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Were the Founding Fathers ‘ordinary people’?

National
Angie Drobnic Holan
By Angie Drobnic Holan
July 2, 2015

As Independence Day approaches, PolitiFact Wisconsin examines a statement often made by Gov. Scott Walker on the campaign trail that the founders were “ordinary people.” Read their full report. 

Our Sources

See story for sources. 

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Angie Drobnic Holan
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
stated on September 27, 2020 in a speech:
Says Amy Coney Barrett “has a written track record, disagreeing adamantly with the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the ACA. In fact, she publicly criticized Chief Justice Roberts’ opinion upholding the law eight years ago.”
Mostly True
By Angie Drobnic Holan • September 28, 2020
Instagram posts
Instagram posts
stated on September 22, 2020 in an Instagram post:
Like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, Amy Coney Barrett has said her “end goal is to end the separation of church and state & build a ‘Kingdom of God’ in the United States.”
False
By Angie Drobnic Holan • September 27, 2020
Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Omar
stated on March 23, 2019 in a speech:
Says that the Council on American-Islamic Relations was founded in response to 9/11.
False
By Angie Drobnic Holan • April 15, 2019
Mike Pence
Mike Pence
stated on September 4, 2016 in an interview on "Meet the Press":
Says Hillary Clinton "wants to increase Syrian refugees to this country by 550 percent."
True
By Angie Drobnic Holan • September 4, 2016
Antonio Sabato Jr.
Antonio Sabato Jr.
stated on July 19, 2016 in an interview with ABC News:
Says President Barack Obama is "absolutely" a Muslim.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on June 22, 2016 in a speech in New York City:
Says Hillary Clinton "said she was under attack (in Bosnia) but the attack turned out to be young girls handing her flowers."
True
By Angie Drobnic Holan, Jon Greenberg • June 22, 2016
Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio
stated on January 17, 2016 in an interview on "Meet the Press":
Hostages were released as soon as Ronald Reagan took office because Iran perceived that America was "no longer under the command of someone weak."
Pants on Fire!
By Angie Drobnic Holan, Louis Jacobson • January 17, 2016
Ben Carson
Ben Carson
stated on September 27, 2015 in an interview on ABC's "This Week":
"We've had examples like in Yuma County, where we've been able to stop 97 percent of the illegal (immigration) flow, and those programs, they abolish."
Mostly False
By Angie Drobnic Holan • September 27, 2015
Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist
stated on October 14, 2014 in a campaign ad:
Says Rick Scott changed his promise from 700,000 jobs created "on top of what normal growth would be" to just 700,000 jobs.
True
By Angie Drobnic Holan • October 14, 2014
Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist
stated on March 3, 2014 in in an interview on CNN:
On the economic stimulus.
Half Flip
By Angie Drobnic Holan • September 30, 2014
Americans For Tax Reform
Americans For Tax Reform
stated on April 14, 2014 in in a press release:
"Obama has proposed 442 tax hikes since taking office."
Mostly False
By Angie Drobnic Holan, Tim Ryan • April 22, 2014
National Republican Congressional Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
stated on February 12, 2014 in a television ad:
"300,000 Floridians will lose their current health plans" because of Obamacare, a plan Alex Sink supports.
Half-True
By Angie Drobnic Holan, Amy Sherman • February 14, 2014
Janet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano
stated on August 27, 2013 in a speech at the National Press Club:
The 2010 DREAM Act failed despite "strong bipartisan support."
Mostly False
By Angie Drobnic Holan • August 28, 2013
Chain email
Chain email
stated on May 29, 2013 in a chain email:
Says the word "Dhimmitude" is on page 107 of the health care law and means "Muslims are specifically exempted from the government mandate to purchase insurance."
Pants on Fire!
By Angie Drobnic Holan • May 30, 2013
Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio
stated on May 3, 2013 in a position on legislation:
On an early date for Florida's presidential primary
Full Flop
By Angie Drobnic Holan • May 9, 2013

Were the Founding Fathers ‘ordinary people’?

