Palin and supporters stretch truth on Obama

This just in from the Associated Press - an interesting fact check on Sarah Palin's presentation to the convention last night.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her credentials to be vice president. In some cases, the reproach and the praise stretched the truth.

Some examples:

PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."

THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."

PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform _ not even in the state senate."

THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.

PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."

THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.

Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.

He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.

MCCAIN: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply ... She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply. I'm entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America," he said in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson.

THE FACTS: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state _ by population.

MCCAIN: "She's the commander of the Alaska National Guard. ... She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," he said on ABC.

THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under "federal status," which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska's national guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.

FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States."

THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.

FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "We need change, all right _ change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington _ throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin."

THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.

Another useful factcheck that focuses exclusively on Palin's speech is available here, at the Reality-based Community.

Comments

[Al Zimmerman]

PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform _ not even in the state senate."

Balls he did nothing but add his name as a co-sponsor to a few bills, that is no claim to working across party lines or working to draft and work on passing a bill.

THE HALF TRUTH FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation

[Robert C. Freeman]

Sarah Palin has a ringing, Penny Singleton/Blondie-sounding voice, an unintended consequence, though probably positive one with over-65-year olds, since she generally outshone Dagwood.

[Karin]

Unfortunately, facts seldom triumph over rhetoric, especially when preaching to the party faithful. As far as cynically converting disgruntled Hillary Clinton supporters, anyone who backed Clinton for more than her gender will find Palin's views appalling. McCain desperately needed to ensure the Republican base has a reason to turn out to vote, but US elections these days are won or lost on converting the middle... or picking up the largest constituency, the non-voter.

[Jimmy C]

Thank you for the Fact Checks. Republicans ought to be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. Trouble is they are not and won't be. So we simply need to show them the door to where the humble pies are stored.

[KenShoSC]

Hmmm...and your byline says "News Reporter" go figure.

[Steven J. Seals]

There was a time when I admired the "Times", however you have shifted so far to left you have lost all respect. When the "National Inquirer" is considered more correct and honest, you have a problem. You are no longer "yellow journalism", you have now become "Red journalism". If I had not already cancelled my subsciption I would cancel again.

[Christopher]

Two things. First, get a few more sources for the tax debate stuff. I'm sure you can find a few sources that counter the point you're making (I did). Second, where's your fact check of the Dems? I was looking for the link to the dissection of Obama's convention speech, but I couldn't find it. Maybe I just missed it.

[Scott]

Im just wondering where the same critical analysis of the Obama or Biden speaches are? Or does "reporting the facts" only apply when its about someone that you do not agree with?

[Andy]

"Reality based" ? No just frothing at the mouth pinko idiocy.

[DennisRichmond]

O.K., O.K., but she is refreshing; and at last a woman folk will want to vote for.

She looks to be a shrewd political move.

[Don]

This article is misleading...

For instance, your fact about the earmarks being the largest per capita without mentioning the fact that Alaska is the largest state and 47th in terms of population. I would think that we would have more federal spending per capita by that fact alone. Not to mention, the stores of resources, huge infrastructure needs and security issues associated with its bordering Russia and Canada.

[LiberalsCaused9.11]

The liberals are terrified, and justifiably so.
She laid bare the media collusion on Obama, and showed the Emperor had no clothes.

[Steve in Tulsa]

Where is your fact check on what Obama and Biden have said? We Americans are not as stupid as you think. You are obviously
pro-Dem.

[Dan]

I have little faith in any news outlet to be 50/50 on how they treat the tickets. I voted for Carter in my first election.....big mistake! Over the years I have voted both R & D. I guess that is why I am an Indep.

As for Palin - What a breath of fresh air. She seems real with real problems and doesn't appear to have several million in the bank when she tells me she feels my pain. Perhaps some day she will become like all those I detest but at thins point I believe her to still owe few favors and not be used to lying.

Neither party is much to be proud of. They speak of being the party of Linclon and/or Jefferson. But if Truman, Roosevelt, or JFK tried to run today the DNC wouldn't let them in the door. The same can be said for Lincoln and the RNC.

So, here we are again, Charlie Brown with the football. Will we fall for it? Will they promise to hold it then jerk it away again?

I'll vote for McCain / Palin, why.....McCain has never taken an earmark. When offered the most prized bribe of all, freedom, he chose honor. As a veteran that speaks so loudly as to the core of the man. As for Palin...I trust she is real!

