PolitiFact | Were the Founding Fathers 'ordinary people'?

The Poynter Institute

Were the Founding Fathers 'ordinary people'?

National

Hear someone making a political point about a Founding Father? Better check the facts first.

Angie Drobnic Holan

By Angie Drobnic Holan July 2, 2015

As Independence Day approaches, PolitiFact Wisconsin examines a statement often made by Gov. Scott Walker on the campaign trail that the founders were "ordinary people." Read their full report.

See story for sources.

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The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter

stated on March 23, 2019 a speech:

Says that the Council on American-Islamic Relations was founded in response to 9/11.

false

false

stated on September 4, 2016 an interview on "Meet the Press":

Says Hillary Clinton "wants to increase Syrian refugees to this country by 550 percent."

true

true

Antonio Sabato Jr.

stated on July 19, 2016 an interview with ABC News:

Says President Barack Obama is "absolutely" a Muslim.

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on June 22, 2016 a speech in New York City:

Says Hillary Clinton "said she was under attack (in Bosnia) but the attack turned out to be young girls handing her flowers."

true

true

stated on January 17, 2016 an interview on "Meet the Press":

Hostages were released as soon as Ronald Reagan took office because Iran perceived that America was "no longer under the command of someone weak."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on September 27, 2015 an interview on ABC's "This Week":

"We've had examples like in Yuma County, where we've been able to stop 97 percent of the illegal (immigration) flow, and those programs, they abolish."

barely-true

barely-true

stated on October 14, 2014 a campaign ad:

Says Rick Scott changed his promise from 700,000 jobs created "on top of what normal growth would be" to just 700,000 jobs.

true

true

stated on March 3, 2014 in an interview on CNN:

On the economic stimulus.

half-flip

half-flip

Americans For Tax Reform

stated on April 14, 2014 in a press release:

"Obama has proposed 442 tax hikes since taking office."

barely-true

barely-true

National Republican Congressional Committee

stated on February 12, 2014 a television ad:

"300,000 Floridians will lose their current health plans" because of Obamacare, a plan Alex Sink supports.

half-true

half-true

Janet Napolitano

stated on August 27, 2013 a speech at the National Press Club:

The 2010 DREAM Act failed despite "strong bipartisan support."

barely-true

barely-true

stated on May 29, 2013 a chain email:

Says the word "Dhimmitude" is on page 107 of the health care law and means "Muslims are specifically exempted from the government mandate to purchase insurance."

pants-fire

pants-fire

stated on May 3, 2013 a position on legislation:

On an early date for Florida's presidential primary

full-flop

full-flop

stated on April 17, 2013 blog posts on the Internet:

Proposed immigration legislation would give new immigrants "a taxpayer-funded cellular phone."

false

false

stated on February 14, 2013 a speech on the Senate floor:

Says of a failed cloture vote on nominating Chuck Hagel for defense secretary: "This is not a filibuster."

barely-true

barely-true

Glenn Grothman
stated on January 16, 2020 in a tweet:

"In #WI, over 44,000 jobs depend on trade with Mexico and Canada."

By D.L. Davis • February 26, 2020
Facebook posts
stated on February 11, 2020 in a Facebook post:

“Breaking: UK Prepares For Full Lockdown After Hundreds Of New Cases — Wuhan Super Virus Updates.”

By Tom Kertscher • February 24, 2020
Facebook posts
stated on February 19, 2020 in a Facebook post:

"Pardons — Obama: 1,927, Trump: 26. And Trump is abusing that power?"

By Tom Kertscher • February 24, 2020
Facebook posts
stated on February 22, 2020 in a tweet:

"Not once in his entire career in Washington, D.C., which started way back in 1991, has Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders ever voted yes on sanctions against Russia."

By Tom Kertscher • February 24, 2020
Todd Gilbert
stated on February 12, 2020 in a floor speech.:

“America’s carbon emissions are being reduced at a rate far higher than any country in the world.”

By Warren Fiske • February 24, 2020
Daniel Lipinski
stated on February 14, 2020 in a TV interview:

Says the Affordable Care Act “took money out of the Medicare trust fund.”

By Kiannah Sepeda-Miller • February 23, 2020
Facebook posts
stated on February 20, 2020 in an image:

“Bernie Sanders wants free health care for all and was asked how he would pay for it. His answer was raise taxes to 52% on anybody making over $29,000 per year.”

By Daniel Funke • February 21, 2020
Elizabeth Warren
stated on February 19, 2020 in a debate:

"Amy, I looked online at your (health care) plan. It’s two paragraphs."

By Louis Jacobson • February 21, 2020
Viral image
stated on February 16, 2020 in a Facebook post:

Says President Trump’s limousine driver did burnouts to entertain Daytona 500 spectators during a rain delay.

By Samantha Putterman • February 21, 2020
Facebook posts
stated on February 8, 2020 in a Facebook post:

Says image shows Pete Buttigieg in a leather suit posing with two other men.

By Miriam Valverde • February 21, 2020