Archive: Candidate Watch
Farewell Edition
The Fact Checker is shutting up shop on the last day of the 2008 election campaign. For this farewell edition, he selects a few of his favorite bloopers and howlers from the long, winding campaign trail.
Posted on November 3, 2008 at 09:55 AM ET | Comments (34)
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)
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)
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)
McCain, Obama, Biden, and JFK
The McCain camp has seized on an unguarded comment by Joe Biden to reintroduce the experience argument into the closing days of the presidential campaign. What do Obama and McCain have to learn from JFK and the Cuban missile crisis?
Posted on October 23, 2008 at 04:26 PM ET | Comments (28)
Just a Four-Letter Word?
John McCain has twisted the meaning of Obama quotes by the addition of a seemingly innocuous, four-letter word. The Illinois senator never said that William Ayers was "just" a guy in his neighborhood.
Posted on October 22, 2008 at 01:52 PM ET | Comments (61)
Obama Scares Seniors
Barack Obama is trying to convince American retirees that their Medicare benefits will be slashed under a McCain administration. He is relying on some highly selective quotes.
Posted on October 21, 2008 at 02:03 PM ET | Comments (91)
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)
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)
Four Pinocchios for Palin
Sarah Palin claimed over the weekend that an Alaska legislative report cleared her of any "hint of any kind of unethical activity" on the Troopergate controversy. That is untrue.
Posted on October 13, 2008 at 12:10 PM ET | Comments (664)
Did Obama "lie" about Ayers?
The McCain campaign claims that Barack Obama "lied" about his relationship with the former Weather Underground leader Bill Ayers. It would be more accurate to say that he "told the truth slowly."
Posted on October 10, 2008 at 04:48 PM ET | Comments (880)
Nashville Presidential Debate part II
More glitches and misstatements from the presidential debate. Obama misfires on health savings; McCain twists his rival's health care plan.
Posted on October 8, 2008 at 01:42 PM ET | Comments (14)
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)
VP Debate Part II
More bloopers from the vice presidential debate, including gaps in both candidates' foreign policy expertise.
Posted on October 3, 2008 at 06:36 PM ET | Comments (79)
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)
The Art of Meaningless Spin
In post-debate spin, both candidates are accusing the other of failing to use words like "middle class" or "victory." So what?
Posted on September 29, 2008 at 11:35 AM ET | Comments (25)
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)
McCain 'Works the Refs'
The McCain campaign has accused the New York Times of being "150 percent in the tank" for Barack Obama but has been unable to demonstrate factual errors in the newspaper's reporting on ties between campaign manager Rick Davis and failed mortgage giants.
Posted on September 24, 2008 at 06:10 PM ET | Comments (80)
Read my lips...No new coal plants!
Joe Biden says that no new coal plants will be built in America under a Democratic administration. He is at odds with the top of his ticket.
Posted on September 24, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (49)
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)
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)
Taxing Promises
The McCain campaign has repeatedly accused Barack Obama of planning to raise taxes on middle-income families. The claim is based on flimsy evidence.
Posted on September 17, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (90)
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)
Obama Confuses his Verb Tenses
An Obama campaign ad claims that top McCain advisers "lobby" for special interests. The Democratic presidential candidate is grammatically challenged.
Posted on September 15, 2008 at 12:02 PM ET | Comments (193)
Weekend edition
John McCain claims that his running mate, Sarah Palin, never took earmarks as governor of Alaska. That's like trying to argue that black is white.
Posted on September 12, 2008 at 05:44 PM ET | Comments (207)
Sarah Palin's 'Worst Nightmare'?
According to her supporters, Sarah Palin recovered from "every politician's nightmare" when her teleprompter malfunctioned during her big moment at the Republican convention. True or False?
Posted on September 11, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (135)
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)
Convention Edition
The Fact Checker is back, with a look at some of the more questionable claims aired at the Democratic and Republican conventions.
Posted on September 7, 2008 at 09:20 AM ET | Comments (57)
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)
Obama Reneges on Public Financing
Barack Obama promised to "aggressively pursue" an agreement on public financing with John McCain. He has gone back on his word.
Posted on June 20, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (238)
The great flag pin debate
Barack Obama is rarely seen without a flag pin these days. John McCain almost never wears one. We examine the great flag pin controversy.
Posted on June 17, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Was Obama ever a Muslim?
The creator of the infamous 1988 "Willie Horton" ad against Dukakis has turned his sights on Obama. We examine his claim that Obama was brought up as a Muslim in Indonesia.
