2011 Presidential Primary Fact Checking


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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 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.

-- Jesse Gordon, jesse@OnTheIssues.org, November 2011

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

Abortion     Rick Santorum: FactCheck: Under 1/4 of pregnancies end in abortion, not 1/3.

Budget & Economy     Buddy Roemer: FactCheck: Obama has submitted 3 budgets; Roemer said zero.     Paul Ryan: FactCheck:Stimulus spending created between 1.4M & 3.6M jobs.

Education     Barack Obama: FactCheck: Race to the Top has only rewarded 12 states.

Energy & Oil     Rick Perry: FactCheck: Yes, climate change is settled science.     Newt Gingrich: FactCheck: US has 110-year supply of gas, not 1,100 years.     Barack Obama: FactCheck: clean coal isn't ready; nuke waste is unresolved.

Foreign Policy     Rick Perry: FactCheck: Pakistan is our ally, according to Bush generals.

Free Trade     Barack Obama: FactCheck: Yes, exports up; but not enough to double by 2014.

Government Reform     Elena Kagan: Commerce clause does not apply to non-economic activities.     Rand Paul: FactCheck: No, Kagan never she'd regulate vegetable eating.     Paul Ryan: FactCheck: all-time high government was 1943, not 2009.

Health Care     Michele Bachmann: FactCheck: CBO never claimed ObamaCare was a job-killer.     Rick Perry: FactCheck: Yes, Perry sought mandatory HPV immunizations.     Barack Obama: FactCheck: healthcare reform saves $2B to $10B, not $250B.     Michele Bachmann: FactCheck: pre-ObamaCare system was 49th, not best in world.     Paul Ryan: FactCheck: costs go up just a bit; jobs go down just a bit.     Paul Ryan: FactCheck: No evidence that healthcare reform explodes debt.

Jobs     Mitt Romney: FactCheck: Reduced unemployment in MA from 5.6% to 4.7%.     Mitt Romney: FactCheck: Jobs grew faster in MA under Romney's predecessor.     Rick Perry: FactCheck: Texas has highest number of minimum wage workers.     Rick Perry: FactCheck: Jobs grew faster in TX under Perry's predecessors.     Rick Perry: FactCheck: Texas job growth is strong, but pre-dated Perry.     Mitt Romney: FactCheck: No, fewer US unemployed than Canadians employed.     Mitt Romney: FactCheck: No, more jobs lost under Bush than under Obama.     Michele Bachmann: FactCheck: bailout cost $25B, not $700B; and no IRS police.

Principles & Values     Barack Obama: FactCheck: Obama treats Secret Service members with respect.

Social Security     Rick Perry: FactCheck: Softened "fraud" rhetoric in current campaign.

Tax Reform     Jon Huntsman: FactCheck: Created UT flat tax;but only top rate got 30% cut.

Technology     Newt Gingrich: FactCheck: 1.3 million Twitter followers is exaggerated.     Barack Obama: FactCheck: High-speed rail for 80% possible; but not soon.

Welfare & Poverty     Lyndon Johnson: FactCheck: Poverty rate has fallen under Great Society.     Rick Santorum: FactCheck: No, church attendance in Europe is above 10%.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Barack Obama Democratic President (elected 2008) Buddy Roemer Republican (Former LA Governor) Elena Kagan Democratic Appointee to Supreme Court Jon Huntsman Utah Ambassador to China Lyndon Johnson Michele Bachmann Republican Mitt Romney Massachusetts Former GOP Governor (2003-2006); Pres. candidate (2008) Newt Gingrich Republican Paul Ryan Republican Rand Paul Republican 2016 Primary Challenger Rick Perry Texas Former Secretary of Energy Rick Santorum Republican Presidential candidate