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For Halloween, PolitiFact's scariest fact-checks To celebrate Halloween, we're highlighting some of our scariest Truth-O-Meter items of the past few years.
Scare tactics have a long and rich history in American politics. Opponents of Thomas Jefferson warned in 1800 that his election would mean that "murder, robbery, rape, adultery and incest will openly be taught and practiced." Joseph McCarthy tried to frighten us about the red menace. And President Lyndon Johnson tried to scare voters with suggestions that Barry Goldwater would nuke the planet.
Scare tactics are alive and well thanks to the Internet and chain e-mails. So today we're highlighting some scary claims and how they rated on the Truth-O-Meter. We've also been doing lots of fact-checking on chain e-mails, which remain a persistent way to spread falsehoods. We've recently checked claims that Barack Obama is the first president to terminate America's ability to put a man in space (Pants on Fire) and one that says Medicare premiums will be going up to $104.20 in 2012 and $247.00 in 2014 due to "provisions incorporated in the Obamacare legislation, purposely delayed so as not to 'confuse' the 2012 re-election campaigns." (another Pants on Fire)
And while you're checking out our site, make sure you get the latest on the presidential campaign, and the latest items from our partnership in New Hampshire.
Cheers,
Bill  | — Bill Adair
Editor, PolitiFact.com
Washington Bureau Chief
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