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How does PolitiFact Georgia’s Truth-O-Meter work?
Our goal is to help you find the truth in American politics. Reporters from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution fact-check statements by local, state and national political leaders, including lobbyists and interest groups. We then rate them on the AJC Truth-O-Meter.
To fact-check a claim, reporters first contact the speaker to verify the statement. Next, the research begins. Reporters consult a variety of sources, including industry and academic experts. This research can take hours or a few days or even longer, depending on the claim. Reporters then compile the research into story form and include a recommended Truth-O-Meter ruling.
The fact check then moves on to a panel of veteran editors who debate the statement and the reporter’s recommended Truth-O-Meter ruling.
The panel votes on a final ruling; majority prevails.
Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, “allies” of Mitt Romney and GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan.
The all took a recent ride on the AJC Truth-O-Meter, courtesy of the PolitiFact and PolitiFact Georgia.
Abbreviated versions of our fact checks are below.
Full versions can be found at www.politifact.com/georgia/.
Want to comment on our rulings or suggest one of your own? Just go to our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/politifact.georgia).
You can also follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/politifactga).
Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, March 15th, 2016 in a victory speech after the March 15 primaries:
“Our campaign depends on small donations for the majority of our support.”
The campaign’s best evidence for this isn’t independently verifiable.
Otherwise, Clinton is wrong. Small donors accounted for only 17 percent of the dollar amount her campaign has collected from individuals through Jan. 31, and 19 percent of the dollar amount collected through Feb. 29.
We rated Clinton’s statement Mostly False.
Paul Ryan on Thursday, March 17th, 2016 in a news conference:
“To this day, (the Cuban government) is a regime that provides safe harbor to terrorists and fugitives.”
There are some U.S. fugitives and members of a Spanish separatist group living in Cuba with the Cuban government’s permission.
But Ryan’s statement misses an important nuance: In the past couple decades, Cuba has been more cooperative with the United States in terms of returning fugitives, and the country has cut ties with foreign organizations designated by the United States as terrorist groups. Significantly, the United States recently removed Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Ryan’s statement is accurate but could use that additional clarification.
We rated Ryan’s statement Mostly True.
Romney "allies", March 18, 2016, New York Times
Mitt Romney did not “endorse” Ted Cruz, even though he said he is voting for Cruz and urged others to do likewise.
"I will vote for Senator Cruz and I encourage others to do so as well, so that we can have an open convention and nominate a Republican," Romney wrote in a Facebook post.
But his aides and allies quickly told reporters this was not an endorsement of Cruz.
It certainly appeared to be an endorsement in a GOP primary contest where Romney vowed he would not endorse a candidate.
Technically, they have a point, according to political scientists. But the statement is also misleading.
We rated it Half True.
Donald Trump on Monday, March 21st, 2016 in a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee:
“During the last five years, Iran has perpetrated terror attacks in 25 different countries on five continents.”
He has a point that Iran is widely believed to be supporting, or trying to support, armed or terrorist groups in many countries around the world. The exact number is not known with any specificity outside Tehran.
However, that’s not the same thing as actually perpetrating terrorist attacks, as Trump indicated, even though his apparent source material only referred to activity, not attacks.
The statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details.
We rated Trump’s statement Half True.
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