Republican presidential candidates Carly Fiorina and Donald Trump were challenged on false claims they made during the second Republican debate, and both doubled down with more misinformation.
Doubling Down on Falsehoods
Issues: Planned Parenthood
FactChecking the CNN Republican Debate
The candidates flubbed claims on vaccines, immigration, Hillary Clinton and more.
Planned Parenthood’s Services
Congressional Republicans have made versions of the claim that abortions make up 94 percent of Planned Parenthood’s “pregnancy services.” That misleading figure only counts certain direct services to pregnant clients.
Planned Parenthood Goes on Offense
A Planned Parenthood ad wrongly implies that New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte supports shutting down the government in order to defund Planned Parenthood. She doesn’t. The ad also exaggerates the potential impact of a shutdown.
Cain’s False Attack on Planned Parenthood
Herman Cain has offered an alternate version of history in claiming that Planned Parenthood’s founder wanted to prevent “black babies from being born.” We find no support for that old claim. Cain also states that the organization built 75 percent of its clinics in black communities, but there’s no evidence that was true then. And today, only 9 percent of U.S. abortion clinics are in neighborhoods where half or more of residents are black, according to the most recent statistics.