PolitiFact Defends 'Half-True' Rating on Obama Insurance Lie

In June 2012, PolitiFact characterized as “half-true” President Obama’s promise that if Americans liked their health insurance plans, they would be able to keep them, as half-true. On Sunday, David Axelrod admitted that promise was a lie. On Monday, the White House essentially admitted that the Obama promise was a lie, and that many people would be kicked off of health insurance they like. Nonetheless, PolitiFact told TruthRevolt.org that its “half-true” rating was still correct:

Our fact-checks and reporting show that the health care law leaves in place the current health insurance system while putting more regulations on health insurance companies, and that means some people may have to change plans. People also had to change plans before the health care law. Overall, Obama’s statement was partially accurate but left out important details or took things out of context. That’s our definition of Half True. 

If PolitiFact’s definition of Half True is a lie, this makes perfect sense. Otherwise, PolitiFact has yet to explain how a false statement resonates as even half-true.

Ben Shapiro is Editor-At-Large of Breitbart News and author of the New York Times bestseller “Bullies: How the Left’s Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences America” (Threshold Editions, January 8, 2013). He is also Editor-in-Chief of TruthRevolt.org. Follow Ben Shapiro on Twitter @benshapiro.