Q: Who owns the Federal Reserve Bank?
A: There are actually 12 different Federal Reserve Banks around the country, and they are owned by big private banks. But the banks don’t necessarily run the show. Nationally, the Federal Reserve System is led by a Board of Governors whose seven members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
Month: March 2008
Obama’s Oil Spill
In a new ad, Obama says, “I don’t take money from oil companies.” Technically, that’s true, since a law that has been on the books for more than a century prohibits corporations from giving money directly to any federal candidate. But that doesn’t distinguish Obama from his rivals in the race.
Obama a Constitutional Law Professor?
Q: Was Barack Obama really a constitutional law professor?
A: His formal title was "senior lecturer," but the University of Chicago Law School says he "served as a professor" and was "regarded as" a professor.
Hillary Worked for Goldwater?
Q: Did Hillary Clinton work for Goldwater?
A: She was a high-school Young Republican and "Goldwater Girl" in 1964 but swung to supporting Democrat Eugene McCarthy’s campaign in 1968 and George McGovern’s in 1972.
Overseas Fundraising Legal?
Q: Is it legal for candidates to raise funds overseas for a presidential race?
A: Yes, but they can’t legally accept donations from individuals who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent U.S. residents.
Presidents Winning Without Popular Vote
Q: How many times was a president elected who did not win the popular vote?
A: It has happened five times.
Wisconsin Judgment Day, the Sequel
In this second of our “Court Watch” series, we return to what’s become a racially charged campaign in Wisconsin to replace Louis Butler, the only black justice on the state Supreme Court, with a white, business-backed lower court judge, Mike Gableman. We look at two ads that attack Butler and find both to be misleading.
Republicans Go for Hillary in TX, Ohio Primaries?
Q: Did 10 percent of Hillary’s votes come from "Limbaugh Democrats" in the Ohio and Texas primaries?
A: According to exit polls, she didn’t get that many of her votes from Republicans, and it’s hard to know how many of those she did get were the result of Rush Limbaugh’s exhortations.
Obama’s Small Donations
Q: Was Obama correct to say 90% of his money comes from donors giving $50 or less?
A: No. He gets more from small donors than either Clinton or McCain, but two-thirds of his money still comes from those giving $200 or more.
That Chain E-mail Your Friend Sent to You Is (Likely) Bogus. Seriously.
If there was ever a case where readers should apply a guilty-until-proven-innocent standard, this is it.