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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Spotlight On: Michael James


Michael James said he had to pull over his car when he heard Rush Limbaugh in a radio ad endorsing Missouri’s lieutenant governor.

Limbaugh claimed his old friend Peter Kinder “banned taxpayer-funded travel for politicians” when he led the state Senate.

“It sounded outrageous,” James said. “Obviously politicians have to travel. And they don’t do that with their own money if it’s official state business.”

James uploaded the ad to Spin Detectors. We found Limbaugh’s claim went too far.

James, 65, is a retired industrial hygienist living in Hannibal, Mo. He’s a registered Democrat. And he will be voting for Kinder’s Democratic challenger in November.

“I’m not a news junkie,” James said. “But I get a kick out of finding out what really is going on. It amazes me how much people can say and get away with.”

— Ben Finley

Our “Spotlight” feature is designed to give credit to those who help us hold politicians and political groups accountable. So, watch this spot. If you send us campaign materials that contain false or misleading information and we write about them, then we may write about you — with your permission, of course.

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