There were multiple official and unofficial Republican responses to President Obama’s State of the Union address, but only a few instances of the president’s critics stretching the facts.
FactChecking the GOP Responses
Issues: immigration
FlackCheck.org Video: Immigration Claims
This FlackCheck.org video highlights misleading claims about immigration from both Democrats and Republicans.
No Back Taxes in Immigration Action
President Barack Obama misspoke when he said that immigrants living illegally in the U.S. would have to “pay any back taxes” in order to qualify for work papers under the plan he initiated via executive action. They would not.
The Santorum File
Rick Santorum has announced he will run again for president in 2016. This is our report on some of the false or misleading remarks he has made over the years.
Does ACA Give Incentive to Hire Immigrants?
Q: Did Obama’s executive actions on immigration include a $3,000 bonus to employers for each immigrant they hire instead of U.S. citizens?
A: Not exactly. In very limited cases, employers may avoid the Affordable Care Act’s penalty if they hire immigrants who are not eligible for health care subsidies. But the law bars employers from discriminating against employees based on eligibility.
Spinning Immigration Data
President Obama exaggerated when talking about declines in illegal border crossings, and Republican Rick Santorum made a misleading claim about the foreign-born population in the United States.
Obama and Cruz Clash on Immigration
President Obama and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz made seemingly conflicting statements about public opinion on the president’s plan to address immigration issues in the U.S.
Obama’s Actions ‘Same’ as Past Presidents?
President Obama repeatedly claimed that there is presidential precedent for the executive actions he took on immigration. But are the actions Obama announced really the “same kinds of actions” taken by past presidents?
Obama’s Immigration Amnesia
President Barack Obama tried to rewrite history by claiming that his position had not changed regarding legal authority for executive orders on immigration that he is now considering.
Midterm Mudslinging Not Yet Over
An ad from the National Republican Senatorial Committee continues the relentless effort to tie Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu to President Barack Obama, who is not very popular in Louisiana. But the ad stretches the facts on several points.