Happy Birthday, PolitiFact! PolitiFact turns 6
It’s true: PolitiFact turns 6 today.
In honor of our birthday, we thought we’d look back at some of the highlights of the past year, with an emphasis on No. 6.
Most popular Truth-O-Meter fact-checks of the past year
1. Bill Clinton says Democratic presidents top Republican presidents in job creation
2. Mitt Romney says U.S. Navy is smallest since 1917, Air Force is smallest since 1947
3. Viral Facebook post says Barack Obama has lowest spending record of any recent president
4. PBS commentator Mark Shields says more killed by guns since ’68 than in all U.S. wars
5. Mitt Romney says Barack Obama began his presidency “with an apology tour”
6. Mitt Romney says Barack Obama has ‘doubled’ the deficit
Most popular PolitiFact files of the past year
1. Mitt Romney
2. Barack Obama
3. Joe Biden
5. Chain email
6. Ron Paul
Most popular issue pages on PolitiFact of the past year:
1. Pundits
2. Guns
4. Health care
5. Taxes
6. Abortion
Six years on the Truth-O-Meter
Total items: 7,575
True: 18 percent
Mostly True: 18 percent
Half True: 21 percent
Mostly False: 15 percent
False: 20 percent
Pants on Fire: 8 percent
Six compliments from readers
“I was watching Fox News during the RNC and heard a pundit describe ‘fact-checkers’ as having ‘jumped the shark.’ Nothing could be further from the truth, and I applaud the work PolitiFact and similar organizations do for the American people. Facts matter. The good work PolitiFact does every day is appreciated by thinking Americans.”
“I love how the right says ‘PolitiFact is biased!’ and the left says ‘PolitiFact is biased!’ You folks just keep on doin’ what you do.”
“While I seem to only contact you regarding issues I disagree with, for each article that I disagree with, there are dozens that I truly appreciate. You guys are making huge strides in improving politics and, by extension, the country. Keep up the good work!”
” I am actually starting to enjoy following politics now because you give me back some control, and you let me consider the facts at a calm distance from the misleading stuff that is designed to send me on a disabling emotional rollercoaster. What you are doing is a big deal to people like me. I am extremely grateful to you, and I want you to know.”
“Just know that you have at least one reader that appreciates the light you shine into the dark places. Please don’t stop fighting.”
“In this mad, mad world, thank you for a slice of sanity.”
Our Sources
See original stories
