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2012 Players Guide
FactCheck Mailbag
FactCheck Mailbag, Week of Nov. 1-7.
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Boehner’s Big Stretch on Small BusinessNovember 9
House Speaker John Boehner claimed that “small-business people” make up more than half of those who would be hit by a tax increase on “millionaires.” Not really. Only 13 percent of those making over $1 million get even as much as one-fourth of that income from small business, according to … Huntsman’s BlackoutNovember 8
Jon Huntsman falsely claimed that the Obama administration’s proposed regulations to cut pollution from coal-fired electric plants will “likely” cause blackouts “this summer.” That’s not true. Huntsman’s claim is contradicted by a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission letter cited by his own campaign, and by independent assessments as well. No Blackouts … Friends Lumped with Foes in Foreign Oil DebateNovember 4
Republican presidential candidates Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman this week both exaggerated the extent to which the U.S. relies on imported oil from countries “hostile” or “unfriendly” to the U.S. Warning about over-reliance on foreign oil from countries that “don’t like us very much” is a bipartisan refrain. And it … Cain’s False Attack on Planned ParenthoodNovember 1
Herman Cain has offered an alternate version of history in claiming that Planned Parenthood’s founder wanted to prevent “black babies from being born.” We find no support for that old claim. Cain also states that the organization built 75 percent of its clinics in black communities, but there’s no evidence … Perry’s Dubious Tax PromiseOctober 31
In his speech unveiling his proposed “flat tax” overhaul of the tax system, Rick Perry promised that “taxes will be cut across all income groups in America.” But a newly released analysis of his plan by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center concluded that many lower-income persons and families would see … Axelrod Ups the AnteOctober 31
President Barack Obama’s reelection strategist David Axelrod said on CNN’s “State of the Union” Oct. 30 that “all economists agree” that the White House jobs bill “would create millions of jobs.” That goes beyond the usual White House exaggeration, and is simply not true. Axelrod, Oct. 30: Obviously the American … A Father-In-Law’s Attack AdsOctober 31
It’s not every day you see a guy sinking over a million dollars into political ads to attack his son-in-law’s opponent. But the truth-stretching in the ads? That’s all too common. The revelation that an in-law is the money behind a relentless campaign, featuring several attack ads, is the latest … A Sneaky ‘FactCheck’ Front GroupOctober 28
A sneaky Ohio group, using a name similar to ours, is accusing a Cleveland-area real-estate developer of making false and misleading claims in a local zoning fight. But the fact is we have nothing to do with “SouthEuclidFactCheck.org” and don’t endorse the statements that group is making in mailers and … Romney Didn’t OK New Benefits for Illegal ImmigrantsOctober 26
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is claiming that Mitt Romney “OKd health care for illegal immigrants” by signing Massachusetts’ 2006 health care overhaul law. But the law didn’t give illegal immigrants anything new. It merely continued and renamed a state program that had long allowed low-income, uninsured residents, including those in … |
 Cain’s Pattern of Evasion and MisdirectionThe GOP candidate contradicts himself on abortion, 9-9-9 and now on allegations of sexual harassment.November 2Herman Cain’s prevarications about how accusations of sexual harassment were settled are only the most recent example of the candidate’s penchant for making contradictory statements on major issues. He also has made a habit of telling untruths about his own stance on abortion and about his signature 9-9-9 …  FactChecking Health Insurance PremiumsRepublicans exaggerate an increase caused by the new law. But Obama promised lower premiums.October 24Health insurance premiums for employer-sponsored family plans jumped a startling 9 percent from 2010 to 2011, and Republicans have blamed the federal health care law. But they exaggerate. The law — the bulk of which has yet to be implemented — has caused only about a 1 percent …  Romney v. Perry in a YouTube SlugfestDueling Web ads from GOP candidates come with unintentionally ironic titles: "The Facts" and "Misleading."October 21Mitt Romney and Rick Perry are hammering each other with dueling — and distorted — YouTube ads. Romney’s ad says “unemployment has doubled on Perry’s watch” as Texas governor. That’s true. But it’s also true that Texas has bucked the national trend and now has a lower jobless rate …  Tales From New HampshireWe check on Cain's murky tax plan, 'death panels,' Obama's alleged plot for a Medicare 'collapse,' and other dubious claims from the GOP debate in Hanover.October 12Our research has turned up some more dubious and misleading claims from the economic debate among Republican candidates in Hanover, N.H. Cain claims his 9-9-9 proposal to overhaul the tax code is “simple, transparent, efficient, fair, and neutral.” But his campaign …  Clearing the Air on Perry’s RecordWe find his claims about cleaning up pollution to be exaggerated.October 7Texas Gov. Rick Perry cites partly cloudy statistics to back up his boast that Texas is doing just fine cleaning its air on its own — without the EPA. Perry boasts that “we cleaned up our air in Texas more than any other state, during the decade of the 2000s.” …  West Virginia Race Goes to the DogsSpecial election for governor brings out the worst in Republicans and Democrats alike.September 26If West Virginia’s special election for governor were a greyhound race, the winning dogs would be “Falsehood” and “Distortion.” In dead last? “The Truth.” Both candidates — Republican Bill Maloney and acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin — and their well-financed surrogates are engaged … |
