Posted on 04/02/2018 8:59:46 AM PDT by ethom
Monday is the second annual “International Fact Checking Day,” which the “fact-checkers” celebrate right after April Fools’ Day. To illustrate how these “fact” guardians are sometimes hard to separate from the average liberal journalist, check out this recent piece of Urgent National Business:
Does Mike Pence call his wife ‘Mother’?
Yes, PolitiFact devoted an article to whether or not the vice president has called Karen Pence “Mother” around the dinner table. John Kruzel explained:
We decided to break from our usual mission of analyzing the nitty gritty of public policy to look into this unusual feature of Pences' relationship that has captured readers' interest. We found several people willing to go on the record that Pence calls his wife "Mother," but we were unable to find video or other documentary evidence, so the claim will remain unrated.
In fact, a Pence spokesman called the claim “false.” So if you can’t prove something is factual, why write about it? Aren’t the “fact checkers” just spreading an unverified tale, publishing clickbait for Pence haters?
Worse yet, an unverified tale that first appeared in Rolling Stone, the leftist rag caught faking campus rape stories at the University of Virginia? The article didn’t seem high on facts, just on attitude. The headline was “The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence: He's trampled on the rights of women, LGBTQ folks and the poor. Then there's the incompetence. Meet, quite possibly, the next president”.
Remember that PolitiFact often works on tips from its liberal fans to pick what to “fact check,” so if it “captures reader interest” to explore for a while if Mike Pence is one weird Christian nut, then they will publish that article.
PolitiFact’s Kruzel updated that January article with an interview with Karen Lawson, a liberal Democrat:
“So there was a big lull in our conversation and he shouted down at the end of the table to his wife and said: ‘Mother! Mother! Could you tell us who's china we're eating on this evening?’ And she responded by saying, ‘Yes, this belonged to (former Indiana Gov. Mitch) Daniels’ family. It's very efficient and it's white and you can use it with everything, blah, blah, blah.’
"So the conversation went on and we were oohing and aahing at how great that was. But then there was still nothing to talk about. So maybe 15 minutes later it was, ‘Mother! Mother! Who prepared our meal this evening?’ And she went on to explain it was a caterer in town and he was new and he was really good and blah blah blah."
"The leader of the Democrats was sitting next to me on my right side, and I looked at him and I said, ‘He called his wife 'Mother'!’ "
Can PolitiFact find someone who’s not a Democrat on this tale? Kruzel found a reporter who could only recall:
"Offhand, I'm going to say that I did hear him use that term on at least one occasion, but it's not a clear memory," said [Jim] Shella, a political reporter with Indianapolis-based WISH-TV Channel 8. "It certainly fits with his general demeanor."
This article is unverified gossip -- hardly something "PolitiFact" should be proud to publish.
Does anyone really care? My dad called my mom “mother” around us kids when we were growing up.
What possible difference does it make?......................
Well, is she or is she not the mother of his children?
This may be a wee bit old-fashioned, but there is nothing weird about it at all.
Grounds for impeachment, right there!
Not only is she the mother, but I bet $100 that Pence is their father.
What possible difference does it make?......................
—
To smear your political enemies 24/7. And if you can’t find enough real trash, you pitch innuendo. Smear, smear, smear. Relentlessly. Endlessly.
At this point, if someone dropped a nuke on one of the alphabet so-called news agencies; I’d laugh. I hate them.
well said, she is indeed the ‘mother’ of the house. nothing strange about that at all...
I’m always intrigued why men call their wives “Mom.” Even Reagan did it to Nancy. They must have some good you know what.
I call my wife “mommy” when our kids are present.
I hope this guy gets a Pulitzer. He deserves it.
Outstanding journalism. Woodward and who?
So terrible! Next he will be taking 'Mother' out for an ice cream sundae and watching the Ten Commandments on Easter..
Lots of couples do this, from way back in time, so why do they care?................
Yep.
If we start seeing a pile-on on Pence, maybe Mar 20 was metaphorical.
Indeed.
It’s heteronormative?
Are they angry that he didn’t call her ‘baby momma’ instead? Weird obsessions these deranged leftists have.
My grandfather did the same thing... it was my grandma’s fav accomplishment... she loved it
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.