Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Thursday, May 30, 2013

PolitiFACT: Republicans Lie Three Times More Than Democrats


And water's wet.

And the sun rises in the east.


This is a fact that makes some on the right very uncomfortable, so much so that some of them will contend that PolitiFact is biased, but that doesn't change the facts.

It's a miserable situation for all citizens that politicians on the right and left lie and distort the truth--but the sanctimony that comes from the right about it is risible when we look at the facts:  IT IS THEY who excel in this nasty business. But don't confuse them with the statistics that back this claim up--that will sink them into more painful cognizant dissonance.  

So many of our rightwing bretheren listen to charlatans and demogogues like Limbaugh, Beck, Palin, Savage, Alec Jones, and Mark Levin that their minds have been polluted in falsehoods and distortions that they desperately WANT to believe, and they are unable to see the lies for what they are--bread and butter for the miscreants who peddle their Lies for Lucre.  One bit of good news for the political arena is that one of the biggest liars on the right, Michele Bachmann, will no longer contribute to the GOP's sad record of being bigger Pinocchios than the Democrats.







PolitiFact Says Republicans Lie Three Times More Often Than Democrats, According To New Study 

Republicans lie more — at least according to the Tampa Bay Times’ PolitiFact. 

A new study found that the fact-checking operation finds Republicans to be less trustworthy than Democrats, based on the number of false claims made during President Obama‘s second term. The study, by Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA) at George Mason University, took into account 100 PolitiFact-checked statements made by Democrats (46 claims) and Republicans (54 claims) in the first four months of Obama’s second term. 

The results? PolitiFact deemed Republicans were loose with the facts three times as often as their left-leaning counterparts. PolitiFact rated 32% of Republican claims as “false” or “pants on fire,” compared to 11% of Democratic claims – a 3 to 1 margin. Conversely, Politifact rated 22% of Democratic claims as “entirely true” compared to 11% of Republican claims – a 2 to 1 margin. A majority of Democratic statements (54%) were rated as mostly or entirely true, compared to only 18% of Republican statements. Conversely, a majority of Republican statements (52%) were rated as mostly or entirely false, compared to only 24% of Democratic statements. 

CMPA President Dr. Robert Lichter summed it up thusly: “While Republicans see a credibility gap in the Obama administration, PolitiFact rates Republicans as the less credible party.” 

The findings were also consistent with the CMPA’s previous study that found PolitiFact (also known as the bane of Rachel Maddow‘s existence) gave more negative ratings to the Romney campaign than to the Obama campaign during 2012.

Yes, that's correct.  The Rachel Maddow Show DISLIKES with a passion PolitiFact, and Rightwingers believe PolitiFact is biased.  So PolitiFact is doing its job just fine.  Any group that can tick off the left and right has a lot of credibility.

Anyway, the next time you hear BENGHAZI!  BENGHAZI! BENGHAZI!  Remember this:

The right lies THREE TIMES MORE than the left.


19 comments:

Jerry Critter said...

The other interesting fact that you present is that there are five times as many true statements from the democrats as false statements (55% vs 11%) while the republicans have about half as many true statements as lies (18% vs 32%).

S.W. Anderson said...

The political right must lie a lot, for several reasons.

First, their ideology is wildly out of step with what most 21st-century Americans believe and want, albeit some features of it are popular in theory if less so when put into practice. For example, some want smaller, less-costly government -- bathtub size, preferably. Yet, if disaster strikes their neighborhood or community, Uncle Sam should get there on the double, checkbook open and ready to provide all the help that's needed.

