WaPo Debunks Bredesen Claim
Phil Bredesen, the Democratic candidate in Tennessee’s U.S. Senate race, earned three Pinocchios from the Washington Post fact-checkers for his claim that the state’s meth problem was “cut in half” during his time as governor. “Without diminishing Bredesen’s efforts in 2005 or questioning his credibility on the opioid crisis, the fact is Tennessee’s meth problem […]
July 18, 2018
Phil Bredesen, the Democratic candidate in Tennessee’s U.S. Senate race, earned three Pinocchios from the Washington Post fact-checkers for his claim that the state’s meth problem was “cut in half” during his time as governor.
“Without diminishing Bredesen’s efforts in 2005 or questioning his credibility on the opioid crisis, the fact is Tennessee’s meth problem was not “cut in half” under his watch.”
“Measuring the number of meth lab incidents or seizures from 2005 to 2007 is very convenient but rather misleading, especially since these figures began to climb in 2008 and continued to rise through the end of Bredesen’s term as governor.”
Bredesen used selective statistics to attempt to bolster his record on combating the drug crisis. The facts remain:
- Meth lab seizure incidents increased 178% from 2008 to 2011. In 2009, the drug-induced death rate in TN was higher than national average.
- From 2002 to 2011 (10 years), TN had the second-highest meth lab seizures in the nation (behind only Missouri).
Bredesen’s campaign message focuses on touting his record as governor, but that only works if the message is factual.
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