President Obama's claim "that we've already cut" $400 billion in defense spending is misleading. The president was referring to a Defense Department report that identified $178 billion in "efficiencies" over five years — which the administration says will save $400 billion over 10 years. But only $78 billion of the $178 billion represents actual cuts; the rest of the identified efficiencies will be reinvested in other Pentagon programs.
The president more than once has claimed he cut defense spending by $400 billion,
Issues: defense spending
Schumer Exaggerates Proposed Defense Cuts
Democratic Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York exaggerated Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ plan to cut military spending during an exchange with Bob Schieffer on “Face the Nation.”
Schumer criticized a group of conservative Republicans for proposing a bill to cut non-defense federal spending by $2.5 trillion through fiscal year 2021:
Schumer, Jan. 23: But for instance, they leave the military totally out. … But everyone knows there’s waste and inefficiency in the military budget. Defense Secretary Gates has proposed cutting a hundred fifty billion dollars out of it.
Pesky Proper Nouns
Out on the campaign trail, John McCain has been criticizing Barack Obama for proposing cuts in defense spending. But his criticism relies on a potentially misleading quote. And we found that McCain is dinging Obama for reducing spending on a program that McCain plans to eliminate entirely.
CNN and MSNBC both report that McCain told supporters in Lee’s Summit, Mo., that:
McCain, Sept. 8: …during the primary he told a liberal advocacy group that he’d cut defense spending by tens of billions of dollars.
Ben & Jerry’s Misleading Spending Chart
Q: What about Ben & Jerry’s chart saying 50% of federal spending is military?
A: Not true. The real figure is 19.4%.
Democratic Debate Part 3
We caught a few candidates off base at the third debate among Democratic contenders for the 2008 presidential nomination.
Context Goes AWOL in Tennessee
Tennessee Senate Candidate Bob Corker joined forces with the NRSC to produce an ad asking Tennessee voters who Democratic Representative Harold Ford, Jr. is “kidding” on national security.
Here We Go Again: Distorted TV Ads For Campaign 2006
The Republican party attacks Sen. Byrd and he responds. Both use misleading material.
The Whoppers of 2004
Bush and Kerry repeat discredited claims in their final flurry of ads. Here’s our pre-election summary of the misinformation we found during the Bush-Kerry presidential campaign.
The “Willie Horton” Ad Of 2004?
Republican group’s ad shows Osama, Kerry. It appeals to fear, and twists Kerry’s record on defense, intelligence, Iraq.
Zell Miller’s Attack on Kerry: A Little Out Of Date
Miller slams Kerry for opposing bombers, fighters, and helicopters. That WAS true 20 years ago but not lately.