I would have agreed that what Joe said or didn't say about himself isn't all that relevant had he not then gone on to make numerous appearances various talk shows and news programs. This guy was clearly selling himself on US television, and promoting a particular political viewpoint in the process. That makes what he said about his history relevant to the voters of this country. His "story" was giving him cache on the public stage, and if his story was false, that cache is an illusion.