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PolitiFact’s guide to Thanksgiving dinner

By Bill Adair
November 20, 2012

At Thanksgiving dinner, there’s probably a good chance you’ll end up sitting beside your uncle.

You love your uncle, but you could do without all those chain e-mails that he forwards to you, the ones that claim the government is forcing you to get rid of your light bulbs, that “Obamacare” is going to put a tax on home sales and that President Barack Obama fits the biblical description of the Antichrist. (Note to uncles: We’re not really singling you out. Chain e-mails get forwarded by aunts, grandparents and plenty of other relatives.)

With that in mind, PolitiFact put together a handy guide to chain e-mails and other viral messages.

Check it out. You might want to print it and hide it under the green bean casserole so you can pull it out if your uncle brings up the chain e-mails.

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More by Bill Adair
John Kitzhaber
stated on July 18, 2014 a campaign debate:
Oregon "is the most trade-dependent state in the nation"
False
Donald Rumsfeld
stated on February 17, 2013 an op-ed in the "Washington Post":
Says wrestling was a favorite sport of Abraham Lincoln.
True
Rick Perry
stated on January 8, 2012 a Republican debate in New Hampshire.:
Says President Barack Obama "is a socialist."
Pants on Fire!
C.W. Bill Young
stated on February 20, 2010 a speech to Pinellas County Republicans.:
The Democratic health care plan is a "government takeover of our health programs."
Pants on Fire!
Barack Obama
stated on January 27, 2010 his State of the Union address:
The "pay-as-you-go law ... was a big reason why we had record surpluses in the 1990s."
Half-True
Dick Cheney
stated on December 30, 2009 a statement to Politico.:
President Obama "doesn't ... want to admit we're at war."
Pants on Fire!
Barack Obama
stated on September 20, 2009 an interview on Meet the Press:
"Mathematically, the White Sox can still get in the playoffs."
True

PolitiFact’s guide to Thanksgiving dinner





Donald Trump
stated on May 4, 2026 a White House event:








Donald Trump
stated on April 23, 2026 remarks at the White House:







Chris Wright
stated on April 19, 2026 an interview on CNN's "State of the Union":