Clear
Jon Ossoff
Jon Ossoff
stated on June 27, 2026 in a campaign speech:
Did Mike Collins help double health insurance premiums for 1 million Georgians?
Mostly True
By Ben Brasch • July 16, 2026
Paul Renner
Paul Renner
stated on July 10, 2026 in a debate:
FL governor’s race: Did Jay Collins sponsor a bill giving permanent tax breaks to AI data centers?
Half-True
By Samantha Putterman • July 9, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on July 1, 2026 in remarks to reporters:
"You know why I'm profiting? Because the stock market's going up. ... I'm profiting because I have a lot of money and a lot of cash."
Mostly False
By Louis Jacobson • July 7, 2026
Abdul El-Sayed
Abdul El-Sayed
stated on June 14, 2026 in an X post:
Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers “took a $14 million payout as a pharma lobbyist.”
Pants on Fire!
By Caleb McCullough • July 2, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on June 30, 2026 in a Truth Social post:
“The United States Supreme Court just ruled against men playing in women’s sports."
Half-True
By Caleb McCullough • July 1, 2026
Mike Collins
Mike Collins
stated on June 17, 2026 in an advertisement:
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff “cast the deciding vote for the inflation disaster,” referring to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
False
By Ben Brasch • June 29, 2026
Tommy Tuberville
Tommy Tuberville
stated on June 24, 2026 in an interview with Fox News:
Says benefits of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act are “going to go to a lot of people that are here illegally to build houses for them.”
False
By Alex Min, Louis Jacobson • June 26, 2026
Move Indigo
Move Indigo
stated on June 1, 2026 in a statement:
New York state law allows citizens with dual residences to choose where they want to vote.
True
By Jill Terreri Ramos • June 26, 2026
Graham Platner
Graham Platner
stated on June 17, 2026 in an ad:
Sen. Susan Collins “sided with Trump, giving billionaires and corporations a hand out, paid for by cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.”
False
By Amy Sherman • June 25, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on June 23, 2026 in a speech in Macungie, Pennsylvania:
In the past 13 months, “The typical 401(k) … is up almost $30,000.”
Mostly False
By Louis Jacobson • June 25, 2026
David Jolly
David Jolly
stated on June 11, 2026 in a speech:
Florida is “49th in avoidable hospital costs.”
Mostly True
By Samantha Putterman • June 24, 2026
Marsha Blackburn
Marsha Blackburn
stated on June 19, 2026 in an X post:
The Obama Presidential Center is "requiring photo ID to enter."
False
By Alex Min • June 23, 2026
Susan Collins
Susan Collins
stated on June 12, 2026 in an interview with the media:
The Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling on abortion “has not had an impact on the state of Maine in that Maine actually expanded its law.”
Mostly True
By Amy Sherman • June 23, 2026
Jon Ossoff
Jon Ossoff
stated on June 17, 2026 in an ad:
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Collins “admitted” that President Donald Trump is in the Epstein files.
Mostly False
By Ben Brasch • June 18, 2026
Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders
stated on June 12, 2026 in an X post:
"Today, Elon Musk, a trillionaire, pays the same amount into Social Security as someone making $184,500."
Mostly True
By Caleb McCullough • June 17, 2026
Kenzie Annis
Kenzie Annis
stated on June 16, 2026 in an episode of "Love Island USA":
A 20/30 vision score means “people have to be at 20 feet to see” things that “I can see at 30 feet.”
False
By Gracey Abernethy • June 17, 2026
Steve Robinson
Steve Robinson
stated on June 5, 2026 in Fox News “The Ingraham Angle”:
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Graham Planter’s “oyster business (is) totally fake.”
False
By Ben Brasch • June 16, 2026
Josh Hokit
Josh Hokit
stated on June 14, 2026 in a UFC event at the White House:
“Michelle Obama is a man.”
Pants on Fire!
By Loreben Tuquero • June 15, 2026
Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren
stated on June 5, 2026 in an X post:
“If you live near one of these large data centers, your electricity bills over the last five years have gone up by as much as 267%."
Mostly False
By Caleb McCullough • June 12, 2026
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
stated on May 22, 2026 in remarks in Suffern, New York:
“No Republican wins in Nassau.”
Mostly False
By Conor Amendola • June 12, 2026
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