Politifact Votes Leftist Attacks on Paul Ryan‘s Medicare Plan ’Lie of the Year’
- Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:46pm by
Christopher Santarelli
- Print »
- Email »

The Pulitzer Prize-winning factcheck website of the St. Petersburg Times, PolitiFact.com, voted on the biggest lie of the 2011 and the winner is…”Republicans voted to end Medicare.”
The false claims were spouted by Democrats and others on the left after House Budget Committee Charman Rep. Paul Ryan introduced a budget. The House proposal would purportedly significantly reduce debt by providing government subsidies for, and privatizing, Medicare for those under 55.
After the Democrats voted against the budget, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a web ad that said seniors will have to pay $12,500 more for health care “because Republicans voted to end Medicare.” PolitiFact writes:
“After two years of being pounded by Republicans with often false charges about the 2010 health care law, the Democrats were turning the tables.
PolitiFact debunked the Medicare charge in nine separate fact-checks rated False or Pants on Fire, most often in attacks leveled against Republican House members.
Now, PolitiFact has chosen the Democrats’ claim as the 2011 Lie of the Year.”

PolitiFact has not shown any favoritism for Republicans in the past. In 2009 the winner of the “Lie of the Year” was the Republicans’ charge that the Democrats’ health care plan included “death panels.” In 2010, it was that the plan was a “government takeover of health care.” Despite this, the left has come out in hasty denouncement of this year’s award.
“It seems foolish to have to parse the meaning of the word ‘end,’ but if there’s a program, and it’s replaced with a different program, proponents brought an end to the original program,” liberal blogger Steve Benen wrote at the Washington Monthly. “That’s what the verb means.”
New York Times columnist Paul Krugman echoed similar complaints about the lie’s wording, and writes in his blog angrily that PolitiFact has become balanced: ”So they’ve bent over backwards to appear ‘balanced’— and in the process made themselves useless and irrelevant.”
To quote Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Morning Joe today, “cry me a river.”



















Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (78)
sbenard
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 5:22pmSoylent green is here. It’s called Obamacare!
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 7:52amIn what way?
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on February 19, 2012 at 7:58pmThat’s a difficult “best of” to award when the communist left lies so often.
Report Post »PPMStudios
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 5:06pmSo you’re saying the Liberal Left lies? Yeah, we know they do….. That’s pretty much all they do!!
Report Post »We are Americans
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 5:13pmThe repubs got it the last two years. Guess that
Report Post »dosnt count. How about they ALL LIE
Kiba
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 5:04pmI do know one thing and that is like Trump said about Ryan, Ryan is a great young Repub. but he did shoot his uhhh..well stuff-off way to soon back when the repubs took over the house and almost the senate. Like Trump says , we had Obama on the ropes and all should have been left alone and let him sulk in his losses and then Ryan comes along and gives some ‘savings plan’ to the world for the Dems. to take apart and like Trump said it made Obama look like a Phoenix rising from the ashes. The guy should have just did nothing at the time because he had the time.
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on February 19, 2012 at 7:59pmYou can still vote against Obama.
Report Post »garbagecanlogic
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:33pmSoooooo, why can’t the Republicans get out there and show the U.S. populace how the dummycrats are lying instead of cowering behind their desks?
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
Report Post »The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
Ethereal
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 10:17pmThey do but the fact remains is that each side (conservatives & democrats) are so self righteously convicted about everything they think that it’s damn near impossible to convince the other that their side is lying. The person has to do their own research and reach an epiphany before being convinced. I was once a liberal but after Clinton’s first term I learned a lot more and realized on my own that liberalism is not what this country was founded on and was a path not for prosper but for everyone to be on the same level of crap with the gov controlling everything.
Report Post »decendentof56
Posted on February 19, 2012 at 7:56pm@Garbagecanlogic……….”Soooooo, why can’t the Republicans get out there and show the U.S. populace how the dummycrats are lying instead of cowering behind their desks?
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
I have felt, like you, that the Repubs always caved whenever Alinsky tactics were used against them. It is actually infuriating that they do that (wilt). At least Santorum did not cave to Scheiffer or that other clown on the older posting.
But you know, Garbage, what I like about you most? Its that sign-off you always put at the end.
