In what it called the first salvo in a $10-million advertising campaign aimed at defeating President Bush, the liberal group MoveOn.org released a TV ad that is misleading on several counts. It falsely implies that tax cuts failed to create jobs, falsely implies that the economy is still losing jobs, and exaggerates the severity of an historically mild economic downturn.
Stories by Brooks Jackson
Director Emeritus, FactCheck.org
RNC Fails to Document Ad’s Claim
In a TV ad supporting the President the Republican National Committee went four words too far, not-very-subtly implying that Democrats who have criticized him are something close to traitors.
Edwards Ad Stretches Truth with Claim About Multimillionaires’ Taxes
John Edwards’ latest TV ad leaves the impression that multimillionaires pay lower tax rates than salaried government workers or secretaries. While that can be true sometimes it is not usually the case.
Census Says Income is Down, but Some Republicans Claim it’s Up
In September the Census Bureau issued its annual figures on income and poverty, and to nobody’s surprise poverty rose and U.S. median income went down in 2002. On the same day, however, the Republican staff of the Joint Economic Committee issued a news release claiming that after-tax income went up – and citing Census figures.
Dean Wrong on Bush Tax Cut
Howard Dean got his facts wrong on two counts Sept. 4 during the Democratic candidates’ debate in New Mexico when he said most middle-class people never got a tax cut from George Bush, and when he implied that the average cut was only $100.
Clark Waffles on Iraq War
In the October 9 debate on CNN, General Wesley Clark says he’s been “very, very clear” about opposing the U.S. war with Iraq, but earlier statements show otherwise.
Kerry Makes Bogus Comparison to Great Depression
In his announcement speech in South Carolina, Kerry claimed the U.S. is suffering “the greatest job loss since the Great Depression.” That’s wrong.
Gephardt TV Ad Misleads on Job Loss
In a TV ad that aired in Iowa, Dick Gephardt says the President has “lost more jobs than the last 11 Presidents, ” which is incorrect.
Dean TV Ad: Rewriting His Own History
In a TV ad, Howard Dean looks straight at the camera and says, “I’m against spending another $87 billion” in Iraq. But in fact, Dean has previously expressed conditional support for the $87 billion, not opposition.
Edwards Ad Falsely Claims Taxes Have Increased
A TV ad called “Yours” began airing late September, in which Edwards speaks directly to camera to say “Washington ’s not working for you. …Millionaires’ taxes keep going down while yours go up.” It’s false.