This week, readers sent us a personal recollection of Obama’s Columbia years, and comments on climate change consensus and veep-to-veep combat.
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.
Month: February 2010
Cadillac Plans and Unions: Who Benefits?
When the White House and congressional Democrats agreed last month to scale back a Senate-passed tax on high-value health plans, it was widely portrayed as a giveaway to labor unions. For example, the New York Post reported that it was a "sweetheart deal" that would save union members $60 billion, and on its editorial page called it a "bribe" and a "big, fat wet kiss for labor unions," a view quickly echoed by Republican leaders.
Extras: Biblical Derivatives, Teleprompters and Pelosi’s Plane
In this edition of FactCheck Extras, we look at the history of derivatives, President Obama's use of a teleprompter, and an old piece of bunk that won't go away.
Deriving Derivatives
The liberal group Americans United for Change has released an ad that blames Wall Street for high unemployment.
The ad says that "a few years ago, Wall Street created something called derivatives" that were used to build "a house of cards that finally came tumbling down"
February 23, 2010
The Paralympic Games began after World War II in 1948, when Sir Ludwig Guttman organized a competition for British veterans who were in wheelchairs.
Source: Vancouver Organizing Committee
Still on the Table?
So, what about those Republican health care plans? Contrary to claims made by some Democratic detractors, detailed GOP proposals, and a bipartisan bill with several GOP cosponsors, do exist. And they’re scheduled to get attention at a half-day, televised “summit” meeting at Blair House on Feb. 25, with …
February 22, 2010
About 2,500 athletes are participating in the Olympics in Vancouver. There are more than 86 medal events.
Source: Vancouver Organizing Committee
February 21, 2010
Eleven women and 247 men competed in the first Olympic Winter Games in 1924.
Source: Vancouver Organizing Committee
February 20, 2010
The United States’ Charles Jewtraw, a speed skater, won the first gold medal at the first Olympic Winter Games.
Source: Vancouver Organizing Committee
February 19, 2010
While the first Olympic Games were held in 1896 (in summer), it was 28 years later when the first Olympic Winter Games were held, in Chamonix, France.
Source: Vancouver Organizing Committee
February 18, 2010
The median age at first marriage in 2008 was 27.6 years for men and 25.9 years for women.
Source: Census Bureau