Posted on June 13, 2008 at 09:00 AM ET | Comments (425)
McCain vs Obama on taxes
McCain says that Obama will raise taxes across the board. Obama says he will cut taxes for many Americans. Who is telling the truth?
Posted on June 11, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (263)
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)
Barack Obama vs Lou Dobbs
According to Barack Obama, Lou Dobbs and Rush Limbaugh are partly responsible for a "doubling" of hate crimes against Latinos last year. His stats are all wrong.
Posted on June 4, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (91)
'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)
McCain, the Surge, and 'verb tenses'
John McCain erroneously says that the U.S. troop presence in Iraq is down to "pre-surge levels." The McCain camp says he mixed up his "verb tenses."
Posted on May 30, 2008 at 02:47 PM ET | Comments (102)
Obama and Auschwitz, Part II
Barack Obama has made his "Americans liberated Auschwitz" claim more than once. He is not the only presidential candidate to twist the history of World War II.
Posted on May 28, 2008 at 12:05 PM ET | Comments (193)
Where in the world is Auschwitz?
Barack Obama claims that his uncle helped to liberate Auschwitz. If that is true, he must have been serving in the Soviet Army in World War II.
Posted on May 27, 2008 at 04:03 PM ET | Comments (290)
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)
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)
A Geppetto for Bill Clinton
Sometimes facial expressions are more eloquent than the most stirring rhetoric. The Fact Checker studies Bill Clinton's face during Tuesday night's election rally in Indiana.
Posted on May 7, 2008 at 10:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
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)
Citizen McCain
The Senate has declared that John McCain is a "natural-born citizen," eligible to be president of the United States. But the non-binding Senate resolution does not resolve an arcane constitutional debate about the meaning of "natural-born."
Posted on May 2, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (43)
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)
Tracking the Fund-Raisers
Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have claimed new fundraising records recently. It is very difficult to verify their claims.
Posted on April 25, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (55)
Is Clinton winning the 'popular vote'?
The Clinton campaign says that their candidate has overtaken Obama in the 'popular vote.' They are overlooking some crucial asterisks.
Posted on April 24, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Hillary's 'two percent' college loan
Hillary Clinton says she received a two percent student loan that permitted her to attend Yale Law School. She has a rosier-than-warranted picture of the good old days.
Posted on April 23, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Dr. Obama and Dr. McCain
Barack Obama and John McCain both believe there is good evidence of a link between autism and childhood vaccines. The medical establishment says otherwise.
Posted on April 22, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (60)
Paying for the Iraq War
Hillary Clinton says that George Bush is the first American president to fail to pay for a war launched on his watch. She is partly correct.
Posted on April 18, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (32)
Obama's Rezko Connection
Barack Obama says he has "no recollection" of meeting with a controversial British billionaire barred from entering the U.S. It is a case of "he said, she said."
Posted on April 16, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Cindy's Recipegate
At least four McCain "family recipes" featured on the campaign website turn out to have been cribbed from the Internet. The McCain campaign is using the "clueless intern" defense.
Posted on April 15, 2008 at 02:58 PM ET | Comments (0)
Bill Shoots from the Hip
Just as the Bosnia sniper controversy is dying down, Bill Clinton steps in to fan the flames. We count at least six factual errors in his defense of his wife's Tuzla tales.
Posted on April 11, 2008 at 05:38 PM ET | Comments (64)
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)
Still no light at the end of the tunnel
A rare Geppetto checkmark to General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker for acknowledging that there is still no "light at the end of the tunnel" in Iraq. The three remaining presidential candidates have been less honest about the flaws in their own Iraqi exit strategies.
Posted on April 9, 2008 at 01:55 PM ET | Comments (30)
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)
Name, Rank, and Service Number
A new television ad paints a picture of a defiant John McCain resisting his North Vietnamese captors. But it omits some important context. The Fact Checker investigates.
Posted on April 3, 2008 at 02:03 PM ET | Comments (95)
McCain's '100-year war'
Barack Obama continues to claim on the campaign trail that John McCain wants to fight a 100-year war in Iraq. Both he and Hillary Clinton have twisted McCain's words.
Posted on April 2, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Professor Obama?
The Clinton campaign says that Barack Obama has been misusing the title of "former law professor." A former Princeton professor investigates.
Posted on April 1, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Obama's 'Camelot connection'
Barack Obama has suggested that he is the mythical offspring of the Kennedys and the American civil rights movement. There are some problems with his version of history.
Posted on March 31, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Don't Forget Pat Nixon!