Several decades ago, with lots of help from charismatic charlatans like Ronald Reagan, Jack Kemp and Milton Friedman, along with lavishly funded propaganda mills like CATO and the Heritage Foundation, plus well-paid propagandists like Limbaugh, conservative Republicans managed to rehabilitate the trickle-down economics scam. They thus duped a new generation of Americans that had no personal recollection of the Great Depression and what the hard, rough, heartless edges of uncontrolled free-market capitalism can do to those who aren't wealthy and well connected. It's taken a long time, but now, after George W. Bush's reign of error, the biggest economic collapse in 80 years, refractory high unemployment and revelations about how vulnerable they are because Republicans have spent 30 years stripping away hard won and necessary New Deal reforms and protections, most Americans get it that they've been lied to, sold out and are screwed, blued and tattooed. And, most have become aware of who they have to thank for what's happened to them.

Republicans' brand of public policy is poison for those who aren't rich and powerful. When all you've given the public is misery and loss, you have to lie. You have to desperately hold on to the relatively small population segment of hard heads who believe selfishness is a virtue that will someday make them rich too, plus those who boil with resentment over gains made by people they're prejudiced against, and religious zealots who believe Republicans will return America to the fundamentalist Christian-or-else land of milk and honey it never really was and never should be.

S.W. Anderson said...

Re: Rachel Maddow's problem with Politifact. She presented two or three instances where Politifacts' finding were at odds with the facts as determined by other reliable, verifiable sources. Maddow also reported how the guy in charge at Politifact dug in his heels and insisted his site was right and everyone else was wrong, verifiable sources and facts notwithstanding.

Maddow wasn't alone in pointing out Politifact's errors and reaction to having its findings called into question, BTW.

I see what happened as a dustup, not a vendetta. I haven't heard Maddow mention Politifact in many months. I suspect the site is being more careful. If so, Maddow and other who pointed out its problems did Politifact a favor.

Les Carpenter said...

"Any group that can tick off the left and right has a lot of credibility."

Hm, I think you're on to something there Shaw. :-)

Shaw Kenawe said...

I'm reposting this nonsensical comment from Free Thinke's blog here because I no longer want to engage his trolls there:

"Spidey said...
Shaw Kenawe you and your friends have essentially made conservative politics a joke."

No. You and your friends have done an excellent job yourselves in that department. We just report on it.


Spidey: "You think that Rush Limbaugh’s listeners are mindless “dittohead morons,”


Why yes, yes we do!


Spidey: "...but you have never doubt[sic] anything that you heard from Michael Moore."

Michael Moore has never been featured on this blog. You don't know what you're talking about, which is part of the problem you whined about above: "...you and your friends have essentially made conservative politics a joke."


Spidey: "Well get ready for a wild ride, because us Conservatives aren't gonna take YOUR crap any longer.. No matter what Mr. Thinke says or thinks!"

It is not I, Mr. Spidey, that is giving you "crap." It's the American people. They rejected your conservative presidential nominees, TWICE. And a majority of Americans dislike and distrust not just the Tea Partiers, but the House Republicans as well. It appears it is the American people who no long take "crap," especially from your pals.


Spidey: "From your diary blog it is obvious you know jack shit about conservatism. When we are pissed, we don’t let up one iota."

Yes. It has been extremely in structive to watch you fellas and gals go postal over one little liberal blogger. I must have an enormously unnerving impact on all of you, since you haven't the self-control to stop talking about me and my blog and what I write there.

Oscar Wilde, bless him, once wrote that the only thing worse than being talked about is NOT being talked about.

As you and your besotted companions continue to besmirch me on other conservative blogs, you have made me a hero to other liberals, since anyone who can drive conservative to such heights of frothing madness must be pretty damn good at what she does.


Spidey: "Mr. Thinke may love you but Do NOT presume that he speaks for me, or anyone else."

Oh dear heavens, I would never presume that. Mr. Free Thinke's prose is far to excellent to ever be mistaken for yours--or anyone else who spittle-flecks like you all over the blogsphere.

Good-bye, Spidey, and have a nice day.

okjimm said...

well, some Republicans are unable to discern fact from fiction, it is what it is.

Gees, I would not worry, or attend to much of what is said on Blogs like Thinke's . Decidely third rate material. Water, like mud, it seems, finds it's own level.

skudrunner said...

