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Later this month, we'll announce PolitiFact's Lie of the Year -- the most significant falsehood of 2010, as chosen by our editors and reporters. We're examining claims we've rated False or Pants on Fire and will choose the one that played the biggest role in the national discourse in the past year.
For the coveted Readers' Choice award, we're also inviting PolitiFact readers to vote on the most important lie. (Last year, both honors went to the same lie -- "death panels.")
Here are our eight finalists; readers may also write in another choice. The Truth-O-Meter items listed at the right will take you to our original reports, with complete source lists.
Which of these was the biggest lie of 2010?
"The president of the United States will be taking a trip over to India that is expected to cost the taxpayers $200 million a day." -- Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn.
ObamaCare is a "government takeover" of health care. -- Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio; Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Fla.; the Republican Party of Florida; Wisconsin Lt. Gov.-elect Rebecca Kleefisch; and others
"Taliban Dan" Webster thinks wives should submit to their husbands. -- Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla.
"The stimulus has not created one private sector job." -- Gov.-elect Rick Scott, R-Fla., and others
"Ninety-four percent of small businesses will face higher taxes under the Democrats' plan." -- Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, and others
"Phoenix is the No. 2 kidnapping capital of the world." -- Rep. John McCain, R-Ariz., and others
The ethics report "exonerates me." -- Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.
Republicans want to dismantle or privatize Social Security. -- Florida Democratic Party and other Democratic candidates
Voting is now closed for Lie of the Year. Results will be announced Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010.
Our Sources
See Truth-O-Meter items.