Politifact's Lie Of the Year

[Howey]

This (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/politifact-lie-of-the-year-ebola) had to be an overwhelming winner.


It wasn't a particular person or fact that earned PolitiFact's 2014 Lie of the Year, but the general mass hysteria that accompanied the Ebola epidemic.
And though PolitiFact doesn't say it, its most prominent examples were conservative figures, which isn't too surprising given the level of delirium (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/conservatives-ebola-conspiracies) on Fox News and elsewhere once the disease, which has killed more than 5,000 people in West Africa, claimed one life on American shores.
"Fear of the disease stretched to every corner of America this fall, stoked by exaggerated claims from politicians and pundits," PolitiFact's authors wrote (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2014/dec/15/2014-lie-year-exaggerations-about-ebola/). "They said Ebola was easy to catch, that illegal immigrants may be carrying the virus across the southern border, that it was all part of a government or corporate conspiracy."

"The claims — all wrong — distorted the debate about a serious public health issue," they continued. "Together, they earn our Lie of the Year for 2014."

[Peter1469]

Seems to be cherry picking. A lot of people were concerned about Ebola. Even Canada (so anti-Fox that they don't allow it in) banned aircraft from West Africa. :smiley:

[PolWatch]

Isn't it amazing...Ebola was so dangerous to America...until after the mid-term elections! I never knew the cure was in the voting booth...go figure

[Mac-7]

Obumer played chicken with the nations health and luckily we did not have an epidemic, no thanks to the least American golfer in chief.

[Mac-7]

Seems to be cherry picking. A lot of people were concerned about Ebola. Even Canada (so anti-Fox that they don't allow it in) banned aircraft from West Africa. :smiley:

Well done.

[Common Sense]

Seems to be cherry picking. A lot of people were concerned about Ebola. Even Canada (so anti-Fox that they don't allow it in) banned aircraft from West Africa. :smiley:

The fact that Fox news isn't available on basic cable has nothing to do with being "anti Fox".

[hanger4]

Seems to be cherry picking. A lot of people were concerned about Ebola. Even Canada (so anti-Fox that they don't allow it in) banned aircraft from West Africa. :smiley:

Shhhhh facts hurt Howey 's feelings.

[Common Sense]

Shhhhh facts hurt @Howey (http://thepoliticalforums.com/member.php?u=387) 's feelings.

Funny enough both of Peter's statements were not facts. Canada did not "ban flights from West Africa". We did temporarily stop issuing Visas to countries with Ebola outbreaks. And Canada is not "so anti-Fox that they don't allow it in".

So there's that.

[Professor Peabody]

Considering the "The lie of the Year 2013" was "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it".

I'll take the Ebola one as erring on the side of caution. The 2013 "Lie of the Year" was passed only because the Obama administration was comfortable with deliberately misleading the American people.

[Bo-4]

Seems to be cherry picking. A lot of people were concerned about Ebola. Even Canada (so anti-Fox that they don't allow it in) banned aircraft from West Africa. :smiley:

You cons LOVED last year's lie of the year (if you like your health insurance you can keep your health insurance).

That wasn't cherry picking?

[Howey]

You cons LOVED last year's lie of the year (if you like your health insurance you can keep your health insurance).

That wasn't cherry picking?

It's amusing that when the Washington Post, Politifact, and FactCheck go their way, they think all three are the epitome of responsible fact checking. When they don't, they're all left wing Soros-funded propoganda outlets. **shakes head**

[Peter1469]

You cons LOVED last year's lie of the year (if you like your health insurance you can keep your health insurance).

That wasn't cherry picking?

No. It was an actual lie.

[Captain Obvious]

No. It was an actual lie.

A very large exaggeration to be exact.

It was true in a marginal number of cases, far smaller than the RushBeck's of the world made it out to be.

[donttread]

This (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/politifact-lie-of-the-year-ebola) had to be an overwhelming winner.

Some concern was understandable given transmission to caregivers going way beyond "universal precautions" . We are after all set up for a pandemic , given our population density and world travel

[texan]

When Peter mentioned "Cherry Picking" I thought he was pivoting back to the senate torture report.