Shaw

"the personal insults against her are much, much worse, uncalled for, and ungentlemanly toward the weaker sex."

Obviously written by someone who has never been in a relationship much less married.

I do find it amusing that we have come to defending how much a politician lies based on our political leanings. Is it a lie or just not true when a politician makes a statement that cannot be supported by fact. If bho says he will close gitmo in the first year and doesn't, is that a lie. Is it a lie when obiden makes the statement that the republicans want to keep you in chains.

Both sides will manipulate the truth to their own advantage, some call it a lie some call it politics. I would like to see us hold our elected elite to a higher standard but that seems to an unreachable goal.

Shaw Kenawe said...

To answer your question skudrunner:

President Obama’s renewed calls to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba are already being met with promises of further stonewalling from Republicans in Congress, before a new plan can even be put forward.

It’s not new that Republicans oppose the idea that closing a prison that has been for years now a symbol of U.S. disregard for human rights would be in the interests of the United States, having blocked administration proposals several times. And now, Republicans are already shooting down Obama’s renewed push, mostly based on previous proposals to transport detainees to “supermax” prisons in the United States:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY):

“There is wide, bipartisan opposition in Congress to the president’s goal of moving those terrorists to American cities and towns.”

Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC): “[The detainees are] individuals hell-bent on our destruction and destroying our way of life.”

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL): “All of the prisoners housed at Guantanamo are terrorists. They pose an obvious threat to our national security, and they should not be allowed to set foot on our soil.”

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN): “The American people expect us to keep them safe. I have yet to hear one good reason why moving these terrorists from off our shores right into the heart of our country makes us safer.”

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): “The president needs to realize that the Global War on Terrorism did not end with the killing of Osama bin Laden. The Boston bombing is a sharp reminder that there is still a clear and present threat to our American way of life from those that mean us harm.”

Rep. Jimmy Duncan (R-TN): “[Detainees] are not U.S. citizens and should not be given the same rights and privileges as if they were. [...] I do not support any plan for these prisoners that puts them on U.S. soil.”

Shaw Kenawe said...

"the personal insults against her are much, much worse, uncalled for, and ungentlemanly toward the weaker sex."

Where did that quote come from and to whom was it referring?

Weaker sex? Really.

Ever give birth to a 9 lb. baby?

And live to talk about it?

A. Reader said...

Shaw,the Hate Fest over at Free Thinke's blog continues today.

You, young lady, have turned the conservatives into howling toothless wolves. It is surprising that someone with just a blog could have such an impact on those low-lifes who continue to trash you at FT's blog.

Never mind a blog, you should have your own cable show.

Anyone who stirs up that sort of hate must be telling the truth.





KP said...

@Shaw "Ever give birth to a 9 lb. baby?"

No shit. My amazing wife humbled me by two births. My mom helped me be 10lbs 12ozs. Bless her.

Me? When I get the flu, I am really sick. I am disabled. Men just get really, really sick.

Women only gat a little sick and just keep on ticking :-)

skudrunner said...

"the personal insults against her are much, much worse, uncalled for, and ungentlemanly toward the weaker sex"
It was aimed at you in blog you referred to.

Can't even say something nice about you/women without getting attacked.


“There is wide, bipartisan opposition in Congress"
And here I thought bipartisan was both parties. Guess Webster is wrong. The problem is moving detainees/terrorists/murderers to the US is no one wants them in their neighborhood.
"As noted by the Daily News, “Congress — including a Democrat-run Senate — has stymied Obama’s 2008 campaign pledge to shut down the facility [Guantanamo].
Kinda punches a hole in your it is the republicans.

S.W. Anderson said...

“There is wide, bipartisan opposition in Congress to the president’s goal of moving those terrorists to American cities and towns.”

