Politifact - Mailbag: Lie of the Year Readers' Poll edition

[Playinghardball]

Now in its fifth incarnation, our "Lie of the Year" continues to gain popularity among our readers. This year, we received more votes and comments on our annual poll than ever before.

And while a lot of you commented on our winner -- "if you like your health care plan, you can keep it" -- we also got comments on other entries that were thoughtful, perceptive and judicious. More than a few made us laugh.

One reader, for example, voted for the claim by Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., that the IRS will keep a database of Americans’ health secrets. Bachmann has announced she will not run for re-election in 2014, and the reader thought that merited special consideration: "Michele Bachmann should go out a winner."

Partisan divides

Many readers noted that eight of the 10 fact-checks on our ballot were from Republican lawmakers, conservative pundits or the right-wing blogosphere. Some of our right-of-center readers took issue with that.

"The interesting part is you really believe you are bipartisan," one wrote.

But a few of our lefty readers noticed the same numbers and got upset as well.

"The panel that chose these statements to be voted on was either incredibly stupid or deliberately devious. There are six separate misstatements from Republicans regarding the (Affordable Care Act), but only one from a Democrat. Thus, Democrats are likely to distribute their votes across the six, while every last Republican will choose the one. And wow — look at that — the Democratic statement got the most votes."

We’ll note here that President Obama’s "If you like your health care plan" comment received 59 percent of the vote. Meaning, even if we hadn’t "stacked the deck," as some readers alleged, his claim likely would have still finished on top.

And then there are those who felt we should have presented a more balanced ballot for other reasons: "Are you watching the same politicians? One thing in D.C. is bipartisan lying is 50/50."

Health care fact-checks

Several astute readers picked up on a trend toward health-related claims. "Seven out of 10 statements relating to Obamacare," a reader wrote. "That is a statement in itself."

One of the most egregious of those claims was a chain email that claimed Muslims were exempt from Obamacare. We rated that a Pants on Fire and our readers took particular issue with it.

"Muslims are exempt? That's both hilarious and false. Sounds like someone wanted to call the president a Muslim again, as if it's some sort of insult."

"I voted for ‘Muslims are exempt from Obamacare’ because this statement is just pure fear and hate mongering. I am sick of it. Let's move on."

But many people said it shouldn’t have made the list, along with another Internet-based claim that Obamacare will result in home inspections, because they come from less accountable and unreliable sources.

"If someone believes the ‘facts’ of a chain email, then please send me your email address. I know this Nigerian prince who would like your help with a financial transaction."
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2013/dec/16/mailbag-readers-poll-edition/

More at: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2013/dec/16/mailbag-readers-poll-edition/