Americans better wake up to the one-world gov. UN and all its off-shoot orgs. I just listened to a 75 minute talk about Agenda 21. I knew it was bad! After reading the second book on the UN as a primer to the Agenda 21 book I‘ve had for 3 months I’ll instill everything I heard from the guest at our Tea Party meeting. Americans don’t even know what is happening or why it is happening.
Report Post »NoRoomForSocialismHere
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:21pmTRUE:
Liberals cut $500 billion from Medicare to fund Obamacare, yet left 300 million people guaranteed to be without health care at all. Such justice and moral ethics cannot be matched unless in some other communist country.
Liberals decide when to kill Granma in Obamacare. Insurance companies are all too willing to accommodate in this.
Progressive RINO-GOP business wants to end their part of the payroll contribution to Social Security and Medicare. If they were to make this happen, they would once again not have any contribution toward employees.
With Progressive Liberals, you get State control, no pay, hunger and death guaranteed.
With Progressive RINO-GOP business you get No Sovereignty, Borderless for Global business, child labor, 14hr/7 day work days, no holidays, no health insurance, no unemployment insurance, un-safe work place. Why do you think that Scrooge Lives in the heart of business.
1919 the communist took those moral discrepancies and infiltrated government departments and citizen organizations had been looking for Communists in government, labor unions, universities, and the Hollywood movie industry.
We do not have a say once any of them are elected. They turn their attention to the RNC, DNC, Party Think Tanks, Business Lobbies (includes agriculture) and other cronies throughout the WORLD.
Report Post »Duey2000
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:14pm”So they’ve bent over backwards to appear ‘balanced’— and in the process made themselves useless and irrelevant.” – Paul Krugman
Ha! Only useless to your agenda. Balance means that people are on both sides of the issue. But you only see it as your way or no way. You wouldn’t know balance if it smacked you in the face!
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:24pmNew poll results (Gingrich can’t beat Obama, but Romney and Paul can)
Registered voters:
Obama 52%, Romney 45%
Obama 52%, Paul 45%
All voters:
Obama 53%, Romney 43%
Obama 54%, Paul 43%
PDF: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/im…/20/rel20c.pdf
Report Post »TeaPartyDragon
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 5:02pmobama won’t get over 43% and 7/8 of them will be left idiots that are lazy and want life to be given to them.
Report Post »Anyone BUT obama 2012!!!
PPMStudios
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 5:09pm@TeaPartyDragon
I wonder how many out of the 7/8 will be the names of either the dead or cartoon characters ??
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 6:37pmHEY VECH
what is the difference between registered voters, and all voters?????
YOU CANT VOTE UNLESS YOUR REGISTERED, SO THERE IS ONLY “ REGISTERED VOTERS”
that means your second category doesnt exist …………..maroon
Report Post »pcg646
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:02pmMore Spin, Lies and Distortion
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:57pmyet, Death Panels will be , necessarily, a large component of Barrycare.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:20pmNews You Won’t Read Here:
Sure, the economy is lousy and the Republican leadership of the House has decided that you and I aren’t getting a $1000 payroll tax break next year because there aren’t enough benefits for the wealthiest built into the bipartisan Senate bill. Yes, the Republicans want tax relief, but not for you. They have to look out for their wealthy contributers.
But there is good news. Wall Street is poised to give world record bonuses to it’s executives this year! The job creators on Wall Street aren’t doing much job creation these days, but they sure are making tons of money! One way is by jacking up your cost for the privilege of of putting your money in their banks. The middle class and the poor are suffering, but only communists care how well you slobs are doing. But praise be that the rich are getting richer!
http://www.newbottomline.com/report_big_bank_bonuses_in_2011
Report Post »SEPARATENOW
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:35pmJZS you are officially mentally challenged.
48% of people pay no federal income tax. None. Zero. Zip. Nada. (Yes, yes I know we all pay the same tax for gasoline, sales and proportionately by property value. So save it.) Maybe the “rich” ought to go protest and espouse the robbery of the 48% to get some of their money back.
Report Post »SEPARATENOW
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:36pmBTW you can’t envy and utopian dream your way into a better economy. Dope.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:42pmYou sir are correct. I won’t read your swill
Report Post »Therightsofbilly
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 5:59pmMore Alinsky tactics and propaganda from JZS ROSE.
