Take it from Steve Harvey, the truth doesn’t pay

Factcheck.org has issued its annual Whopper report, documenting the biggest lies from the presidential campaign.

I’m sure you already know what the whoppers are. However, I feel someone should at least look at the fact checks, even if it’s just me, because reporters work hard on these. So many footnotes.

Of course Donald Trump got the most whoppers with his tales of thousands of celebrating Muslims. Hillary Clinton came in second for the tap dance about her email server. And Bernie Sanders was called out for his Social Security mathematics.

Related: Ted Cruz is killing it with ‘The Princess Bride’ quotes

Even as I summarize these things, it reminds me of the fundamental problem with facts. There’s no market for them. They’re dull.

Hearing Trump calling out New Jersey Muslims for partying is far more interesting than finding out that it’s not true. No supporters want to hear the facts behind their candidate’s lies &#8211 it spoils it. Like a magician revealing where his rabbits are hidden.

Who would pay to see that? Nobody.

There was a time when fact checks had a purpose, when they might have deterred candidates from making stuff up, or shamed them into an apology, but candidates have learned that no one re-tweets facts.

In fact, unless facts start getting more interesting, the fact is that facts will eventually disappear entirely.

Here’s the latest proof that the truth doesn’t pay: Steve Harvey! Harvey has been crucified for screwing up Miss Universe. If he’d been thinking clearly, he would have behaved like a politician and stuck with Miss Colombia no matter what. If he had, I bet he’d find himself leading in Iowa today.