Archive: 2 Pinocchios
John McCain's 'Trick or Treat'?
The McCain camp has come up with a new villain to scare away votes from Barack Obama on the eve of Halloween: a professor of Middle East studies at Columbia University. Boo!
Posted on October 30, 2008 at 06:13 PM ET | Comments (120)
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)
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)
Is Obama Guilty of 'Infanticide'?
Sarah Palin has accused Barack Obama of wanting to withhold medical treatment from children born alive as the result of bungled abortions. Obama says pro-lifers have "lied" about his record. The Fact Checker adjudicates.
Posted on October 24, 2008 at 04:47 PM ET | Comments (119)
Obama Misleads on Colombia
Barack Obama justified his opposition to a free trade agreement with Colombia by citing the murders of trade union activists. He failed to note that the murder rate has come down significantly over the last few years.
Posted on October 17, 2008 at 03:06 PM ET | Comments (111)
'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)
McCain fudges his Navy record
John McCain claims that his first plane crash, back in December 1960, was the result of engine failure. A U.S. Navy investigation makes clear that it was caused by pilot error.
Posted on October 6, 2008 at 11:26 AM ET | Comments (473)
Palin twists the facts on Darfur
Sarah Palin claimed in the vice presidential debate that she "called for divestment" from companies with business interests in Sudan as a protest against the genocide in Darfur. The record shows that her administration initially opposed the divestment campaign.
Posted on October 3, 2008 at 02:36 PM ET | Comments (39)
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)
Obama's Fannie Mae 'Connection'
The McCain campaign is attempting to link Barack Obama to the mortgage crisis by claiming that he received advice on housing and mortgages from the former head of Fannie Mae, Franklin Raines. The evidence for the Obama-Raines link is pretty flimsy.
Posted on September 19, 2008 at 10:24 AM ET | Comments (1387)
McCain, Obama Mislead on Immigration
Both John McCain and Barack Obama have made misleading statements on immigration reform in an attempt to win support from Hispanic-Americans.
Posted on September 19, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (91)
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)
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)
From GITMO to the Battlefield
John McCain claims that 30 released Guantanamo detainees have "tried to attack America again." The presumptive Republican nominee is twisting the facts.
Posted on June 30, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (173)
McCain forgets his own votes
John McCain says he supported "every investigation" into the New Orleans tragedy. But he twice voted against a Democratic proposal for a 9/11 style commission.
Posted on June 5, 2008 at 11:13 AM ET | Comments (274)
'The People Have Spoken'
Hillary Clinton says that the "people have spoken" and she is the "chosen" one. Her claim to be winning "the popular vote" is highly debatable. It is also meaningless.
Posted on June 2, 2008 at 11:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
Barack in Wonderland
Barack Obama takes a lesson from Lewis Carroll to wriggle out of a meeting with Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. His words mean what he wants them to mean.
Posted on May 22, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (58)
McCain, Obama, and Kissing Dictators
John McCain has slammed Barack Obama for being willing to meet with foreign tyrants. But American presidents have a long tradition of shaking hands with mass murderers.
Posted on May 21, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (94)
Did he really say that?
Republican leaders are accusing Barack Obama of calling Israel a "constant wound" in U.S. foreign policy. They have twisted the senator's words.
Posted on May 13, 2008 at 11:28 AM ET | Comments (147)
Bush's Brain on Bush's Heart
Karl Rove says that his former boss is not "the most unpopular" president in history. The Fact Checker subtracts a Pinocchio.
Posted on May 12, 2008 at 12:24 PM ET | Comments (26)
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)
Guilt by Association
Despite decrying the practice of "guilt by association," John McCain has been using the tactic a lot on the campaign trail recently. The Fact Checker looks at his rhetoric.
Posted on May 1, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
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)
The Pot and the Kettle
The Clinton campaign is accusing Barack Obama of airing a "misleading" TV ad in Pennsylvania. But just how accurate is the Clinton response?
Posted on April 11, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (121)
Suffragettes for Hillary
Hillary Clinton is a little mixed up over the history of the women's suffrage movement in the United States. She may need a fact checker.
Posted on April 8, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Hillary's Balkan Adventures, Part II
Hillary Clinton claims that her airplane came "under sniper fire" during a 1996 trip to Bosnia and that she had to run for cover. There are numerous problems with Clinton's version of events.
Posted on March 21, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (533)
McCain's Foreign Policy 'Gaffe'
Did John McCain mix up Sunnis and Shiites? Is there evidence to show that Iran (a Shiite theocracy) supports Sunni extremist groups in Iraq? The Fact Checker investigates.
Posted on March 20, 2008 at 11:38 AM ET | Comments (0)
What did he hear--and when did he hear it?
Was Barack Obama present in church when the Rev. Jeremiah Wright delivered his most incendiary sermons? The Fact Checker investigates.
Posted on March 19, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (161)
Hillary's Balkan Adventures
Hillary Clinton is claiming a "major role" in the foreign policy decisions of her husband's administrations. We explore her record on the Balkans and northern Ireland.
Posted on March 17, 2008 at 02:52 PM ET | Comments (46)
'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)
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)
Bombs Away!
