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How a questionable number ended up in Crossroads ad Last week, our senior writer Lou Jacobson fact-checked a claim from an American Crossroads ad that blamed President Obama for the fact that 85 percent of college grads return to live with their parents.
The more Lou researched the claim, the stranger the story got. He found the 85 percent figure had been recycled by the news media with little scrutiny. The number is actually very questionable, but journalists were content to copy it from other news reports without verifying it -- or even asking when the survey was conducted.
Lou's story is more than just a tale of a false number; it's a lesson to our colleagues in the media about the need to verify facts before you repeat them.
Meanwhile, make sure you check out our other recent work: - The Obama campaign earned a False for its claim that, "under the Romney/Ryan budget, interest rates on federal student loans would be allowed to double."
- PolitiFact writer Becky Bowers did a line-by-line examination of a new ad by Americans for Prosperity that is one of the sneakiest ads we've seen this season.
- Angie Drobnic Holan, our deputy editor, did an interesting analysis of attack lines from both parties about Medicare. Her recommendation: Don't believe either party!
Cheers,
Bill  | — Bill Adair
Editor, PolitiFact.com
Washington Bureau Chief
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About PolitiFact: PolitiFact, a feature of the Tampa Bay Times, is an impartial site that helps you sort out the truth in American politics. We rate the accuracy of statements by elected officials, special interest groups, pundits and talk show hosts. We also are tracking more than 500 campaign promises made by Barack Obama. PolitiFact has won many awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. Advertise on PolitiFact Reach PolitiFact readers with your message.
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