FactCheck.org Debunks the Debate

[NewHampster]

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

Clinton and Obama make an agree-athon of the final Democratic debate.

Summary

Clinton and Obama left their recent bitterness behind at the Democratic debate prior to a nationwide series of primaries and caucuses on Feb. 5. They emphasized their areas of agreement and looked more like running mates than rivals for the nomination. By the end, both were ducking a question about whether the other would be their pick for vice president, and afterward they practically embraced in front of the cameras.

Amid all the mutual admiration, however, we still found a few factual missteps:

* Obama claimed Democratic voter turnout has doubled in "every single election that we've had so far in this contest." Not true. It doubled in only two. In New Hampshire the turnout increased by 30 percent.

* Obama misleadingly said corporate tax loopholes totaled $1 trillion. That figure is an estimate for a 10-year period and includes items such as low-income housing tax credits and tax-free bonds for state and local governments.

* Obama mischaracterized Clinton's earlier statements on driver's licenses for illegal aliens, saying, "You said you were for it. Then you said you were against it." Actually she avoided giving a yes-or-no answer in one debate, then made clear she opposed the idea.

We also found that Clinton's response to a question about her vote on a key amendment to the Iraq war powers resolution may have left viewers confused, because the question didn't correctly describe what the vote was about. What she voted against was a measure that would have allowed the U.S. to invade Iraq only if authorized by the United Nations Security Council or by a separate vote of the Senate at a later date. Clinton said she opposed that proposal because it could have subordinated U.S. judgments to those of the Security Council.

Complete story with in depth analysis of each point: http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/la_lovefest.html

[MH1]

1. "or by a separate vote of the Senate at a later date."

Very important words.

[Tellurian]

2. Yes, like setting a TRAP for a later date!

highly recommended!

Thanks for posting NewHampster! :hi:

[NewHampster]

6. I guess I could have titled it O Lies

But not really, actually, fully, lies. Just tiny little Mis-Statements.

:toast:

[Ravy]

8. Right... meaning there were no real teeth in the IWR to

force Saddam to comply with the existing UN Resolutions.

I think the IWR needed the teeth. I don't think we needed to bite with them.

[Rock_Garden]

3. Good to see factcheck confirm what we already knew.

[rodeodance]

4. REC

[rodeodance]

5. thanks for the post also.

[NewHampster]

7. facts, honesty, fudge

:kick: