Archive: Economy
Obama's Spending Cuts
Promises to cut government spending are pretty much worthless unless accompanied by convincing explanations of how precisely they will be implemented. Obama has failed this basic test.
Posted on October 31, 2008 at 07:39 PM ET | Comments (25)
Palin and the Maybe Pipeline
The McCain-Palin campaign talks about the "$40 billion" Alaska natural gas pipeline as if it is a done deal--when it does not even have a price tag.
Posted on October 29, 2008 at 06:31 PM ET | Comments (21)
John McCain and the Middle Class
Barack Obama claims that the McCain tax plan will do nothing for "100 million American families." Where does he get his figures from?
Posted on October 28, 2008 at 07:09 PM ET | Comments (48)
Obama's Redistribution 'Bombshell'
The McCain campaign is attempting to paint Barack Obama as a "Socialist" on the basis of a 2001 interview in which he spoke positively about "the redistribution of wealth." But the quotes have been somewhat garbled.
Posted on October 27, 2008 at 04:56 PM ET | Comments (97)
Fighting for Joe the Plumber
John McCain claims that "Joe the Plumber" will end up subsidizing non-taxpayers under the Obama tax plan. It is a classic straw man argument.
Posted on October 20, 2008 at 04:14 PM ET | Comments (72)
Final Presidential Debate Fact Check
Join the Fact Checker and Friends for live truth squadding of the final presidential debate from Hofstra University.
Posted on October 15, 2008 at 08:12 PM ET | Comments (321)
'Jobs, Baby, Jobs'
The Obama and McCain campaigns have provided widely different estimates about the cost of a new Obama job creation plan. The Fact Checker adjudicates.
Posted on October 14, 2008 at 05:44 PM ET | Comments (87)
Second Presidential Debate: Nashville
Join the Fact Checker and friends for live coverage of tonight's presidential debate from Nashville.
Posted on October 7, 2008 at 05:02 PM ET | Comments (199)
Obama's 'Trillion Dollar' Spending Plan
The GOP says Obama will add to the deficit with a $1 trillion spending plan. It depends on who is doing the counting.
Posted on October 1, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (55)
Four Pinocchios for Biden's Tax Fabrication
According to Joe Biden, John McCain's health care plan will represent "the largest tax increase in American history." That is simply not true.
Posted on September 26, 2008 at 09:30 AM ET | Comments (69)
Obama misleads on Social Security
Barack Obama has distorted John McCain's position on Social Security reform -- just as McCain has twisted Obama's words on raising taxes.
Posted on September 22, 2008 at 10:54 AM ET | Comments (93)
Did Obama author the stimulus package?
Barack Obama claims that his economic stimulus plan "formed the basis" one the package eventually adopted by Congress and the White House. He is greatly exaggerating his role.
Posted on September 18, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (59)
Palin for Energy Czar!
Four Pinocchios for Sarah Palin who has repeatedly overstated Alaska's share of total U.S. energy production, despite challenges from fact checkers.
Posted on September 16, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (342)
Sarah Palin and the Bridge to Nowhere
The McCain-Palin campaign continues to insist that the Alaska governor "stopped" the infamous "bridge to nowhere."
Posted on September 9, 2008 at 11:58 AM ET | Comments (255)
Politifact: 'Bridge' Going Nowhere Before Palin Killed It
The Fact Checker is away. In the interim, we bring you the best of PolitiFact, a fact-checking project from the St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly. The Statement "I told Congress, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' on that bridge to nowhere." -- Sarah Palin on Friday, August 29th, 2008 She killed...
Posted on September 1, 2008 at 04:30 PM ET | Comments (91)
McCain on equal pay
The presumptive Republican nominee says his record proves that he is committed to "equal pay for equal work." But he has opposed legislation to allow victims of salary discrimination to sue employers beyond a 180-day deadline.
Posted on July 11, 2008 at 04:32 PM ET | Comments (273)
McCain's Fantasy War on Earmarks
John McCain has promised to save $100 billion by abolishing earmarks. His economic calculations contain a large dose of fantasy.
Posted on May 23, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (123)
Gas Tax Wars
Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have twisted the facts in competing ads on the proposed "gas tax holiday."
Posted on May 6, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (78)
A holiday from gas prices?
John McCain and Hillary Clinton are calling for a "gas tax holiday." Barack Obama calls the idea a "short-term quick fix" that won't help consumers. Who is right?
Posted on April 29, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
'NAFTA-gate', Part II
The Clinton campaign is attempting to transform a Canadian diplomat's memo into "NAFTA-gate." The Fact Checker looks behind the spin.
Posted on March 4, 2008 at 11:46 AM ET | Comments (84)
Obama parses his words
After four days of non-denial denials, the Obama campaign now acknowledges a conversation over NAFTA with a senior Canadian diplomat. Has Obama been upfront about the 1993 trade agreement?
Posted on March 3, 2008 at 11:35 AM ET | Comments (0)
Feuding over NAFTA
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are both guilty of distortions and factual errors in the debate over NAFTA.
Posted on February 26, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (50)
Who is the Champion Flip-flopper?
Who is the champion flip-flopper? On the eve of Super Tuesday, we take a look at the records of Mitt Romney and John McCain.
Posted on February 5, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (51)
Democratic Debate, Jan. 31, 2008
Did Hillary Clinton negotiate an open border agreement with Macedonia? The Fact Checker and friends truth squad last night's Democratic debate from Hollywood.
Posted on January 31, 2008 at 06:03 PM ET | Comments (104)
Mitt pumps gas
Mitt Romney claims that a family of four will pay $1000 more for gas under a McCain energy bill. His logic is flawed.
Posted on January 30, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Record job growth under Huckabee?
Mike Huckabee claims that he created a record number of jobs in Arkansas as governor. His stats are very selective.
Posted on January 17, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (14)
Mitt's Memory Lapse
Campaigning in Michigan, Mitt Romney is presenting himself as the automakers' friend. He has conveniently forgotten a 2002 campaign proposal that would have led to higher taxes on SUVs.
Posted on January 14, 2008 at 01:45 PM ET | Comments (0)
GOP Debate Myrtle beach
The Fact Checker and diplomatic reporter Glenn Kessler truth squad the Republican presidential debate from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Posted on January 10, 2008 at 07:40 PM ET | Comments (0)
Saint Anselm College Presidential Debates
Join the Fact Checker for live truth squadding of the Republican and Democratic debates from Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire.
Posted on January 5, 2008 at 10:44 PM ET | Comments (0)
Huckabee's record on taxes
Mike Huckabee says he cut taxes "nearly 100 times" as governor of Arkansas. He conveniently forgets about all the tax hikes.
Posted on January 2, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (6)
Most Revealing Fibs: John McCain
A squabble over supply side economics appears to have broken out on board the "Straight Talk Express," pitting John McCain against his top domestic policy adviser. The Fact Checker adjudicates.
Posted on December 13, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Most Revealing Fibs: John Edwards
As part of the "Front Runners" series, the Fact Checker examines the records of each of the leading candidates. Today's topic: the economic populism of John Edwards
Posted on December 11, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Most Revealing Fibs: Mitt Romney
As part of the "Front Runners" series, the Fact Checker examines the factual mistakes of the candidates for clues to their approach to campaigning. Today's focus: Mitt Romney
Posted on December 10, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
The Fact Checker Fact Checks The Post
An editorial last Monday in The Washington Post claimed that the Mexican economy has more than quadrupled in size over the last two decades. Do Post editors know what they are talking about?
Posted on December 7, 2007 at 09:50 AM ET | Comments (30)
Obama Tells a Fib
Obama claims that George Bush never left the country prior to his election as president. That is false.
Posted on November 28, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (92)
Four Pinocchios for Ron Paul
Ron Paul says he wants to abolish the income tax AND balance the federal budget. He says he would cut unnecessary spending abroad, but his figures don't add up.
Posted on November 16, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (123)
Ron Paul Faces $1.1 Trillion Budget Shortfall
Ron Paul raised $4.2 million in one day. But does he have a plan for plugging the $1.1 trillion gap when he abolishes the income tax?
Posted on November 8, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (137)
The Mitt and Rudy Show: Lies, damn lies, and statistics
Who is the biggest spender: Gotham or Taxachusetts? We find fault with both Giuliani and Romney in Tuesday's Republican debate.
Posted on October 11, 2007 at 02:00 PM ET | Comments (8)
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