The real crook in this election is John Edwards. He was living in a glass house and his staff was aware but lied. There is no way he would have made it without his deeds getting out but by staying he took many votes from Clinton. Had he not been a false knight Clinton would have won the nomination early and the landscape would look entirly different. As for O'bama.......Joe McCarthy would have outed him years ago.

She is a disgrace . Anyone who would use a baby, whether healthy or not, to have it handed around like a sack of flour, purely for political and personal gain - and not ONCE cradle it herself rather just use it as a campaign effigy, reveals tons about personal character and ambitions. Coupled with outright lies about background and attempting to come across as just an average wage earner (?) and all around goody gumshoes is too much to swallow.
And is anyone concerned about the very real possibility that someone like this might wind up as President in the days ahead?

[Patty]

Want to vote for her??You've got to be kidding me! I can only imagine her getting torn to shreds and taughed completely offstage if she was a Democrat. Please give women more credit than voting for anyone just because of their gender, race, etc.

[Pat Hopkins]

"small businesses making over 250,000 will see their taxes go up."

This is reason to vote for Obama? I know of several small family businesses in this range that will be hit badly by this tax increase. It's easy to look at the net figures and say "you need to pay more taxes" and ignore the fact that you just made that small business less competitive. Not to mention that higher costs of production (and taxes are considered a cost of doing business) get passed on to the consumer. Consider the fact that by the time you buy something like a refrigerator or a car, the materials comprising that product may have gone through many sets of hands, each one having to pay a higher cost due to increased taxes. That cost gets passed down the chain until the cumulative total hits the end consumer.

It's easy to say "raise taxes" but please consider the ramifications.

[Phil]

This analysis, besides being skewed, is flawed. She claimed Barack did not AUTHOR bills; the rebuttal cites laws he supported. She claimed Obama will increase tax burden on america; the rebuttal cites the impact to one group. She claims to support developing america's oil and gas resources and that obama doesn't; the rebuttal doesn't discuss this...

[James R Patton]

why don't you fact check for your left-wing friends you liberal hypocrits

[Bill S.]

I listened to her speach and quite frankly... it had teeth. I truly like her ideas of spending some of that 70 trillion a year going to the Saudi's here at home drilling and producing our own energy. To Be realistic, alternitive energy will take years to develop and be cost effective for consumers. Drilling oil, nuculer power plants, mining clean coal will be terrific for the economy , job creation and government revenue from taxes. I do belive that wind, solar, and alt. fuels are the ticket but in the mean time this will help us be energy independent. Just look at the price of oil since we started talking about drilling. We have enough of our own resorces to last (at current increasing %) for 150 + years. I am sure that by then we will have found new tech. on energy, if not we deserve what we get. I like smaller government as opposed to more. I think that McCain has integrity and that says more about a person than all the tea in China!

[CF in Naples, FL]

here's the Obama speech. Mostly stretching, little out and out lying.

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factchecking_obama.html

[Butch]

How about these facts.
BHO - "I don’t take money from oil companies or Washington lobbyists.
He took more than $213,000 from individuals (and their spouses) who work for companies in the oil and gas industry, not to mention that two of Obama's top fundraisers are top executives at oil companies.
BHO - Fostered partnerships with Bill Ayers (co-founder of the Weathermen domestic terrorist organization) and Reverends Wright and Pfleger.
BHO - Held elective office for 14 years same as Sarah Palin. He is so uncomfortable with the comparison he now claims he's qualified to be president because he's been running for president for so long.
BHO- Killed a law that would have required doctors to treat babies who survived abortions as persons with rights protected by law. His devotion to Roe v. Wade was so absolute and so radical, that he wouldn’t vote to protect these babies.
BO - "I don't want them punished with a baby."

Name a single thing Obama's done except talk and write.

[Dave]

This is not a Times article, it's sourced from the Associated Press.. The first line is "This just in from the Associated Press - an interesting fact check on Sarah Palin's presentation to the convention last night." Please read the fulll article before ranting about the paper's standing. They're merely a messenger here, they've done no more work than copy it from the wires... Ask the AP where the Dem fact checker is.

[Andrew]

No, it cites laws he sponsored.

http://lugar.senate.gov/press/record.cfm?id=278019

[Stanley Austin]

If Obama is going to tax all the levels of business and production (Pat Hopkins) then we will be only seeing once more the 150 year old
"surplus value" of Karl Marx and an American version of Value- Added Tax..