Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Capitol View®
Brett Neely

Fact checkers mourn Bachmann’s departure from Congress

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

WASHINGTON - One group of journalists has temporarily shed its cloak of impartiality to openly mourn Michele Bachmann's announcement that she's stepping down from Congress at the end of her term: fact checkers.

"She did keep the Truth-O-Meter busy," said PolitiFact managing editor Bill Adair.

Of the 59 statements of Bachmann's that PolitiFact checked (far more than statements from more powerful congressional leaders such as Rep. John Boehner or Sen. Harry Reid), a stunning 75 percent were rated Mostly False, False or Pants on Fire, the group's lowest rating.

MPR's PoliGraph has a similar record in at least 18 checks of Bachmann's statements.

The Washington Post's Glenn Kessler writes that Bachmann's departure, "will leave the Capitol a much less interesting place to fact check."

Kessler went on to say that Bachmann's penchant for stretching and ignoring facts "provided a window into the no-holds-barred politics that has come to characterize modern-day Washington."

Adair noted that Bachmann rose to prominence at the same time as fact checking sites such as PolitiFact began flexing their muscles. When asked whether Bachmann's departure from Congress would mean layoffs at PolitiFact, Adair laughed.

"No, we're actually filling a job here," said Adair.

While fact checkers may not have deterred Bachmann, Adair said that overall, some politicians have come to fear that a False or Pants on Fire rating might come back to haunt them and have become more careful with their facts.

Fact checkers shouldn't get too weepy about Bachmann's decision to leave Congress for now. After all, she hasn't ruled out running for other offices or shying away from politics altogether.

And there are 534 other members of Congress who keep saying things.