FactCheck.org analysis of 2008 primary debates
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EXPLANATORY NOTE by OnTheIssues.org:
FactCheck.org analyses the veracity of statements made during political races.
OnTheIssues.org summarizes two sets of analyses:
1. From presidential debates
2. From presidential TV & radio advertisements
Following is the self-description of how FactCheck.org works:
[FactCheck.org is] a nonpartisan, nonprofit, "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.
The Annenberg Political Fact Check is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The APPC was established by publisher and philanthropist Walter Annenberg in 1994 to create a community of scholars within the University of Pennsylvania that would address public policy issues at the local, state, and federal levels.
The APPC accepts NO funding from business corporations, labor unions, political parties, lobbying organizations or individuals. It is funded primarily by the Annenberg Foundation.
-- Jesse Gordon, jesse@OnTheIssues.org, November 2007
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Budget & Economy
John McCain: FactCheck: Said--then denied--he needed economics education.
Barack Obama: Voted against limiting credit to 30%, because 30% too high.
Hillary Clinton: Voted to limit credit card interest to 30%.
Hillary Clinton: FactCheck: Consistently against making bankruptcy stricter.
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Corporations
Hillary Clinton: FactCheck: Pushed Wal-Mart for women managers & environment.
Mitt Romney: FactCheck: Closed $174M in corporate tax loopholes.
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Education
George W. Bush: FactCheck: Yes, NCLB has raised test scores.
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Energy & Oil
Barack Obama: FactCheck: Self-contradictory on Bush's clean-energy plan.
Hillary Clinton: FactCheck: Oil & gas giveaways stripped from final 2005 Bill.
John Edwards: FactCheck: Changed to anti-Yucca before forged documents.
Bill Richardson: FactCheck: No, NH gas prices are not highest ever.
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Government Reform
George W. Bush: FactCheck: Earmark veto threat takes no effect until 2009.
John McCain: FactCheck: $35B in pork meant $484 per child, not $1000.
Barack Obama: FactCheck: Yes, Obama cast 130 "present" votes in IL Senate.
John McCain: FactCheck: Claim of "24 years with no earmarks" mostly true.
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Health Care
George W. Bush: FactCheck: Tax deduction insures at most 9M, & not poorest.
Barack Obama: FactCheck: Yes, Obama favored single-payer, despite denial.
Barack Obama: FactCheck: No, US costs are not twice as much as others.
Mitt Romney: FactCheck: Untrue that 47M uninsured want to "not play".
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Homeland Security
Ron Paul: FactCheck: US spends $572B on foreign operations, not $1T.
George W. Bush: FactCheck: Wiretapping authority foiled no terrorist plots.
Barack Obama: FactCheck: Promised to repeal Patriot Act, then voted for it.
Rudy Giuliani: FactCheck: Claimed Clinton cut army by 25%; actually was 16%.
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Immigration
John McCain: FactCheck: Yes, he has used the word "amnesty" in the past.
Mitt Romney: FactCheck: Yes, his ads DID accuse McCain of "amnesty".
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Jobs
George W. Bush: FactCheck: Yes, 52 months of job growth, but at lower wages.
Rudy Giuliani: FactCheck: Cut unemployment substantially, but not in half.
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Principles & Values
Barack Obama: FactCheck: Ranked most liberal in Senate, based on 99 votes.
Hillary Clinton: FactCheck: Ranked 16th most liberal in Senate.
John McCain: FactCheck: Won NH & SC via independents, but lost GOP vote.
Barack Obama: FactCheck: Obama praised GOP for having ideas, not GOP ideas.
Barack Obama: FactCheck: Took Rezko's donations, but never represented him.
Hillary Clinton: FactCheck: Obama, Bill, & Hillary all praised Ronald Reagan.
Dennis Kucinich: Excluded from debate by Nevada Supreme Court ruling.
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Social Security
Fred Thompson: FactCheck: Slower growth of benefits for future retirees.
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Tax Reform
George W. Bush: FactCheck: Expiring tax cuts typically cost $828, not $1,800.
John McCain: FactCheck: Against Bush tax cuts in 2003; for them in 2006.
Mike Huckabee: FactCheck: To be revenue-neutral, FairTax raises some taxes.
Mike Huckabee: FactCheck: FairTax does not bring underground into economy.
Mitt Romney: FactCheck: Never opposed 2003 Bush cuts, but never supported.
Rudy Giuliani: FactCheck: Claimed 34% NYC hotel tax cut; actual cut was 14%.
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War & Peace
Barack Obama: FactCheck: Overstated displaced Iraqis; actually 4.2 million.
George W. Bush: FactCheck: Troop drawdown of 20,000 still above pre-surge.
Barack Obama: FactCheck: No, violence in Iraq is LOWER than 2 years ago.
John McCain: FactCheck: Yes, criticized Rumsfeld, but not before invasion.
Mike Huckabee: FactCheck: Correct that Romney did support timed withdrawal.
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The above quotations are from FactCheck.org analysis of 2008 primary debates.
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