Ah, yes. Good ol’ PolitiFact, Pulitzer Prize winner and peddler of honesty. Its commitment to the truth has always been unwavering. Unwaveringly snort-worthy, that is. Behold the most recent product of the Truth Squad’s diligent detective work:
In a new campaign ad, Mitt Romney doesn’t mince words in boasting about the Massachusetts economy when he was governor.
…
But the number mirrored the larger national trend. And it’s important to note, as we often do, that governors have limited impact on a state’s economy.
Both Massachusetts and the U.S. saw unemployment rates drop during Romney’s governorship. Unemployment declined during that period because the economy was recovering from a recession.
We checked Bureau of Labor Statistics data and found that the statistic was correct. The low point for the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate during Romney’s tenure was 4.7 percent. (It happened during Romney’s final full month in office, December 2006.)
The final verdict?
The number is correct, but the ad oversteps in suggesting that Romney did this on his own. The employment situation in Massachusetts was subject to many factors, not just the governor’s policy. On balance, we rate the claim Half True.
Be sure to read the entire thing. The path PolitiFact takes to get to its conclusion is nothing short of fascinating.
We’re being sarcastic, of course. The doofuses at PolitiFact don’t have a clue how to handle actual facts, hence this risible piece of “investigative journalism.”
Recommended
PolitiFact has been due for a good old-fashioned verbal thumpin’ for some time now, and Twitter did not disappoint.
https://twitter.com/LachlanMarkay/status/212289506810929154
"Technically accurate, but we'd prefer you to lose." #PolitifactRatings
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 11, 2012
@justkarl Only a Sith Deals In Absolutes #PolitifactRatings
— Inconspicuous Rex (@CrankyTRex) June 11, 2012
https://twitter.com/LachlanMarkay/status/212290832240345088
Solid B+ #PolitifactRatings
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) June 11, 2012
#politifactratings SQUIRREL!!!!
— The Real Matt Finn (@mdrache) June 11, 2012
https://twitter.com/LastBrainLeft/status/212291017184002048
Can't say "true" because that would just encourage them. #PolitifactRatings
— Frank J. Fleming (@IMAO_) June 11, 2012
https://twitter.com/NathanWurtzel/status/212295595518468096
Julia would agree. #PolitifactRatings #LifeOfJulia
— Ashley McCully (@TXTrendyChick) June 11, 2012
Magic Eight Ball says… #PolitifactRatings
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 11, 2012
False, because you can't handle the truth. #PolitifactRatings
— Frank J. Fleming (@IMAO_) June 11, 2012
https://twitter.com/AmericnElephant/status/212296661148516352
What The White House Said #PolitifactRatings
— Area Man (@lheal) June 11, 2012
Subjectively accurate #PolitifactRatings
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) June 11, 2012
I'm sorry, could you repeat the question? #PolitifactRatings
— Andrew Lacy (@andrewlacy52) June 11, 2012
https://twitter.com/NickMarcelli/status/212296803872276481
https://twitter.com/Joesff/status/212297462059249664
https://twitter.com/LachlanMarkay/status/212293191662190597
I really wanted to be an editorialist. #PolitifactRatings
— Frank J. Fleming (@IMAO_) June 11, 2012
2+2=4: Half True, Because 3+1 Also = 4 #politifactratings
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) June 11, 2012
https://twitter.com/jimmiebjr/status/212295425925980160
***
lets make this a thing -> RT @guypbenson #PolitifactRatings RT @AceofSpadesHQ: "True but You Suck"
— Stephen Gutowski (@StephenGutowski) June 11, 2012
Welp, it’s officially a thing now. A trendy thing.
Our Win-o-Meter rates this Totally Awesome.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member