Ad-Watch: Candidate television advertisement texts, and analysis

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 debates and public speeches
2. From 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.

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     George W. Bush: Kerry’s abortion stance shows the wrong priorities.     John Edwards: Ad: compassion, truth, and hope over fear-mongering.

Corporations     John Hickenlooper: AdWatch: I'm no politician; I make beer & build restaurants.     Amy Klobuchar: I helped avoid closing 28 profitable MN car dealerships.     Howard Dean: AdWatch: “Hold corporations accountable”-but gave incentives.

Crime     John Kerry: Opposes death penalty except for post 9-11 terrorists.

Energy & Oil     Mike Pence: AdWatch 1990: "Thanks, America, for buying so much Arab Oil".     John McCain: AdWatch: Obama is the “Dr. No” of energy security.     John McCain: AdWatch: Realistic climate plan that clashes with GOP.

Government Reform     Barack Obama: AdWatch: I opt out of broken public campaign finance system.

Gun Control     Brian Kemp: Respect the 2nd Amendment if you want to date my daughter.

Health Care     Dick Gephardt: AdWatch: Criticizes Dean for 11-year-old outdated stances.

Jobs     John Kerry: 2.7M manufacturing jobs lost under Bush.     Dick Gephardt: AdWatch: claims Bush did worst on jobs-but Reagan did worse.

Principles & Values     John Kerry: Urban Legend: Kerry did not disparage Reagan at funeral.     Ralph Nader: Ad: Nader helped by Republican donors.     George W. Bush: Ad: Kerry missed votes in the Senate by campaigning.     Joseph Lieberman: AdWatch: Fighting extremes of both parties.

Tax Reform     Claire McCaskill: Ad-Watch: Supports middle-class tax cuts, not all tax cuts.     George W. Bush: Ad: The largest tax relief in history.     John Edwards: AdWatch: claims millionaires pay more than cops-not really.

Technology     Kevin de Leon: Preserve net neutrality in California, if Feds won't.

War & Peace     John Kerry: Swift Boat Vets attack Kerry’s medals.     Howard Dean: AdWatch: “My opponents voted for war”-negative but true.     Howard Dean: AdWatch: blames Gephardt for $87B-but Dean’s view evolved.

Welfare & Poverty     Barack Obama: AdWatch: Fought for workers from college thru Senate.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Amy Klobuchar Minnesota Democratic candidate for President; Minnesota Senator Barack Obama Democratic President (elected 2008) Brian Kemp Georgia Republican candidate for Governor Claire McCaskill Democratic Sr Senator; previously state Auditor Missouri Dick Gephardt Democrat George W. Bush Republican Howard Dean Democrat John Edwards Democrat John Hickenlooper Colorado Democratic Colorado Governor John Kerry Cabinet Climate Envoy John McCain Republican Joseph Lieberman Democrat Kevin de Leon Democratic candidate for California U.S. Senator California Mike Pence Indiana Republican Vice President Ralph Nader Green