In his latest PolitiFact critique, Bryan White brews up what appears to be a pretty open and shut case about “selection bias” at PolitiFact. In a televised debate, Delaware Democrat Senatorial candidate Chris Coons disagrees with a statement by his opposing Republican candidate Chris O’Donnell that unemployment in New Castle County (one of Delaware’s three counties) has doubled in the last two years. PolitiFact finds that Chris Coons' assertion that it has not doubled is True (despite Bryan’s claims that wasn’t exactly what he said).
But Bryan's words are poisoned with the essence of snark and pinch of paranoia (too many pinches, which almost spoils his brew) towards PolitiFact. “PolitiFact has selection bias on hand to guide us through this difficult process…” “There's nothing wrong with a little garbling, is there?” “Precisely why was the comparison kept to August in the first place? Other than to explicitly benefit Coons, of course.” “Whether by accident or not, PolitiFact cherry-picked to Coons' benefit.”
