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Tuesday, July 03, 2012

It's All Politics

Polls Show Americans, Like Their Justices, Are Still Divided Over Health Care

The scene outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday, when the justices released their ruling on President Obama's health care law.

July 3, 2012 Americans remain about as polarized over the legitimacy of President Obama's health care law as the nine members of the Supreme Court, according to polls taken after Thursday's ruling.

Summary

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

It's All Politics

Is Obama Really The 'Food Stamp President'? Fact-Checking The S.C. Debate

PolitiFact's "Barely True" rating.

January 17, 2012 Newt Gingrich criticized Obama for the growth in food stamps, calling him "the best food stamp president in American history." He later said that "more people have been put on food stamps by Barack Obama than any president in American history." We check it out.

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

It's All Politics

With 'Lie Of The Year' Controversy, Fact Checking Comes Under Scrutiny

A screen grab from "America the Beautiful" by The Agenda Project. According to PolitiFact, videos like this one used elderly actors to falsely suggest that Rep. Paul Ryan's Medicare plan would adversely affect current senior citizens.

December 22, 2011 Liberals reacted with anger after PolitiFact charged Democrats with the "Lie of the Year." Have the fact checkers damaged their cause?

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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

It's All Politics

PolitiFact's 'Lie Of Year' Put It On Shaky Ground Of Weighing Interpretations

December 21, 2011 PolitiFact's decision apparently hinged on what the meaning of "end" is which seems to be the source of the problem. PolitiFact's logic, distilled to its essence, is that if a program continues to exist with the same name, albeit in radically changed form, it is inaccurate to describe the original program as having been ended.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

It's All Politics

PolitiFact 'Lie Of Year': Democrats' Charge GOP Plan Would End Medicare

December 20, 2011 After two years of being pounded by Republicans with often false charges about the 2010 health care law, the Democrats were turning the tables. PolitiFact debunked the Medicare charge in nine separate fact-checks rated False or Pants on Fire, most often in attacks leveled against Republican House members. Now, PolitiFact has chosen the Democrats' claim as the 2011 Lie of the Year.

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Friday, December 16, 2011

It's All Politics

Was Gingrich Correct On His Record As Speaker? Fact-Checking the GOP Debate

December 16, 2011 Newt Gingrich used one of his favorite talking points, that when he was speaker of the House, he "balanced the budget for four straight years, paid off $405 billion in debt." But PolitiFact checked the numbers and found he's off on both counts.

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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

It's All Politics

From 9-9-9 To Immigration: The GOP's Nevada Debate

PolitiFact's "Barely True" rating.

October 19, 2011 What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas: PolitiFact offers a reality check on squads some of the candidates' statements from the GOP debate.

Summary

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

It's All Politics

Obama Kept Many Campaign Promises But Now Faces GOP Wall

President Obama posed with a volunteer at a MLK Jr. holiday community service project in Washington, DC.

January 19, 2011 Obama has had great success keeping his 2008 promises. But the GOP House will likely slow that, according to Bill Adair, editor of PolitiFact, the fact checking service.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

Friday, December 17, 2010

It's All Politics

'Lie Of The Year': Democrats Want A 'Government Takeover Of Health Care'

PolitiFact's "lie of the year": A dubious award.

December 17, 2010 The competition was stiff and the nominees were from both sides of the political aisle, but PolitiFact has decided that the claim from conservatives that Democrats want a "government takeover of health care" was the "lie of the year."

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Thursday, October 07, 2010

It's All Politics

'Scare Tactics' Call For Scary Music

An image from ad by Crossroads GPS, attacking Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA.

October 7, 2010 As one of the latest ads from one interest group shows, a little ominous background music (especially around Halloween) can reinforce an ominous message that's designed to spook voters.

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On Morning EditionPlaylist

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

It's All Politics

Rand Paul, Joe Sestak Hit By Errant Ads: PolitiFact

Rand Paul in Jack Conway ad

September 29, 2010 Both Dr. Rand Paul and Rep. Joe Sestak, Senate candidates, were victimized by truth-bending TV ads. PoliFact found the ads used the common technique of distorting an element of truth.

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Friday, September 24, 2010

It's All Politics

Check Them Out: Other Efforts To 'Truth-Squad' Campaign Ads

September 24, 2010 Along with The Message Machine from NPR and PolitiFact, the Sunlight Foundation and FactCheck.org are among those holding candidates and interest groups accountable for what they say.

Summary

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Political Junkie

Mud Is Flying In Illinois Senate Ads

Ad from Senate campaign of Alexi Giannoulias.

July 10, 2010 The race for President Obama's old Senate seat in Illinois is a hot one, judging from the candidates' ads.

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