"Fact" Checking Runs Amok

From the AP: 

CLINTON: "Their campaign pollster said, 'We're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact checkers.' Now that is true. I couldn't have said it better myself — I just hope you remember that every time you see the ad."

THE FACTS: Clinton, who famously finger-wagged a denial on national television about his sexual relationship with intern Monica Lewinsky and was subsequently impeached in the House on a perjury charge, has had his own uncomfortable moments over telling the truth. "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky," Clinton told television viewers. Later, after he was forced to testify to a grand jury, Clinton said his statements were "legally accurate" but also allowed that he "misled people, including even my wife."

Can you even believe this trash? Liberals are furious and they have every right and reason to be. This isn't fact-checking. It an ad hominem attack on Clinton's credibility. He lied once so take everything he says with several thousand grains of salt. I mean, I do. And if some other snarky opinion columnist wants to remind people that Clinton is a lying, cheating, snake-oil salesman, they should have at it. But this is supposed to be an objective journalistic exercise in holding politicians accountable for what they just said. And nothing Clinton said in the above quotation is inaccurate. Romney's campaign pollster did say "We're not going to let our campaign by dictated by fact checkers." And good for him.

Bill Clinton is, no doubt, regretting his tribute to the Fact Checkers club. In their silly effort to appear even-handed, the AP attacked Clinton personally and unprofessionally. In so doing, they've only revealed the appalling nature of their project. They are doing journalism a huge disservice. And they need to STOP!