Sen. Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) citing of anonymous sources to rip Mitt
Romney three months before the election has cast a bright light on how
politicians use disputable claims to further their agendas.
The Senate majority leader triggered a media frenzy when he said he had inside information that Romney didn’t pay any taxes for 10 years. He initially cited a Bain investor who called his office, and later suggested he had more than one source.
Reid’s claim set off a furor both in the political arena and among the burgeoning ranks of journalistic fact-checkers and ethics experts.
Reid has repeatedly criticized Romney for not releasing more of his tax returns, but has not provided proof or revealed the names of his sources. Leading Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), have pounced, calling Reid a “liar.” Romney has challenged him to “put up or shut up.”
The Washington Post’s Fact Checker has given Reid’s assertion a “Four Pinocchios” rating, while Politifact essentially said the same thing, labeling it “Pants on Fire.”
Reid’s office did not comment for this article.
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/242671-reid-not-alone-in-using-unnamed-sources-to-score-political-points
The Senate majority leader triggered a media frenzy when he said he had inside information that Romney didn’t pay any taxes for 10 years. He initially cited a Bain investor who called his office, and later suggested he had more than one source.
Reid’s claim set off a furor both in the political arena and among the burgeoning ranks of journalistic fact-checkers and ethics experts.
Reid has repeatedly criticized Romney for not releasing more of his tax returns, but has not provided proof or revealed the names of his sources. Leading Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), have pounced, calling Reid a “liar.” Romney has challenged him to “put up or shut up.”
The Washington Post’s Fact Checker has given Reid’s assertion a “Four Pinocchios” rating, while Politifact essentially said the same thing, labeling it “Pants on Fire.”
Reid’s office did not comment for this article.
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/242671-reid-not-alone-in-using-unnamed-sources-to-score-political-points
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