This week, readers sent us comments about health care premiums, earmarks and other people’s letters.
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.
Stories by FactCheck.org
The TSA ‘Strip Search’ That Wasn’t
Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah tweeted Nov. 21 that an airport security officer strip-searched a young boy. Chaffetz linked to a YouTube video that showed a shirtless boy being searched at a Utah airport. But the lawmaker jumped to a false conclusion. Both the Transportation Security Administration and the person who videotaped the incident say the boy’s father removed his son’s shirt, not TSA officers.
Chaffetz’s mis-tweet is just one example of the recent outcry against the TSA’s new imaging machines and pat-down techniques.
FactCheck Mailbag, Week of Nov. 16-Nov. 22
This week, readers sent us comments about economic projections, health insurance premiums and the dollar value of earmarks.
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.
News
December 16, 2010
We have now posted video of the conference. All four parts can also be found here.
Brooks Jackson’s opening remarks, Ilyse Hogue of MoveOn.org and Khalid Pitts of the Service Employees International Union.
Khalid Pitts of SEIU, Art Pulaski of the California Labor Federation and questions from the audience.
Carl Forti of American Crossroads, Brad Todd of OnMessage Inc. and Rob Collins of American Action Network.
Rob Collins of American Action Network, questions from the audience and closing remarks from Kathleen Hall Jamieson of the Annenberg Public Policy Center.
Schedule
8:45-9:00 am Coffee and pastries
9:00-9:15 am Opening Remarks – Brooks Jackson, FactCheck.org
9:15-10:30 am Democratic/liberal panel
• Ilyse Hogue, director of political advocacy and communications, MoveOn.org
• Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer, California Labor Federation
• Khalid Pitts, director of strategic campaigns, Service Employees International Union
10:30-10:45 am Break
10:45-12:00 pm Republican/conservative panel
• Carl Forti, political director, American Crossroads
• Brad Todd, media consultant and top advisor to the NRCC
• Rob Collins, president, American Action Network
12:00-12:15 pm Closing Remarks –
Participants
Rob Collins
President, American Action Network
Click to expand/collapse the Bio
Rob Collins has spent the last seven years as Congressman Eric Cantor’s (VA-07) Chief of Staff. Prior to his tenure with Cantor, Collins worked for Senator John Thune, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Senator Chuck Hagel, The Republican National Committee, Congressman David McIntosh and Congressman Frank Riggs. Collins, a Syracuse, NY native, is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and has been named to three consecutive Roll Call’s “Fab 50”
FactCheck Mailbag, Week of Nov. 9-Nov. 15
This week, readers sent us comments about fiscal discipline, Muslim homeland security officials and the separation of church and state.
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.
Muslims Appointed to Homeland Security
Q: Has the Obama administration appointed two Muslims to serve in the Department of Homeland Security?
A: Yes, in 2009. One was a senior Justice Department aide during the Bush administration. Another is a former head of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and was appointed as a civil-rights adviser.
FactCheck Mailbag, Week of Nov. 1-Nov. 8
This week, readers sent us praise and comments about Obama’s India trip.
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.
Trip to Mumbai
Q: Is President Obama’s trip to India going to cost $200 million per day?
A: This highly doubtful claim originated with one Indian news agency quoting an anonymous source in Mumbai. The White House says it is "wildly exaggerated," and there’s no evidence to support such a huge figure.