Hillary Clinton says she was the "first first lady" to visit a war zone since Eleanor Roosevelt. She is forgetting about Pat Nixon, who visited U.S. troops in Vietnam in July 1969.
Posted on March 27, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (125)
Clinton Corrects the Record
Hillary Clinton now says that she "misspoke" in claiming to have come "under sniper fire" in Bosnia. We look back at her tall tales from Tuzla.
Posted on March 26, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (171)
More Incoming Fire For Clinton
Hillary Clinton is under attack for her claim to have come "under sniper fire" in Bosnia. Eyewitnesses dispute her account.
Posted on March 24, 2008 at 12:08 PM ET | Comments (266)
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)
Iraq Truth-Telling, Part II
Hillary Clinton's spokesman says the candidate will stick to her troop withdrawal plans from Iraq, no matter what happens on the ground in 2009. No flexibility permitted.
Posted on March 18, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (28)
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)
Truth-telling on Iraq
Back from a short vacation, the Fact Checker awards a rare Geppetto checkmark, celebrating the dictum that "a gaffe is when a politician tells the truth."
Posted on March 13, 2008 at 01:25 PM ET | Comments (30)
Taxing questions for Clinton
The Obama campaign says Clinton's failure to release her taxes shows that she has "something to hide." The Fact Checker examines the Clintons' record on financial disclosure.
Posted on March 7, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (264)
Clinton stumbles on Ohio history
In a swipe at Obama, Clinton claimed last night that nobody has ever won the presidency without carrying the Ohio primary. That is false.
Posted on March 5, 2008 at 11:52 AM ET | Comments (130)
'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)
Pinocchios for John McCain
John McCain has claimed that he is the "only" presidential candidate not to receive money from "special interests". Is he telling the truth?
Posted on February 29, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (73)
Readers Fact Check Dem Debate
Readers submitted dozens of tips on items to truth squad in Tuesday night's Democratic debate. The Fact Checker follows up.
Posted on February 28, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (74)
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)
Top Ten Democratic Flip Flops
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have accused each other of lack of consistency on the campaign trail. We pick the top ten Democratic flip-flops.
Posted on February 25, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Obama vs Clinton
Both candidates made some factual errors, but no huge mistakes, in last night's Democratic debate from Austin, Texas.
Posted on February 21, 2008 at 10:51 PM ET | Comments (0)
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 'Weatherman' Connection
A spate of blog postings and newspaper articles are linking Barack Obama to a former member of the radical Weathermen group. Is this a case of guilt by association?
Posted on February 19, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (343)
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)
Who has the most delegates?
Most news organizations are reporting that Clinton is leading in the delegate count. The Obama campaign claims that Obama is ahead. Who is right?
Posted on February 7, 2008 at 05:55 PM ET | Comments (96)
Obama's voting record on abortion
E-mails from NOW leaders are attacking Obama for lack of consistency on abortion. We examine the record.
Posted on February 6, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (60)
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)
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)
Clinton and the Iraq Vote
Hillary Clinton explains an important Iraq war vote by saying she did not want to cede authority to the United Nations. We examine the record.
Posted on February 1, 2008 at 03:27 PM ET | Comments (97)
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)
McCain attacks Romney on Iraq
John McCain has accused Mitt Romney of wanting to set a date for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. He has distorted his rival's actual words.
Posted on January 28, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (516)
The GOP debate in Florida
Bloopers from the GOP debate in Florida. The candidates avoided challenging each other's records directly, but still made a number of questionable statements.
Posted on January 25, 2008 at 12:20 PM ET | Comments (104)
Obama and Health Care
Clinton catches Obama in an inconsistency on his advocacy of a single-payer health insurance system, similar to the Canadian system.
Posted on January 24, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (52)
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)
Bill the Attack Dog
We adjudicate the dispute between Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Has the former president been twisting the facts?
Posted on January 22, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (123)
Barack Obama's 'neighborhood'
Clinton supporter Robert Johnson has now apologized to Obama for bringing up the candidate's past drug use. Previous statements by the Clinton campaign on this issue must now be considered "inoperative."
Posted on January 18, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (62)
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)
Clinton vs Obama on Iraq
Clinton has accused Obama of "inconsistency" on his opposition to the Iraq War. We examine the record.
Posted on January 16, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (74)
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)
Clinton and Northern Ireland
Hillary Clinton claims that she was "intimately involved" in the Northern Ireland peace process. The Fact Checker examines the record.
Posted on January 10, 2008 at 10:27 AM ET | Comments (80)
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)
Poetry versus Prose
The Fact Checker shares his impressions from four days on the road in New Hampshire. The Poetry party is beating the Prose party.
