The Republican “Pledge to America,” released Sept. 23, contains some dubious factual claims. It declares that “the only parts of the economy expanding are government and our national debt.” Not true. . . .
False Claim on Plant Closing in Indiana
In Indiana’s Senate race, Democratic Rep. Brad Ellsworth falsely alleged that his Republican opponent Dan Coats was involved in the closing of an automotive plant that left more than 800 people out of work. Ellsworth himself told the Associated Press, "We don’t know Mr. Coats’ direct involvement in the closing of this plant."
Ellsworth charged that Coats played a role in the decision to close the plant in a Sept. 20 speech delivered outside the old GDX Automotive factory gates in Wabash,
Toss-ups: Nevada
In the Nevada Senate race, the state’s economy — it has the highest unemployment in the country — has prompted two new ads that deal with illegal immigration. Republican challenger Sharron Angle falsely claims Sen. Harry Reid voted to …
Health Care, Social Security and Vietnam
In episode 30 of our podcast, we look at deceptive ads from a conservative group on the new health care law, misleading spots on Social Security from Democrats, and a false claim about a GOP House candidate and draft dodging.
For more on the stories discussed in this episode, see:
Misleading Onslaught by 60 Plus Sept. 17
Social Security: (Mostly) in Their Own Words Sept. 21
Patriotism Falsely Impugned Sept. 22
A ‘Scandal’ in New Mexico?
In New Mexico’s governor’s race, Republican Susana Martinez accuses Democratic Lt. Gov. Diane Denish of giving a $500 million "special tax deal" to a developer who contributed to her campaign and hired her husband as a lobbyist. But Martinez, a district attorney, uses circumstantial evidence to make her case in an ad that falsely accuses Denish of "hiding a scandal."
The evidence cited by the Martinez campaign fails to prove that Denish misused her office to help the developer get a tax break or that the tax break was connected to her husband’s lobbying job or her campaign contributions.
Toss-ups: Wisconsin
Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin is attacking his Republican challenger for denouncing taxpayer aid to businesses after accepting a government subsidy for his own firm. GOP challenger Ron Johnson says Feingold’s ad is “wrong” …
Patriotism Falsely Impugned
Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson of Florida is falsely accusing his opponent of evading the Vietnam War draft, claiming “he doesn’t love this country.” Republican candidate Daniel Webster didn’t “refuse the call to service,” as claimed in a vicious TV ad …
FactCheck Mailbag, Week of Sept. 14-Sept. 20
This week, readers sent us comments about Pell Grants, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and spell-checking.
In the FactCheck Mailbag, we feature some of the e-mail we receive. Readers can send comments to editor@factcheck.org. Letters may be edited for length.
Social Security: (Mostly) in Their Own Words
Call it senior scare. In race after race, Democrats running for Congress are using their opponents’ criticisms of Social Security against them — sometimes accurately, and sometimes not: Rep. Steve Kagen’s ad accurately quotes Reid Ribble …
Sunday Replay
The talk shows’ factual failures included misinformation from Karl Rove (about write-in ballots in Alaska), from a former president (about college graduation rates and health in the U.S.) and from a current one (of Iran, about several topics).
Rove’s Spelling Lesson
Republican strategist Karl Rove overstated a legal barrier confronting GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska in her bid to win reelection as a write-in candidate. Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," he said:
Rove: [Murkowski] can’t win.