That’s Saul Folks
Report Post »Banter
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 6:45pmJZS,
Sounds like someone is jealous they didn’t get their perceived “fair share.”
Since you still don’t seem to get it, the chronic poor suffer because the government system is rigged to keep it that way. The middle-class suffer because many are buying into the notion of “equal outcome,” and continue to elect the same expecting a better outcome.
You suffer because no matter how many times and ways you say it, it doesn’t make it true. Saul Alinsky indeed, pfffft!
Report Post »jzs
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 9:02pmBanter, actually I honestly feel like I get more than my fair share. I’m in the 99% but probabably a lot closer than you are to being in the 1%. This isn’t about the money I make, although it‘s not surprising to me that you can’t see any other way. Actually it is surprising because I imagine you support those who would take away your payroll tax break, and that of the average American, to give more money to the richest. Strange to me but you are on the right.
In any case, at the prompting of you and my friend Billy I looked up Saul Alinsky, some guy who died 40 years ago, on Wiki. Now, he was a Jewish community organizer, so that explains a lot about how you and the right and Billy might not like him. And he had the nerve to organize people to speak with a single voice on issues they had in common, like Tea Party organizers like Billy. He organized, I see, people against the horrific working conditions for common people portrayed in Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” which I‘ve read but don’t imagine you have (nor “The Grapes of Wrath” I bet).
Oh, I see some cool quotes. Let me see if I can make another post, despite my aversion to making two consecutive posts, because I’m out of words on this one….
Report Post »jzs
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 9:32pmMaybe I can post a few quotes from Wiki.
“Not at any time. I’ve never joined any organization—not even the ones I’ve organized myself. I prize my own independence too much. And philosophically, I could never accept any rigid dogma or ideology, whether it’s Christianity or Marxism.”
“Negroes were being lynched regularly in the South as the first stirrings of black opposition began to be felt, and many of the white civil rights organizers and labor agitators who had started to work with them were tarred and feathered, castrated—or killed. Most Southern Democrat politicians were members of the Ku Klux Klan and had no compunction about boasting of it.”
Okay, so he was a community organizer who fought for the common man and against their inhumane treatment at the hands of the rich and powerful. I see that, and that is enough for me to understand why would you object to him. He stood for the average person, and realized that the average person could only stand up to that by collectively speaking up with a common voice, like any organization.
I think you guys are saying that it‘s okay to organize a group provided those people aren’t organizing against rich people, or people who have political power or people who have power over your lives.
Report Post »Banter
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 9:41pmIt’s not about the money you make, yet you have no problem opening up your post assuming you make more money than me (i.e. you are closer to the 1% than I am). Like I said to you before, you can post it, but it doesn’t make it true.
Hey, I’m in the top .001% which makes ME better than you….. see how easy it is to post whatever you want about yourself?
The fact is that you and I are on opposite ends of the social and political spectrum, you believe in equal outcomes and social justice, I believe in equal opportunity and equal justice. Trust me, there is a WIDE chasm between the two. But hey, you keep on posting it and one day it may come true.
BTW, I suggest you read Animal Farm and the 5000 Year Leap (there will be a quiz later).
Report Post »Banter
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 9:53pm“I think you guys are saying that it‘s okay to organize a group provided those people aren’t organizing against rich people, or people who have political power or people who have power over your lives.”
Read the 5000 Year Leap and the Federalist Papers, then see if this statement in your post still makes sense to you.
Report Post »Therightsofbilly
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 10:45pm@BANTER,
Ole JZS has already read Animal Farm, no doubt about that.
As far as the 5000 Year Leap, he won’t be bothered. The idea of reading anything Beck related is a complete anathema to him.
@JZS
Nice try bud. But claiming that you just now looked up your uncle Saul on Wiki is an Alinsky tactic in itself.
Do you sleep in your commie grey pajamas?
Report Post »jzs
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 11:21pmBANTER, congratulations on being rich, very rich. Being rich, why would you care about the average American, let alone the poor? You are getting yours.
You might not care that Americans are going to lose $1000 payroll tax cut from Republicans. That’s a small fraction of your income, but to most Americans that matters. The Republicans are fighting for your profits, not those of the average American. So I don’t blame you for supporting them.
You don’t care than the wealth of the nation is shifting to you, one of the uber-rich, while the middle class has been shrinking for the last 30 years and that the number of poor and those in poverty have swollen with the influx of those who used to be middle class.
