Halloween special report: our scariest fact-checks!

 By Bill Adair

Published on Sunday, October 30th, 2011 at 11:10 a.m.

To celebrate Halloween, we’re highlighting some of our scariest Truth-O-Meter items of the past few years.

Scare tactics have a long and rich history in American politics. Opponents of Thomas Jefferson warned in 1800 that his election would mean that “murder, robbery, rape, adultery and incest will openly be taught and practiced.” Joseph McCarthy tried to frighten us about the red menace. And President Lyndon Johnson tried to scare voters with suggestions that Barry Goldwater would nuke the planet.

Scare tactics are alive and well thanks to the Internet and chain e-mails. So here’s a list of some scary claims and how they rated on the Truth-O-Meter: READ MORE