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Editor Imposed Fact-Checking 'Quota' on Bachmann

Minnesota Rep. made 'statements that just didn't add up'

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 28, 2012 8:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – A scary factoid from the world of fact-checking: Michele Bachmann made so many dicey claims during this year's primary season that listing them all would "overload" a debate story, said AP editor Jim Drinkard. "We had to have a self-imposed Michele Bachmann quota in some of those debates," he said at a National Press Club panel this week. When someone mused that the high count of GOP errors may have been due to the primary season, "a lot of nodding ensued," reports the Washington Post. (But fact checkers nailed Dems too; perhaps both parties have lost their sense of shame.)

Michele Bachmann speaks in Washington. Bachmann will endorse Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Michele Bachmann speaks in Washington. Bachmann will endorse Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann chats with delegates during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012.
Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann chats with delegates during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012.   (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 37 comments
RAD45
Sep 29, 2012 10:55 AM CDT
I find it telling Newser just had to end a story about Michelle Bachmann's record number of over-the-top screwy claims with the assertion..."Dems did it too!"  Is this the new way of political correctness in reporting?  Yes, ALL politicians at some point either get their facts wrong or invent facts to go with their story.  Bachmann, however, was unique in that she apparently believed everything coming out of her brain is a real fact, with evidence, witnesses, and all that!  Yowser! Frankly, I believe Bachmann pulled all her shenanigans because she could.... is someone going to sue her?  She's a Congress member, with the upheld right to say whatever she wants, when she wants, to whom she wants with NO legal accountibility!  Now if John Citizen did that.....
Buckshot
Sep 29, 2012 8:22 AM CDT
Bachmann is an American embarrassment if there was an award for biggest political "dip shit" she'd be my first choice.
sfreeman
Sep 28, 2012 11:10 PM CDT
Bachmann resides in a different universe than the rest of us.  I wouldn't trust her to tell us what year it is.
 

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