Fact-checking 6 claims in Paul Ryan's convention speech

The Republican vice presidential candidate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, waves after speaking during the third day of the Republican National Convention, Aug. 29, 2012, in Tampa, Fla.

/ Mark Wilson

Updated at 6:15 p.m. ET with more reporting on Ryan's remarks on the stimulus.

(CBS News) In his rousing speech Wednesday night, vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan delivered a harsh rebuke of President Obama's tenure in the White House, and pledged that a Romney-Ryan presidency would do better for Americans. But critics immediately went after Ryan for what they cast as a series of misleading statements. Here, CBS News looks into six of Ryan's most controversial claims.

The claim: Obama is responsible for the closing of the GM plant in Janesville

Ryan in his speech suggested that the General Motors plant in his hometown in Janesville, Wis., remains shuttered because President Obama failed to keep his promise to retool the the auto industry.

Here's what Ryan said:

"My home state voted for President Obama. When he talked about change, many people liked the sound of it, especially in Janesville, where we were about to lose a major factory.

A lot of guys I went to high school with worked at that GM plant. Right there at that plant, candidate Obama said: "I believe that if our government is there to support you ... this plant will be here for another hundred years." That's what he said in 2008.

Well, as it turned out, that plant didn't last another year. It is locked up and empty to this day. And that's how it is in so many towns today, where the recovery that was promised is nowhere in sight."

Ryan references a speech Mr. Obama delivered at the Janesville plant on Feb. 13, 2008. (The full transcript of the speech is here.)

Mr. Obama did say: "I believe that if our government is there to support you, and give you the assistance you need to re-tool and make this transition, that this plant will be here for another hundred years. The question is not whether a clean energy economy is in our future, it's where it will thrive. I want it to thrive right here in the United States of America; right here in Wisconsin; and that's the future I'll fight for as your President."

As some fact checkers have noted, the plant closed before Mr. Obama took office.

The plant's last full shift was on Dec. 23, 2008, and the Associated Press documented the tear-filled day in detail. As some conservative sites have noted, the plant produced a limited number of vehicles up until mid-2009.

After it was reported in October 2008 that GM was speeding up the plant's closure, Mr. Obama said this in an October 11, 2008 campaign statement: "This news is also a reminder that Washington needs to finally live up to its promise to help our automakers compete in our global economy. As president, I will lead an effort to retool plants like the GM facility in Janesville so we can build the fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow and create good-paying jobs in Wisconsin and all across America."

A General Motors spokesperson told CBS News today that the plant was idled in December 2008 because of a decline in demand for SUVs due to rising gas prices.

President George W. Bush first approved $17.4 billion in auto bailout loans on Dec. 19, 2008, but it was too late to save the Janesville plant. Mr. Obama extended the bailout after he took office, and some analysts have claimed more than 1 million jobs were saved by the bailout.

Asked if there was anything Mr. Obama could have done to reverse that decision when he took office in January 2009, the GM spokeswoman said, "from a business perspective, it was a done deal. I don't think I can add anymore."

Asked how the company feels about being mentioned in Ryan's speech, the spokeswoman said, "GM recognizes that we're going to be a political football this season. Would we have preferred not to be in there? Sure. But there's not much we can do about it."

Additional convention speeches:
Rand Paul: Obama is "uniquely unqualified" to lead
Rice: "An election of consequence"
Ann Romney: "You can trust Mitt"
Paul Ryan: "We will not duck the tough issues"

CBS News complete convention coverage

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[notreich]

So Paul Ryan is still peddling this big lie that Obama said to businessmen "you didn't build that" about their business. Trouble is, there's such a thing as transcripts of what presidents say, and all anyone who's interested in the truth has to do is look at the full transcript. Clearly, Obama was talking about roads and bridges that they didn't build. Republicans are just liars, plain and simple, and they think with this president they can get away with anything.

[notreich]

So Paul Ryan, author of the "Ryan Plan" that would gut Medicare and Social Security and phase them out is still trying to accuse the Democrats of being the ones who are doing that? People simply have to realize who passed those programs, which presidents signed them into law, what party has been keeping them going all these decades. And that party is the Democrats, in spite of cuts the Republicans try to make, and then lie about it at election time.

