular order, we primarily focused on claims that had earned Four Pinocchios during the year. We also tried to focus on issues of broad interest. To keep it simple, we have shortened the quotes in the headlines. To read the full column, click on the link embedded in the quote.
“I watched thousands and thousands of Muslims in New Jersey cheer as the World Trade Center fell.
“DOMA had to be enacted to stop an anti-gay marriage amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“The Mexican Government is forcing criminals, drug dealers and rapists into the United States.
“Since Sandy Hook there has been a school shooting, on average, every week.
“Obama plans to admit 250,000 Syrian refugees.
“With Al Gore, I helped organize the first hearings in the Senate on climate change in 1988.
“The science on climate change is not settled because in 1970s we were worried about ‘global freezing.’
“Auto dealer markups cost consumers $26 billion a year.
“Obama never says the United States is exceptional or great.
“The Keystone pipeline is for oil that bypasses the United States.
“A man was put in prison for conspiracy just for having dirt on his land.
This last one is my very favorite.
“Hands up, don’t shoot.
The biggest Pinocchios of 2015
The biggest Pinocchios of 2015
The biggest Pinocchios of 2015
What happened to Kamala Harris' campaign?
She had the black vote all locked up.
She had the black vote all locked up.
The biggest Pinocchios of 2015
I just wish we had a list like this for members of the UK parliament.
The biggest Pinocchios of 2015
You sure that school shooting stat isn't true? Because it sure seems like it is.
The biggest Pinocchios of 2015
Bryn Mawr;1491143 wrote: I just wish we had a list like this for members of the UK parliament.
We don't need a list. All we need say is "David Cameron" (particularly with reference to his outright statement to David Dimbleby regarding Tax Credits).
We don't need a list. All we need say is "David Cameron" (particularly with reference to his outright statement to David Dimbleby regarding Tax Credits).
The biggest Pinocchios of 2015
Saint_;1491148 wrote: You sure that school shooting stat isn't true? Because it sure seems like it is.
Not me making the assertion. I have my limit of free WP access. Maybe you could link and follow their stats. I have know of that claim before and here is one source to dispute that claim.
Everytown’s ‘100 School Shootings’ List
Not me making the assertion. I have my limit of free WP access. Maybe you could link and follow their stats. I have know of that claim before and here is one source to dispute that claim.
Everytown’s ‘100 School Shootings’ List
What happened to Kamala Harris' campaign?
She had the black vote all locked up.
She had the black vote all locked up.