Great example of Republican lying and distorting in McConnell's statement. "To American cities and towns" makes it sound as though Obama is going to distribute bloodthirsty terrorists to Main Street in East Jesus, Neb., Outhouse, N.M., Floodwater Flats, Mo., and so on. As opposed to sending them to well-guarded federal prisons.

The other Republicans quoted are just as bad. It's been established that not all Gitmo prisoners are or ever were terrorists. At least, some weren't when taken there. After being incarcerated with actual jihadist murderers this long, the innocent ones might have decided they have a score to settle by now. But when captured they were caught up in simple-minded dragnets by soldiers who handed out hundred-dollar bills to Afghan informants, some of whom likely fingered an innocent person they had a grudge against. When you pay to get informants to inform, you incentivize lying for profit. And, when you put ordinary soldiers in a position of doing detective work they're not trained for, you can expect lousy results.

Those at Gitmo who've been investigated and found to be innocent shouldn't spend the rest of their lives there because of U.S. blundering or because Republicans want to use them as political footballs.

There's better reason to believe there will be more Benghazi-type killings because of our ongoing injustice at Guantanamo than that there will be more terrorist attacks because we turned jihad-crazed killers loose on the streets of American cities. Especially since no one has suggested turning even the innocent prisoners loose on the streets of American cities, much less turning actual terrorists loose there.

Shaw Kenawe said...

skudrunner: "Can't even say something nice about you/women without getting attacked."

No. Female sex is not the "weaker sex." That was a condescending remark. And it is a remark people of a much older generation make.

How would men like to constantly be referred to as the murderous sex, since men murder and cause mayhem in the world far more than do women. They are the destroyers of life; women give life.

Shaw Kenawe said...

skudrunner, see S.W. Anderson's reply to the silly idea that Gitmo detainees would be put in you local prison.

okjimm said...

ya, what RN said re:

"Ever give birth to a 9 lb. baby?

And live to talk about it? "

Broke me up! My Ex.... to this day...gets 3 Mother's Day cards....One on the 'holiday' and one each on both of the Kid's birthday's.

As I said right after our first was born... they don't call it 'Labor' for nothing!

OH, and SW was Spot on. Seems to be another political strategy, .... obstruct progress, then blame Obama for not making progress.
nice post.

skudrunner said...

Shaw,

Brush the chip off your shoulder and read what I said. Anyone who thinks women are the weaker sex has never been married or in a relationship with one because if they had they would realize that women rule and men follow. I have been married for 41 years and have not had to make a decision in 40.

I read SW's post and unlike him, I have never been to gitmo.
As to his statement "Those at Gitmo who've been investigated and found to be innocent shouldn't spend the rest of their lives there because of U.S. blundering or because Republicans want to use them as political footballs."
Makes zero sense

S.W. Anderson said...

skudrunner, I don't know where you got the idea that I've been to Guantanamo. I haven't, nor have I said anything to lead you to believe that I have.

As for something I've written making zero sense to you (applying self-discipline to forgo snark and remain civil), I'm going to guess my mention of Republicans and not Democrats is the source of mystification.

Here's the key insight. Democrats spent a quarter century laboring to throw off their Republican-supplied mantle of being America-hating pacifists who lacked any realistic concept of national security. After the 1968 Democratic convention and subsequent peace rallies joined by some Democratic politicians, Republicans set out to define all Democrats as wimps, fifth columnists, communist sympathizers — anything but patriotic and willing to fight to defend the country. The characterization was dishonest and crude but very effective.

You can see in the unwillingness of some Dems to close Gitmo the residual of that long spell of being tarred as unpatriotic and weak on national defense. Some Dems might really worry that Gitmo detainees might escape or be released onto our streets. Most see great potential for having the unpatriotic paficists label reapplied by Republicans. Thus, I believe they applied an ounce of prevention for political reasons.

Fat Bastardo said...

If Republicans didn't lie they would not have much to say.

Feel free to leave links that bash Republicans in the comment section of www.biggerfatterpolitics.blogspot.com