Macho alert! John McCain suggested changing the Beach Boys song "Barbara Ann" to "Bomb, bomb, Iran." But he is blasting Barack Obama for talking about bombing al Qaeda targets in Pakistan.
Posted on February 21, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
The Obama 'pledge'
Barack Obama claims that he never promised to accept public financing in the general election if the GOP candidate does the same. We look at the record.
Posted on February 20, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (164)
Obama's 'backroom deal'?
Hillary Clinton has accused Obama of cutting a secret deal with a major campaign contributor. But she has failed to produce evidence to support her claim.
Posted on February 14, 2008 at 06:40 PM ET | Comments (398)
Measuring the "Obama effect"
Barack Obama claims that he has helped "double" voter turnout in the early primary states. We examine the "Obama effect."
Posted on February 13, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (147)
John McClinton?
A new Romney ad depicts John McCain and Hillary Clinton as almost identical. We look at his facts.
Posted on February 7, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (28)
Hillary vs Barack on Meeting Dictators
She claims that he would meet with dictators "without precondition." He claims that she is following the discredited "Bush-Cheney" doctrine of refusing to talk to your enemies. Who is right?
Posted on February 4, 2008 at 11:30 AM ET | Comments (27)
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)
Clinton vs Obama on CNN
Clinton and Obama got into a slanging match during the South Carolina Democratic Debate over their records. We look at Obama's ties with a "slum landlord" and Clinton's work for Walmart.
Posted on January 23, 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)
Huckabee's Cut-and-Paste Job
Mike Huckabee is claiming the he "created a nine-point immigration policy." It turns out that seven points were lifted from a Washington D.C. think tank.
Posted on January 12, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (30)
Lobbyists for Mitt
Seeking to bolster his "outsider" status, Mitt Romney says he does not owe any favors to lobbyists. That is not exactly true.
Posted on January 9, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (8)
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)
Hillary Bakes Some Stats
Clinton says that health care costs have spiraled under Bush, but were stable under her husband. The Fact Checker examines the data.
Posted on December 21, 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)
Clinton vs Obama: The 'Fact Check' War
The Clinton and Obama campaigns have issued competing "Fact Checks" on Iran. The Fact Checker fact checks the "fact checkers".
Posted on December 6, 2007 at 08:00 AM ET | Comments (17)
No Sanctuary from Mitt and Rudy
What's the difference between a 'sanctuary city' and a 'sanctuary mansion'? The Fact Checker investigates.
Posted on November 30, 2007 at 08:40 AM ET | Comments (0)
Pinocchios for Mitt and Rudy
Rudy Giuliani claims that violent crime went up in Massachusetts under Mitt Romney. Is he telling the truth?
Posted on November 27, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (14)
Who is More 'Pro-Life': Fred or Mike?
Fred Thompson uses the "L-label" to attack Mike Huckabee. Huckabee claims that Thompson is not as "pro-life" as he makes out. The Fact Checker adjudicates.
Posted on November 20, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Clinton vs. Obama on Health Care
Both Clinton and Obama have claimed that their health care plans will provide "universal coverage" to all Americans. We point out the gaps in their proposals.
Posted on November 19, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Mitt Warns Illegals: 'Get Off My Lawn'
Yesterday Mitt Romney lambasted Republican and Democratic rivals for favoring "sanctuaries" for illegal immigrants. We examine his record on "sanctuary cities" while he was governor of Massachusetts.
Posted on November 15, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (39)
Richardson Misstates the Facts on Iraq
The former U.N. ambassador claims that his Democratic rivals want to keep "as many as 75,000" troops in Iraq until 2013. That is inaccurate.
Posted on November 13, 2007 at 07:00 AM ET | Comments (29)
Edwards vs. Clinton on Iraq
Edwards claims that Clinton does not have 'a plan' for Iraq, and has promised only to hold 'a planning meeting' with her generals. Is that accurate? The Fact Checker investigates.
Posted on November 12, 2007 at 08:00 AM ET | Comments (37)
Biden Talks Tough to Brezhnev?
Presidential candidates often inflate their foreign policy resumes. But did Joe Biden really negotiate an important Cold War arms control treaty with Leonid Brezhnev?
Posted on November 5, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (15)
Is Hillary Responsible for the 'Library Lockdown'?
The Clintons and the Republican National Committee have been arguing over who is responsible for delays in releasing the former president's papers. The Fact Checker sorts through the spin.
Posted on November 1, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (28)
Rudy: 'I Am NOT Hillary'
Rudy Giuliani says that enthusiasm for the Yankees is just about the only thing he has in common with Hillary Clinton. Is that a true statement?
Posted on October 23, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (16)
The Mitt and Rudy Show, Part II
In delayed verdicts, the Fact Checker awards Pinocchios in the cases of Romney vs Romney and Rudy and Judy vs the National Rifle Association.
Posted on October 15, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (14)
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)
The Fine Print in Hillary's Promise to 'End the War'
Clinton has promised to end American "involvement" in Iraq. But she also says some U.S combat troops will remain behind to fight al-Qaeda. We try to clear up the confusion.
Posted on October 10, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (37)
Is Edwards "the Most Electable"?
We take a look at the polling data to see if it's true.
Posted on September 24, 2007 at 10:22 AM ET | Comments (55)
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