Month: January 2014
Competing Attack Ads in Florida Miss Mark
Competing attack ads ask what voters “really know” about Florida congressional candidates Alex Sink and David Jolly. But don’t count on the ads to clear things up, as both rely on misleading claims.
Jan. 24: Putin, Scott Brown, Health Care Jobs
Facts of the Union
We found a few overstatements and cherry-picked numbers among the applause lines and proposals in President Obama’s State of the Union address.
Paul’s ‘Head-Scratching’ Stats
Sen. Rand Paul was wrong when he said that 60 percent of law students and 55 percent of medical students are women, and he repeated a myth that “nine out of 10 businesses fail.”
IRS, Benghazi and Accountability
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani praised New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for holding “people accountable who were responsible” for the “stupid” bridge lane closings — adding that’s something President Barack Obama “failed to do with Benghazi” and “failed to do with the IRS.”
Putin Wrong About American Laws
Russian President Vladimir Putin was wrong when he tried to deflect questions about Russia’s anti-gay propaganda laws by claiming that “in some of the states in the U.S., homosexuality remains a felony.”
Whistle-blower? Not So Much
An ad from a Democratic group claims that Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick “blew the whistle on the disastrous health care website.” But Kirkpatrick didn’t expose any secret wrongdoing.
Jan. 17: Obama’s Numbers
Senate Majority PAC Not Telling Whole Story
A Democratic ad says former Sen. Scott Brown “delivered” for “big banks” in the Senate, citing two legislative changes he sought that benefited the industry. But the ad lacks important context.