The mid-term elections of 2006 brought an unprecedented barrage of advertising containing much that is false or misleading.
Issues: Social Security
Tired Old Trust Fund Bunk
In half a dozen ads, Democrats accuse a number of GOP House incumbents of voting repeatedly to “raid the Social Security Trust Fund.” That line was bunk when Republicans used it against Democratic candidates in the past, and it’s bunk now.
Scaring Seniors on Social Security
Several ads being aired by Republican House candidates try to frighten both old and young away from supporting their Democratic opponents, who, the Republicans claim, will “cut benefits for seniors” and “raise Social Security taxes” on workers.
Republican Campaign Theme Debunked: Social Security for Illegal Immigrants
Republicans are tagging Democratic opponents across the country for wanting to “give Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants.” But nobody’s proposing paying benefits to illegals.
An Election-Year Virus
Debunked again and again, a false e-mail keeps circulating claiming members of Congress don’t pay Social Security taxes.
A Rigged ‘Calculator’
Democrats harness false assumptions to generate projections that individual Social Security accounts would be losers.
AARP Claims Bush’s Plan Is a Homewrecker
The group’s latest TV ad passes off Social Security’s problems as minor; claims Bush’s solution would demolish the program.
Recycled Exaggerations: Local Ads Pressure Congress in Home States
A conservative group again overstates the Social Security shortfall, and attacks Democrats for doing nothing.
Pro-Bush Group Overstates Social Security Shortfall
Progress for America says Social Security will sink like the Titanic, a big exaggeration.
AARP Says Social Security Needs ‘Moderate’ Changes
We explore just how “moderate” these reforms are, and what exactly they do to solve the system’s long-term deficit.