Fast and Loose

When the Republicans don't know a fact, they make one up in such a manner as to support their hypothesis. Interestingly enough, these facts often do not get checked by the base - the base is made up of often uneducated, always easily convinced (there is no global warming?) nitwits.

Now I don't mind a good debate with a conservative if they stick to the real facts, but that is often most impossible. Have you ever argued with someone who brings up facts and statistics you've never heard of? It's nearly impossible to discuss issues because you're arguing against made-up lies that you can't overcome without research. I've been in these situations and you wind up sitting there, helpless and dumbstruck.

Here comes an example - this one brought to light because the claim was made on TV. From Crooks and Liars - click the link for more and the sources.

At the GOP debate the other night, Mike Huckabee made an odd claim.

“When our founding fathers put their signatures on the Declaration of Independence, those 56 brave people, most of whom, by the way, were clergymen, they said that we have certain inalienable rights given to us by our creator.”

“Most” of the signers were clergy? Is that true? Actually, no.

Only one of the 56 was an active clergyman, and that was John Witherspoon. Witherspoon was a Presbyterian minister and president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University).