This week, readers sent us comments both criticizing and praising our reporting.
In the FactCheck Mailbag, we feature some of the email we receive. Readers can send comments to editor@factcheck.org. Letters may be edited for length.
‘Son of Boss’ Backlash
Brooks Jackson is way over the line using the FactCheck.org name with the recent article titled [“Obama’s ‘Boss’ Baloney,” Aug. 10]. If your organization can’t check the facts, it is not Obama’s fault. The ‘Son of BOSS’ scandal shows the type of choices that this candidate is willing to make.
In response to the bullet points in the article:
- The scheme did benefit Romney (he got paid by Marriott), but we can’t tell how much because he doesn’t release his tax records. Are you going to say with a straight face that Romney just did this for Marriott and he didn’t do it himself?
- CNN was the source. It’s on their website. They published it. The ad didn’t say that it was CNN’s opinion. It identified the authors in an op-ed piece.
- The ad didn’t say that Marriott was the only one. A cursory search on Google shows that it was a common practice that the IRS clearly identified as deceptive before Romney pulled it with Marriott.
- Tax avoidance is wrong and you know it. Is deducting your mortgage interest wrong? No. Is creating a fictitious partnership solely for the purposes of reducing your taxes without employing anyone and creating a product wrong? Absolutely. It is wrong on so many levels.
The reliability of FactCheck.org has taken a serous blow to its reputation. You have not presented any facts in this article, but added your speculation and conjecture. Stick to what you’re good at. Stick to the facts. If there are none, then stay out of it.
Perry Macdonald
Newbury Park, Calif.
‘Thorough’ Reporting
Your reporting is so thorough it puts traditional news to shame! Anyone who thinks you are biased seems to use info that you said in your article, and formed opinions on that. The true source of unbiased fact finding is in the depths of your articles. My thanks to the staff, and those who click the donate button!
Jeffry Engert
Chicago, Ill.