Of course you don’t care. You, as a member of the 0.01% are getting richer (because you are getting smarter and smarter), while the other American are getting poorer (because they are getting stupider and less enterprising). That’s the country you want, that’s the country you got, and paid for.
Report Post »Banter
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 11:22pmYea, but he should read it again, as I wonder if he just thought it was a weird story where the animals talk. If he can articulate Napoleon, and who he best represents in our society today, he may just finally get what all the “fuss” is about.
Report Post »Banter
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 11:33pmSadly, I expected a better response from you JZS. Apparently you have reading comprehension issues, and decided to focus on the one aspect of my post that was meant to make a point to you as an example.
Wait (mind gears turning), yep, got it. Your post is EXACTLY what I should expect from a liberal progressive. Slice out the context and build your argument on the words that will make your point. Your post describes you to a tee, and I never actually have to meet you to understand you.
Report Post »Therightsofbilly
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 11:41pmJZS,
Please expand on your last paragraph.
Are you claiming, and/or admitting that our wonderful public school system, (which is socialism by the way, so say you), is turning out stupider, less enterprising graduates?
I think that’s what you said. And if so, we agree.
Report Post »weneedrubio
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:56pmThe death panels have been found to be true and the government takover off healthcare will be too if we don’t stop it. What planet do these idiots live on?
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:43pmHey jzs
Report Post »Thank Obama for those wall street bonuses, he’s the one who bailed em out you moron ! And he was also. considering your leftist buddy and wall street criminal John Corzine , for treasury secretary….. Not to mention liberal butt boy Robert Rubin, Soros etc… And no candidate has ever got more Wall st. Than BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA… u Idiot.
warr9553
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:55pmits not the middle east we have to worry about its the dumacates we have to worry about
Report Post »Canada_Goose
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:53pmThe key to this being the Lie of The Year was the absence of the qualifier “as we know it”. Since many Democratic ads ran without the qualifier.
According to PolitiFact, “if Democrats had said Republicans had voted to end Medicare “as we know it” or that Republicans had voted to end Medicare as a program that directly covers medical expenses, their statement would have been accurate.”
Also it should be noted that the reader’s choice for Lie of The Year as opposed to the editorial choice was “The economic stimulus created “zero jobs.” — The National Republican Senatorial Committee and other Republicans
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:05pmPublic sector Jobs are non-qualifiers as Job creation. As they are nothing but government expense increases thus atx increases after the stimulus is spent.. Take those out and the stimlus created less than 500,000 jobs must of which are temporary position. at a cost of only 865,000,000,000 dollars.
Report Post »Canada_Goose
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:13pmSo I take it that you agree that Republicans lied about the stimulus since 500,000 is greater than zero.
Report Post »SEPARATENOW
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:40pmEven my left-wing public sector working friend knows government jobs are revenue killers, not producers.
Why are we still citizens of the same country as these morons?
Call it what you like, revolution, civil war, secession, we’ve gotta get rid of these free-loaders.
Report Post »Canada_Goose
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 5:05pmI guess you’ll be happy to know, according to the latest BLS survey…
Government employment continued to trend down in November, with a decline in the U.S. Postal Service (-5,000). Employment in both state government and local government has been trending down since the second half of 2008.
Report Post »Therightsofbilly
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 11:14pm@GOOSE
I’ll take your word on the number of actual jobs decreasing, but give me some stats on the amount of actual wages and benefits being paid. There has been a lot of high paying crony jobs created in the last three years.
Report Post »Canada_Goose
Posted on December 21, 2011 at 1:05pmI pulled the seasonally adjusted data from latest BLS survey on government wage and salary workers. There has been a 593,000 drop in the number employed between January 2008 and November 2011 (2.8% decrease). Assuming an average salary of $45k would mean a $26.7 billion decrease in costs to governments.
Whatever the number of so called crony appointments it is no where near this amount
Report Post »Firebrand
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:47pmWe‘ve gotten to a point where it’s only the truth if “I” agree with it.
Report Post »whereareyourbrains
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:41pmI yearn for the day, that when I wake up in the morning, I won’t have to worry about our president destroying America. I would rather live my life without the fear of our own government ruining our lives. I just heard Ron Paul will take Iowa. THis is exactly how Obama got it. A bunch of idiots and I mean idiots thought Obama was wonderful. Now we have even more idiots in a Iowa that will settle for Ron Paul. He is a joke. We might as well not have an election………give it to Obama………..
