Americans for Prosperity—Liar Liar Pants on Fire
The North Carolina Democratic Party renewed its criticism of the conservative group Americans for Prosperity and called on them to pull the anti-health care TV ad from the airwaves in light of recent analysis by Politifact.com, a Pulitzer Prize winning fact checker, which called the ad “absurd” and said was packed full of “misinformation” and “distortion.”
In the ad, which began airing in the Raleigh market this week, a breast cancer survivor claims that Democratic health care proposals would inhibit early detection of breast cancer in women. The woman then asks viewers to call the offices of Congressman Bob Etheridge to oppose the bill.
Politifact examined the ad and gave it a “pants on fire” designation, meaning the ad is “not accurate and makes a ridiculous claim.”
“This ad paid for by Americans for Prosperity was always false. It has always been absurd and full of falsehoods,” said Andrew Whalen, Executive Director of the NCDP. “Now, a Pulitzer Prize winning fact checking organization has confirmed that and given the ad the lowest marks possible for honesty.”
“We’re calling on AFP to pull the ad immediately and to apologize for deliberately misleading voters with false claims about Democratic health care proposals that will help millions of North Carolinians get better health coverage,” Whalen concluded.
Republican candidates up for re-election, including Sen. Richard Burr, have yet to call on AFP to take down the ad.
Politifact’s complete analysis of the ad can be read here: http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/mar/16/americans-prosperity/ad-claims-if-health-reform-bill-passes-government-/