The thought that Rep. Paul Ryan and Republicans wanted to "end Medicare" is now as legitimate as using the phrase "death panels" or "government takeover" when referring to Obamacare, thanks to Democrats winning PolitiFact's "Lie of the Year."
The "end Medicare" idea apparently started with Rep. Steve Israel and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, although it was repeated over and over.... and over.
The "end Medicare" phrase even beat out Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's thought that Republicans wanted "Jim Crow laws," or Rep. Michele Bachmann's declaration that HPV vaccines cause "mental retardation."
President Obama had the highest statistical chance of winning, since he was the only one listed twice on the list of finalists for "Lie of the Year," but PolitiFact has a habit of giving the grand prize for health care lies.
PolitiFact's declaration that the claim that Republicans voted to "end Medicare" was a controversial one that drew some heavy criticism from people who swore it was an accurate thing to say, but it looks like they're standing by it.
The fact-checkers, who may or may not be correct all of the time, point out three specific parts where the DCCC and some other Dems fouled up: They used words like "end" or "kill," they ignored the fact that it didn't affect old people, then they used people who looked way too old in their commercials.
Click here for one lefty response to PolitiFact's declaration.
Here's PolitiFact's explanation for this year's award, which is allegedly intended to be a factual statement.
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