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Um, how can a statement be “technically correct” and “mostly false” at the same time?

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Illinois

* The BGA’s fact checker strikes again…

While defending her criminal justice record, Mendoza said she was “the deciding vote on abolishing the death penalty in the state of Illinois.”

Before making that claim, she accurately described her change of heart on the issue that led her to support the 2011 abolition measure after long backing capital punishment.

And Mendoza is technically correct that the measure would have sunk had she voted the other way. By that standard, however, any one of the 59 other House members who supported the bill on final passage could make the same claim.

Even with Mendoza’s support, the measure came up short on an initial vote. When the sponsor opted for a re-do later that day, a different lawmaker who’d opposed it on the first try switched his vote, securing its passage. In the end, it clearly didn’t come down to Mendoza.

We rate her claim Mostly False.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:31 am

Comments

So lets’s jist say there were 59 deciding votes and call it a day.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:38 am
===So lets’s jist say there were 59 deciding votes and call it a day.===

Exactly. It’s a stupid claim to make, and an even dumber one to “fact check.”

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:46 am
In today’s political climate, isn’t that true of anything any politician says?

Comment by Bruce (no not him) Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:53 am
We rate the BGA rating as baloney. Make the point about the 59 votes and label her claim as political puffery, but to claim something is false, but technically correct is goofy.

Comment by Norseman Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:55 am
Her claim was not misleading in any way. It may have been awkwardly worded, but the information it conveyed was completely true.

Comment by jake Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 10:58 am
No, not “any of the 59 members” who had been voting against the death penalty al along and continued to vote against it could claim to be the deciding vote. She was the highest-profile change of heart; gave an impassioned speech and may have brought a few members along with her.

Comment by I remember that vote Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:02 am
I’ve been a fan of the BGA’s “truth meter,” but they clearly misfired on this one. If they can’t make a definitive call on a statement, they should take a pass on trying to rate it.

Maybe they need a different rating, like “technically true, but misleading.”

Comment by Roman Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:03 am
==By that standard, however, any one of the 59 other House members who supported the bill on final passage could make the same claim.==

Maybe Mendoza was a late committal during vote counting. Geez.

Comment by Moby Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:03 am
I rate this fact check: Mostly stupid.

Comment by Tom Threat Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:04 am
The point is she tried to take credit for abolishing the death penalty, claiming her vote was worth more than the others who voted on the bill. It was a ridiculous claim to make in the first place.

Comment by retiredhack Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:08 am
When you get the exact number you need, everyone is the deciding vote, right? Can a fact-check have a rating of “indifferent” or “neutral”?

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:33 am
Surely BGA can find something more. This is silly.

Comment by Barrington Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:34 am
The “deciding vote” claim it’s a double edge sword for Mendoza. I’m sure Preckwinkle‘s folks will point out she was the “deciding vote” on the income tax increase to counter any attacks on Toni’s pop tax.

Comment by Roman Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:39 am
–Um, how can a statement be “technically correct” and “mostly false” at the same time?–

LOL, BGA must have hit the Boone’s Farm pretty hard over the long weekend.

How did this one get past even cursory editing?

It’s Monday, gang. Maybe a stiff Bloody Mary to stop the shakes, then sober up.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:43 am
===I’m sure Preckwinkle‘s folks will point out she was the “deciding vote” on the income tax increase===

This is a Chicago mayor’s race, not a statewide race. Try to keep that in mind.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:46 am
===The point is she tried to take credit for abolishing the death penalty, claiming her vote was worth more than the others who voted on the bill. ===

By this standard, Sen. McCain shouldn’t have gotten any more credit for his vote on repeal of ACA than Senator Klobuchar.

Reality suggests otherwise. We never doubted where Klobuchar stood on the vote but unsure about McCain’s.

If BGA has evidence that Mendoza was early out the gate and not on the fence until vote time, then I could see this rating. In that evidence’s absence, this appears to be a needless swipe at Mendoza.

Comment by MG85 Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 11:50 am
She’s always the star in every one of her solo performances. “Oh, thank you little supporting players, I couldn’t have done this without you.”

Next, she’ll be posing on a rowboat wearing a tricorn.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 12:47 pm
Like a “game-winning” field goal in football. No other points matter.

Comment by Duopoly Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 2:45 pm
And what a wrong vote it was.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Nov 26, 18 @ 4:01 pm