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:49pmIf I were you, I’d be studying-up on Ron Paul, so you can inform the masses of what you fear — besides, fear for the sake of fear.
Iowa people have been studying Ron Paul for awhile now and they like what they see. There’s a reason.
Report Post »pcg646
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:50pmSad but True and Scary!!!!
Report Post »iblvingd
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:02pmIf we truly want to stop the insanity…….we really need to VOTE OUT any senator or congressman who has been in office more than two years! Until the cronies are no longer in control, will we solve the problems with congress and this country. If we get a New President and congress stays the same, we still get the same old crap! If we get a New Pres and as many as possible new congressman we will see more congressman worried about saving our country not their paycheck with benefits.
A senate term is six years and a house of rep term is two years. The term needs to be the same for both. Two term limits. We need to all get active in all the caucus meetings coming in 2012 and see that things change!
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 4:24pmI long for the days ruffians didn’t bully and yell Nee to old ladies
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:38pmthe truth is an illusion to the progessive enemy within.
Report Post »Rillobymorning
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:24pmHow ’bout Pelosi’s comment last week that “extending the unemployment benefits for a year would create 600,000 jobs”. That was a humdinger!
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:41pmThat is the number of workers that make Colt 45 and Mad Dog 20/20.
Report Post »pcg646
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:17pmI yearn for the day the people of America wake up the lies and distortions of Pelosi/Reid/Obama and the dems in general. I am so mad at Nevada for re-electing Reid in`10. Obama must lose in`12 or its all over.
Report Post »Anamah
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:34pmDemocrats turned to be dangerous people and their politicians or spokesperson lie and distort reality. Unscrupulous all of them, Pelosi, Krugman and others are simply despicable. America should clean political environment so we could make a difference in honesty than mafia gangsters.
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:15pmThis man really does try to make a difference in Washington. I admire him. I truly can’t understand why Gingrich would attack him. It‘s Gingrich that’s wrong….calling Ryan’s plan “extreme right wing engineering” Rayan said: “With allies like that (Newt) who needs the left?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEvajIY4EP0
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:40pmYou, stirring the republican pot, means nothing.
Report Post »whereareyourbrains
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:43pmGingridge did not attack him ….He disagreed with some of his solutions. The media said he attacked him. Get real.
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:46pmGingrich is as big a flipper as Romney. He attacks “whomever is convenient” for his own gain — simple as that. Most of his flips are associated with MONEY. Don’t tell me about Newt. I‘ve done my homework and don’t like what I see.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:15pmFACT: There are Panels in ObamaCare that decide upon Treatment of Individuals! FACT: ObamaCare requires that everyone participate, thereby is a Government Take Over. FACT: Ryan has modified his HealthCare proposal to give an Option to each: Stay with Medicare, or Accept the Cash Voucher System — 10 years, from now.
Report Post »Harry Assenback
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:15pmLOL Gonzo!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Harry Assenback
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:12pmDang………I thought Obama’s Birth Ceritficate was. Oh well.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:11pmThat’s all candyass liberals do is lie and expect everybody to believe their BS,well we aint buying what you’re selling never have never will.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:09pmYour best friend’s aunt works for some porn site doesn’t she?
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:08pmTo me, what difference does it make. They all lie anyway.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:08pmOh come on Politifact! We all know Paul Ryan wants to push little old ladies in wheelchairs off the cliff…I’ve seen it with my own two eyes!
Report Post »marine249
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:37pmme to cuz i saw it on tv
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:45pmExactly…a TV ad told me so….
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 2:50pmNo one seemed to listen when Pelosi/Reid/Obama touted how they made this all work was a $500 billion cut in medicare. But it is the bad Republicans that voted against the healthcare bill that wanted grandma pushed off the cliff. This is the rapist blaming the victim for just looking too dang sexy.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:04pmYes that liberal propaganda machine is a piece of work, Only a liberal mind could think of it and only a liberal mind could believe it with a straight face.
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:17pmYep, not one peep about Democrats cutting Medicare. Romney’s plan cuts Medicare as well, but we don’t hear about that either.
Report Post »