Posted on January 8, 2008 at 10:53 AM ET | Comments (26)
Off-base on NAFTA and "Hillary Care"
UPDATED Monday 11:30 a.m. I am at Manchester airport, on my way back to Baltimore, after a fascinating four days in the Granite State. I will file a wrapup report tomorrow. There have been lots of statements to fact check, several of which will take a little more time. Here...
Posted on January 7, 2008 at 06:37 PM ET | Comments (13)
Obama and Iraq
5:10 p.m. I just came from a Bill Clinton town hall meeting in Peterborough. The news nugget out of the meeting was his attack on Barack Obama for alleged inconsistency over the Iraq war. The former president reminded his audience that Obama had made a big deal out of a...
Posted on January 7, 2008 at 05:10 PM ET | Comments (50)
NH: One Day to Go
One day to the New Hampshire primary. The Fact Checker is on the road, following the candidates.
Posted on January 6, 2008 at 10:36 AM ET | Comments (0)
Fact Checker Hits the Road
Michael Dobbs on the road in New Hampshire: McCain and Romney tussle on illegal immigrants?
Posted on January 4, 2008 at 12:45 PM ET | Comments (0)
Hillary the Underdog?
Hillary Clinton is trying to rewrite the history of the Iowa primary by claiming that she started off way behind John Edwards and Barack Obama.
Posted on January 4, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Edwards and 'special interests'
The Alliance for a New America is promoting John Edwards as the anti-special interests candidate. But who is behind the Alliance?
Posted on January 3, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (64)
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 and Martin Luther King Jr.
Hillary Clinton says she went to hear Martin Luther King speak on "a cold January day" in 1963. She is almost certainly wrong.
Posted on December 31, 2007 at 05:06 PM ET | Comments (91)
The 2007 Pinocchio Awards
The Fact Checker announces the 2007 Pinocchio Awards and a special Geppetto prize for truth-telling.
Posted on December 31, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (80)
Obama vs Clinton on Foreign Policy
Clinton and Obama are feuding over who has the most support from the Democratic Party foreign policy establishment. We name names.
Posted on December 27, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (83)
The Fibs of 2007
Nominations are now open for the "Top Ten Fibs of 2007" and the "2007 Geppetto Award."
Posted on December 24, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Four Pinocchios for Romney on MLK
Eyewitness accounts of Mitt Romney's father marching "hand in hand' with Martin Luther King have been contradicted by contemporaneous newspaper accounts.
Posted on December 23, 2007 at 12:45 PM ET | Comments (0)
Marching with King
Contrary to his claims on the campaign trail, Mitt Romney did not "see" his father marching with Martin Luther King. It is unclear whether Romney Sr and King marched together.
Posted on December 22, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
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)
Romney's 'Flip, Flop, Flip'
Mitt Romney says he came down "on the side of life" every time the issue came to his desk as governor of Massachusetts. That is not true.
Posted on December 20, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
True But False
What do Barack Obama, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, and Jesus have in common? A) They attended madrassas. B) They are "spirit brothers."
Posted on December 19, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (52)
Pinocchios for Huckabee on Illegal Immigrants
Mike Huckabee is twisting facts in trying to argue that he did not support making illegal immigrants eligible for in-state tuition while governor of Arkansas.
Posted on December 18, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (32)
Most Revealing Fibs: Rudy Giuliani
The recycling of dubious boasts has become a staple feature of the Giuliani presidential campaign. The Fact Checker looks at his record in New York City.
Posted on December 16, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (6)
Most Revealing Fibs: Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee has tried to blame the Clintons for the release of convicted rapist Wayne Dumond. The Fact Checker finds that it a huge stretch.
Posted on December 15, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (19)
Most Revealing Fibs: Barack Obama
Trailing behind Hillary Clinton among African-American voters, Obama is repeating the false claim that more "young black men" are in prison than in college.
Posted on December 14, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (25)
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: Fred Thompson
As part of the "Front Runners" series, the Fact Checker examines the records of each of the leading candidates. Today: Fred Thompson.
Posted on December 12, 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)
Most Revealing Fibs: Hillary Clinton
In conjunction with the "Front Runners" series, the Fact Checker examines the factual mistakes of the candidates for clues to their approach to campaigning. First up: Hillary Clinton.
Posted on December 9, 2007 at 07:30 AM ET | Comments (15)
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)
'Bomb, Bomb, Bomb; Bomb, Bomb, Iran'
Some presidential candidates have claimed flatly on the campaign trail that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. But their assertions are undercut by the latest National Intelligence Estimate released yesterday.
