1 out of 56 is not ‘most’

mimo2005 · 10-24-2007, 07:42 AM

At the GOP debate the other night, Mike Huckabee made an odd claim.

“When our founding fathers put their signatures on the Declaration of Independence, those 56 brave people, most of whom, by the way, were clergymen, they said that we have certain inalienable rights given to us by our creator.”

“Most” of the signers were clergy? Is that true? Actually, no.

Only one of the 56 was an active clergyman, and that was John Witherspoon. Witherspoon was a Presbyterian minister and president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University).

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/1...6-is-not-most/

JohnthePilot · 10-24-2007, 07:53 AM

Well, allowing for 5000% error, 1±50

~~Nik00117~~ · 10-24-2007, 01:54 PM

Simple mistake :)

Quite frankly thats one of the easiest ways to own someone on debate, simply bring up a technical point like that. Really hurts da ego.

yustr · 10-24-2007, 09:26 PM

Simple mistake? Sounds more like speaking from ignorance to gain an advantage.

But if called out on it he'll just say: "I didn't mean that they were actually preachers but that they were religious people."

bry623 · 10-29-2007, 01:41 PM

Speaking out of ignorance to gain fame............. much like inventing the internets

10-24-2007, 07:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
mimo2005 Manager, Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 11,142 OS: xp	1 out of 56 is not ‘most’ At the GOP debate the other night, Mike Huckabee made an odd claim. “When our founding fathers put their signatures on the Declaration of Independence, those 56 brave people, most of whom, by the way, were clergymen, they said that we have certain inalienable rights given to us by our creator.” “Most” of the signers were clergy? Is that true? Actually, no. Only one of the 56 was an active clergyman, and that was John Witherspoon. Witherspoon was a Presbyterian minister and president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/1...6-is-not-most/ __________________ TSF has outgrown its server, again. Please help "Gutta cavat lapidem, non vi sed saepe cadendo"

10-24-2007, 07:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 30,932 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: 1 out of 56 is not ‘most’ Well, allowing for 5000% error, 1±50 __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015 Last edited by JohnthePilot; 10-26-2007 at 05:07 AM.

10-24-2007, 01:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
~~Nik00117~~ Troubled Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 1,572 OS: XP Pro, Vista Ulimate My System	Re: 1 out of 56 is not ‘most’ Simple mistake :) Quite frankly thats one of the easiest ways to own someone on debate, simply bring up a technical point like that. Really hurts da ego.

10-24-2007, 09:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
yustr Asst. Manager, The Conversation Pit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Connecticut shore Posts: 6,057 OS: XP Pro My System	Re: 1 out of 56 is not ‘most’ Simple mistake? Sounds more like speaking from ignorance to gain an advantage. But if called out on it he'll just say: "I didn't mean that they were actually preachers but that they were religious people." __________________ If there are lawyers or politicians involved, logic may be a very poor tool for reaching a conclusion.

10-29-2007, 01:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
bry623 Manager, The Conversation Pit/Analyst, Security Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: NW Territory circa 1787 Posts: 11,698 OS: winxp pro sp2	Re: 1 out of 56 is not ‘most’ Speaking out of ignorance to gain fame............. much like inventing the internets __________________ "If you aren't a liberal when you're 20, you have no heart. If you aren't a conservative when you are 50, you have no brain"