Politics Northwest

The Seattle Times political team explores state, regional and local politics.

October 23, 2008 10:51 AM

Congressional Web site misstates Reichert's degree

As I reported in a story today, Democratic Congressional candidate Darcy Burner has a bachelor's degree in computer science from Harvard, with a "special field," or concentration, in economics.
Her Republican opponent, Dave Reichert, says he has a two-year associate's degree from Concordia Lutheran College in Oregon.
I did find one Web site that misstates his degree. This congressional directory lists that he has a B.A. He doesn't.
The Congressional Directory is a government site managed by the Office of History and Preservation. A person who answered the phone there wouldn't be quoted, but he said they get their information from "public sources" like newspapers, members' Web sites, and almanacs.
The Burner campaign just sent out a list of five other Web sites that also claim Reichert has a B.A. from Concordia. None of the Web sites are affiliated with the Reichert campaign.
His campaign and Congressional Web sites say simply that "he graduated."

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Comments

Let's see what you do with this, Miss Heffter. I bet your "journalistic integrity" will mean that you do nothing, as what I've come to expect... Posted on October 23, 2008 at 12:00 PM by raincityman. Jump to comment

Does Reichert's campaign spokeswoman, Amanda Halligan, think Mr. Reichert's claims about his degree are "outrageous"? Does it call into question... Posted on October 23, 2008 at 1:28 PM by lost my ocean. Jump to comment

Why doesn't your paper just pull your misleading and inaccurate Burner story off the front page? I say inaccurate and misleading because you... Posted on October 23, 2008 at 1:25 PM by mediamaverick. Jump to comment

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