Stories by Eugene Kiely
Former Director, FactCheck.org
Ted Kennedy and the No-Fly List Myth
Several Republican presidential candidates cite Ted Kennedy as a reason why they oppose President Obama’s proposal to block the sale of guns to known or suspected terrorists on the no-fly list. But the TSA says it’s a “myth” that Kennedy was on the no-fly list.
Rubio Wrong on Terrorist List
Sen. Marco Rubio vastly overstated the number of Americans on government terrorist watch lists. He said there are “700,000 Americans on some watch list,” but the number is actually in the tens of thousands.
Dec. 4: Refugees, Osama bin Laden
Trump’s bin Laden ‘Prediction’
Donald Trump exaggerates his prescience on the 9/11 terrorist attacks when he claims he “predicted Osama bin Laden” in a 2000 book.
Fiorina on Defunding Planned Parenthood
Carly Fiorina falsely claims “the vast majority of Americans” support defunding Planned Parenthood. Actually, national surveys show the opposite: most Americans support continued federal funding.
Trump, Carson on 9/11 ‘Celebrations’
Donald Trump’s discredited claim that Muslims in New Jersey were seen on TV cheering the 9/11 terrorist attacks — and Ben Carson’s initial support of Trump’s remarks — has resulted in more false claims, as both candidates try to explain their statements.
Trump on Bombing ISIS Oil Fields
Donald Trump says the U.S. is “just starting … as of two days ago” to heed his advice to “attack the oil” fields controlled by the Islamic State group. The U.S. has changed its policy, but it happened more than four weeks ago — not two days ago.
Clinton’s Charter School Exaggeration
Hillary Clinton says “most charter schools … don’t take the hardest-to-teach kids. Or if they do, they don’t keep them.” But her campaign could not provide evidence for such a sweeping claim.
Rand Paul on Income Inequality
Sen. Rand Paul claimed that “income inequality seems to be the worst” in the cities and states “run by Democrats.” Paul is right about the cities, but not states. More important, there’s no evidence of a link between Democratic control and income inequality.