[dogthebountyhunterlol]

very true

[TimeToEvolve]

Hey this is a Republicon for heaven's sake. They don't have to say anything that is the truth or moral. They can pretty much say anything to their gullible base and they will suck it up.

[TimeToEvolve]

It is pretty obvious that Bush Cheney and the Republicons left out country in tatters to make the next President (Obama) look bad. And there seem to be just enough really stupid right wingers who can't evaluate facts and reality to make it a story.

So now we want another set of radical extremist Republicons to make it even worse. Smart!

[atayskier]

Hey CBS, are you going to do "fact checking" for the Democrats too? Now THAT would be entertainment.....

[TimeToEvolve]

It's the difference of a party that gave us Bush and Cheney, Palin, Nixon, Robbed Me and Lyin' Ryan vs the party that gave us the Kennedys and the Clintons, and the very successful Barack Obama.

[Eco99]

Now Time to be fair, Clinton had some out there lies as well but his were personal in nature as opposed to lies scarying people into voting. As for the Kennedy's well at least one all I have to say is Chappaquiddick. But I will agree with your basic premise though.

[realisticfromthemiddle]

Proof once again that, if you say it often enough, loud enough, and with enough passion, it does not have to be true for someone to believe it.

[Eco99]

Amen. GOP never met a fact that couldn't distort or ignore. Two other favorite GOP motto's: this one from another poster Socialize the Risk Capitalize the Profits and One person, one vote ... only if you are Republican.

[MediaStalker]

Fact number one: the plant closed in April of 2009. Obama promised to fight for it. Your analysis admits it is true.

Fact number two: Cuts are cuts, Obama admitted to the cuts in a TV interview in December 2009. If you cut the amount you pay a doctor, they have every right to cut the service they provide. Also - Paul Ryan was required to use current law when he submitted his budget. Obamacare was already current law. You're not allowed to just make like it doesn't exist when you're figuring out a budget.

Fact number three:Debt has increased $6 Trillion under Obama's leadership. Period. You can point to all the plans you want but he hasn't offered to cut any spending as of yet.

Fact number four:Obama's remarks indicate he gives credit to the collective rather than the individual. Therefore, by default, he believes the collective built that and not your own blood, sweat and tears. The author's basis for debunking this fact is opinion.

Fact number five: Fees are not taxes, just ask my former Governor Bill Ritter (D). You can't have it both ways. If it is a fee under democrat, it is a fee under a republican. Also, his unemployment numbers are still a fact even if it did take the national number some time to catch up with Romney's number. And I'll take 4.6 anyday!

Fact number six: So only one "half billion dollar" "political Patronage" to Solyndra?? Really?? Is this the threshhold of journalism now, one is OK? Fact is we borrowed to payfor the stimulus and the payroll tax credit, so it is still DEBT!!

Honestly, its becoming painful to watch you twist and turn to promote your own biased slant!

[venusvegasvada]

Fact number one: the plant closed in April of 2009. Obama promised to fight for it. Your analysis admits it is true

Wrong. The plant closed Dec 2008. A skeleton crew of 100 were kept on to complete a truck order and shut the plant down after that.

Fact number two: Cuts are cuts, Obama admitted to the cuts in a TV interview in December 2009. If you cut the amount you pay a doctor, they have every right to cut the service they provide. Also - Paul Ryan was required to use current law when he submitted his budget. Obamacare was already current law. You're not allowed to just make like it doesn't exist when you're figuring out a budget.

Cuts. The only thing ObamaCare really cuts into is the obscene profits of the HMO's and insurance companies. THAT'S the bottom line. It surprised nobody on the planet that the GOP has a problem with that as they are the Rich's attack dogs. That's the reason the GOP is against ObamaCare. It cuts into their profits and tells them they cannot deny people with prior conditions from attention. Only an immoral group such as the GOP would not only have a problem with that, but spin everything else in order to stop it.

Fact number three:Debt has increased $6 Trillion under Obama's leadership. Period. You can point to all the plans you want but he hasn't offered to cut any spending as of yet.

Why don't you go ask Paul Ryan why, after being on the bi-partisian debt committee (tasked with creating THE long term debt solution for our country), he voted it down and threw the committees recommendations (and the Nations shot at debt reduction) under the bus. Ryan even had the gall to blame Obama for not doing anything with the committee's findings! What a total POS.