Posted on December 4, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (43)
A 'Superhighway' to Nowhere
Ron Paul, Tom Tancredo, and Duncan Hunter have all denounced the "NAFTA superhighway" as an attack on national sovereignty. The Fact Checker finds that their fears are much exaggerated.
Posted on December 3, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
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)
Rudy the Crime Buster
Has Giuliani exaggerated his crime-fighting achievements? The Fact Checker takes a look at the raw FBI data.
Posted on November 29, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (36)
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)
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)
Grace and Candor Under Pressure
Giuliani, Clinton, and Obama receive Geppetto checkmarks from the Fact Checker for statements that combine honesty with memorability.
Posted on November 26, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (17)
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)
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)
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)
Obama Blurs Definition of 'Combat Troops'
Barack Obama has promised to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq. But he has also said that he might send troops back into the country to fight al-Qaeda and "stop genocidal violence." Is he trying to have it both ways?
Posted on November 14, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (28)
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)
Richardson: 'I Am the Greenest of Them All'
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson claims that his state is "the only state" that is following the Kyoto treaty. The Fact Checker awards him four Pinocchios.
Posted on November 9, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
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)
Four Pinocchios for Recidivist Rudy
Giuliani repeats his false prostate cancer claim, but can't name a reputable researcher who agrees that Britons are much more at risk than Americans.
Posted on November 7, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Aliens Support Clinton, Richardson
Bill Richardson says the government "hasn't come clean" about UFOs. Archives officials say the governor of New Mexico is living on another planet. The Fact Checker adjudicates.
Posted on November 6, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (20)
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)
One Up, One Down for John McCain
The Fact Checker awards his first Geppetto checkmark, along with three Pinocchios, to the inventor of the Straight Talk Express.
Posted on October 31, 2007 at 08:45 AM ET | Comments (0)
Rudy Wrong On Cancer Survival Chances
Rudy Giuliani says that his chances of surviving prostate cancer are almost twice as high in America as in England, under "socialized" medicine. The Fact Checker investigates.
Posted on October 30, 2007 at 07:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Fact Checking the Fact Checker
The Fact Checker adjudicates the case of Obama and Edwards vs "federal lobbyists." Is FC a "shill" for the Clinton campaign?
Posted on October 29, 2007 at 08:50 AM ET | Comments (0)
Barbers for Dodd, Gorbie Endorses Rudy
Which of the following is true? Barbers support Dodd. Rudy's Gorbachev quote. Huckabee on the Founding Fathers. 15 million Americans have seen monsters in their closets.
Posted on October 26, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (29)
'Hillary Care' and 'Socialized Medicine'
Mitt Romney says that Hillary Clinton is planning a government takeover of the health care system. Has he got his facts right?
Posted on October 24, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (59)
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)
Obama, Edwards, and the Lobbying Industry
There are numerous loopholes in the anti-lobbyist campaigns launched by Barack Obama and John Edwards. Do they deserve Pinocchios?
Posted on October 22, 2007 at 07:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
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)
Rudy's 'Spontaneous' Cell Phone 'Stunt'
What do Rudy Giuliani and General Buck Turgidson have in common? The Fact Checker investigates.
Posted on October 8, 2007 at 08:15 AM ET | Comments (74)
Giuliani's "Twists and Turns" on Guns
Rudy Giuliani has distanced himself from a June 2000 lawsuit that he filed against America's leading gun manufacturers, saying the suit changed since it was originally filed. Is he telling the truth?
Posted on October 5, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (3)
Young Black Males Headed for Extinction?
Both John Edwards and Barack Obama say young black men in this country are at serious risk. Do their statistics measure up?
Posted on October 3, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (30)
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)
Romney and Abortion
Mitt Romney has publicly acknowledged changing his views on abortion, from what was an "effectively pro-choice" position to a "firmly pro-life" stand.
Posted on September 21, 2007 at 09:15 AM ET | Comments (0)
Thompson's Wars
Is Fred Thompson right that America has "shed more blood for other people's liberty" than any one else in history?
Posted on September 19, 2007 at 06:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
Sam Brownback and Gay Marriage
Sam Brownback posits a strong correlation between the introduction of civil unions and gay marriages and the rise in children being born out of wedlock. We check the facts.
Posted on September 19, 2007 at 06:20 AM ET | Comments (0)
Mike Gravel: Americans Are Getting Dumber
Mike Gravel says Americans are getting dumber and fatter. We look at the facts.
Posted on September 19, 2007 at 06:15 AM ET | Comments (0)
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