Post-Mortem

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‘Post-Fact’

“Tonight’s debate will present another opportunity to test the theory that politically appealing fictions grab more voters than facts do. And news organizations are ramping up their fact-checking operations in anticipation of nights like tonight — though whether they are really responding to popular demand or trying to make facts matter against the prevailing odds may be a harder question to answer.

“‘There seems to be a trend story that . . . facts don’t matter and the electorate isn’t interested in facts,’ said Eugene Kiely, the director of one of the oldest fact-checking websites, FactCheck.org.”

“‘As long as politicians open their mouths we have a job,’ he said.”

—Hadas Gold, reporter, “Fact-checking the candidates in a ‘post-fact’ world,” Politico.com, Dec. 15, 2015 

 

• Editorial Comment: Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good campaign.


PeezPix by Ted Pease

Plaza Sunset, Arcata, California








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“Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” —Tom Stoppard
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