Fact number four:Obama's remarks indicate he gives credit to the collective rather than the individual. Therefore, by default, he believes the collective built that and not your own blood, sweat and tears. The author's basis for debunking this fact is opinion.

Only a pea-brained idiot would have thought that Obama was trying to belittle a person for starting a business. It's also glaringly obvious to anyone who isn't consummed my personal greed that there are other people on the planet besides themselves. The people that built the roads, power plants, water treatment facilities, taught you how to read and write and how to wipe your @ss when you were growing up. Ignore reality if you want, that's typical of a greedy, narcissistic GOP zombie.

Fact number five: Fees are not taxes, just ask my former Governor Bill Ritter (D). You can't have it both ways. If it is a fee under democrat, it is a fee under a republican. Also, his unemployment numbers are still a fact even if it did take the national number some time to catch up with Romney's number. And I'll take 4.6 anyday!

An extra 100.00 gone from your wallet is 100.00 gone from your wallet. Does your family know the difference when you can't afford to do something because you don't have that 100 anymore?

Fact number six: So only one "half billion dollar" "political Patronage" to Solyndra?? Really?? Is this the threshhold of journalism now, one is OK? Fact is we borrowed to payfor the stimulus and the payroll tax credit, so it is still DEBT!!

So Solyndra went bust. How many Trillions does the US pour into R&D for everything from the Space Program to pork barreled personal "bridge to knowhere" projects? Some work, some don't. So you blame Obama on one hand for not doing enough, then blame him for doing a @#$@load of things and point out a failure? Do you have a clue of what you are really talking about?

The bottom line is the entire GOP has been functioning for the last 4 years with one goal in mind- Make Obama a one term President. No matter what that takes. Sandbagging everything that comes down the pike. Better to throw the Nation under the bus that to see Obama succeed, then have the gall to blame him for not doing enough. Only the GOP would do something like that.

Stay tuned for next week when you can see what a real DEMOCRATIC convention looks like that is supported BY THE PEOPLE. Not the fake GOP, RICH GUY special interest group get together that masquerades as their political convention.

[Eco99]

Joe great comment the reinforces the fact the the righties don't care about facts. It is the trickle down that has failed it has had 8+ years to work and still hasn't but you all blame Obama for failed policies and are yearning to jump headfirst into the failed pocilies that put us where we are right now.

[danshu22]

Sounds like the authors are Democrats trying to pursue their own agenda. I'll admit a few of Ryan's lines are debatable.

However a few of these items could easily be argued either way. Given the author's so readily took the Democrats point of view it should come as no surprise they themselves are Democrats who haven't come out of the closet.

I think reporters should be required to list their political party affiliation since it's so obvious the media protects Obama.

[Eco99]

Debatable, really? Dates are not debatable they are facts and as far as I know time machines don't exist.

I do agree there is often slant in the media but nothing will fix the party affiliated filer that people from both parties use to look at facts. If it supports my position it is a fact, if it doesn't it is a lie. Facts are facts whether you like them or not and making decisions based on only the facts you choose to accept or worse yet intentionally disregarding unsavory facts makes people worse than the biased media. We should all be willing to learn and grow. Unfortunately most people are so entrenched in political ideology ... facts really don;t seem to matter anymore. That is sad.

[lychee-wasabi]

Did President Obama not give assurances that the economy would continuously improve? Was that vision in spite of local economic vicissitudes?

[salinity]

If you have Medicare Advantage you will lose $3700 a year in coverage, live ten years on the program and the Affordable Care Act just cost you $37,000. Aside from the President's repeated claims you can keep you current coverage 11.5 million Americans have just had their insurance drastically cut. 1.8 million in California alone.

The president appointed Erskine Bowles as the Democratic representative on his deficit commission. After he released his 2011 budget Bowles came out the next day and gave a statement saying Obama's cuts go "nowhere near where they will have to go to resolve our fiscal nightmare." That's what Bowles told the Washington Post. He co-chaired the president's deficit reduction commission that called for deep cuts in areas such as defense and entitlements, including Social Security. I'd say Ryan's claim is bogus. Obama did something on debt. But it's nowhere near what HAD to be done.