As Twitchy reported, Glenn Kessler’s “Fact Checker” column at the Washington Post recently awarded “three Pinocchios” to Carly Fiorina’s account of her career trajectory:
ICYMI: @CarlyFiorina’s bogus "secretary to CEO" career trajectory (Fact Checker biography) http://t.co/aujFSB4Pkg pic.twitter.com/K0xzEyj3xn
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) September 25, 2015
The Fact Checker was widely criticized — including by Howard Kurtz — for suggesting Fiorina lied, and today, Kessler responded to those who called the WaPo out:
NEW: @CarlyFiorina’s career: a response to readers http://t.co/TAtCzQCkmN
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) September 29, 2015
Too bad for Kessler, that clarification only helped to cement his status as a total hack.
@GlennKesslerWP @CarlyFiorina Rather than issue a mea culpa WaPo shamelessly doubles down with incoherence in an effort to confuse.
— Ryan (@BathTubby) September 29, 2015
Have a look:
@GlennKesslerWP Facts are not your interpretation or your opinion, which is how you explain your reasoning. Facts are facts.
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) September 29, 2015
@redsteeze The Pinocchio Test is always going to be subjective, no denying that. The best we can do is be consistent in how we apply it.
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) September 29, 2015
@redsteeze Yep, facts are facts. That's why we have a section called "The Facts." Readers can draw their own conclusions.
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) September 29, 2015
@GlennKesslerWP Right. Facts are not "subjective" or determined by your "minds" pic.twitter.com/FPxQXgLgyP
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) September 29, 2015
@redsteeze I think you are confusing the "The facts" with the "Pinocchio test" facts should not be in dispute but I concede the P test is!
— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) September 29, 2015
So, if you admit the “Pinocchio test” isn’t really about “the facts,” then how, exactly, can you call yourself a fact checker?
https://twitter.com/OrwellForks/status/648963566079463425
Who does Kessler think he’s fooling?
Whatever the heck this is, it is most definitely not a fact-check. Truly bizarre. http://t.co/QKu4dJ7xPa
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) September 29, 2015
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/648955362377367552
https://twitter.com/Thorrison/status/648956139825168384
Nice of @GlennKesslerWP to admit it's not "fact checking" but rather "implication checking".http://t.co/Ux5cmfaU1z pic.twitter.com/cs1EDENixm
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) September 29, 2015
https://twitter.com/lachlan/status/648956832850018305
We're full of shit, but we like our shit, so our readers can suck it. https://t.co/nUKSb5daQS
— PoliMath (@politicalmath) September 29, 2015
Maybe Kessler should change the title of his response:
"Here's why we're hacks." http://t.co/zmROBSG9on
— David Rutz (@DavidRutz) September 29, 2015
And, while he’s at it, change his title for himself:
I look forward to @GlennKesslerWP changing his bio from "Fact Checker" to "Pinocchio Assigner". pic.twitter.com/6r44jBQPln
— BT (@back_ttys) September 29, 2015
Related:
Howard Kurtz ‘dismantles’ WaPo fact-check about Carly Fiorina’s career path
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