Fact-checking 7 claims in Bill Clinton's convention speech

The 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton addresses the audience at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 5, 2012 on the second day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). / MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/GettyImages

(CBS News) CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- In his 49-minute speech Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention, former President Bill Clinton cited several statistics and made a number of supposedly fact-based assertions. Here's a look at which claims hold up under scrutiny and which don't.

"Since 1961, the Republicans have held the White House 28 years, the Democrats 24. In those 52 years, our private economy produced 66 million private sector jobs. What's the jobs score? Republicans 24 million, Democrats 42."

Since 1961, there have been five Republican presidents and five Democratic presidents - serving, as Clinton said, a cumulative 28 years and 24 years, respectively. Here's a breakdown of the net job creation under each one, according to data available on the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Republicans:

Richard Nixon: + 7.1 million

Gerald Ford: +1.3 million

Ronald Reagan: + 14.7 million

George H. W. Bush: + 1.5 million

George W. Bush: -646,000

Total jobs added: +23.9 million

Democrats

John F. Kennedy: +2.7 million

Lyndon B. Johnson: +9.5 million

Jimmy Carter: +9 million

Bill Clinton: +20.6 million

Barack Obama: +332,000

Total jobs added: +42.1 million

Clinton's assertion, then, is true: For whatever reason, Democratic presidents have added approximately 42 million private sector jobs, cumulatively, while Republicans have added approximately 24 million.

Politifact points out that Clinton did not include public sector job growth in his calculations. Because Democrats are thought to historically add more government jobs than Republicans, adding those figures could have pumped up Democratic job growth figures even more, Politifact argues.

A Washington Post analysis, however, contends that the most comprehensive measurement of job growth would have been to measure the numbers relative to population growth and to factor in nonfarm payrolls. In the Washington Post's subsequent analysis including those factors, "only four times did growth in nonfarm payrolls outpace population growth: under LBJ, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton. All of which supports Clinton's contention that Democrats do better on job growth."

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[helen123333]

Bottom line - what Democrats said is true and what Republicans said is false. Why cant the media just say that? They are so afraid of being called liberal, they don't do their job.

[b3trask]

This is precisely the type of story that makes CBS news irrelevant.

There are many reasons for Job Growth... and CBS perpetuates the notion that the President has control?

Poppycock!

But of course, what else can we expect from American Media today... it seems they never underestimate the intelligence of the American People. And maybe they are right! The government has used Public Education to dumb down the electorate so they worry more about what drug the starlets on the Jersey Shore are using, than why most of our elected leaders are SELLING their VOTES for FAVORS.

[knucklecheese]

This whole discussion is ridiculous. There are THREE branches of Government. None come under the jurisdiction of the other, all have their own specifically assigned power. Job growth or loss vs. who is in the White House at the time is nothing more than a study in coincidence. Presidents don't pass budgets, Congress does. Presidents can't enact laws without the approval of Congress. The three branches TOGETHER improve things or do damage. Wake up folks.

[veteran999]

PANTS ON FIRE!!!!!

http://www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2012/jul/20/josh-mandel/josh-mandel-says-obamacare-will-ultimately-be-bigg/


http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jun/28/rush-limbaugh/health-care-law-not-largest-tax-increase-us-histor/

[yankskeptic]

As the WSJ reports, fact-checking journalists have no credibility and are just cover for biased news reporting.

[erasmus111]

It's truly shocking to see how much RACISM is still going on in America.

[af19833539]

as we ((in the USA)) are engulfed in our xenophobic overly indulgent economic world with a minimal obsession with 'news' ((sound bites)) pursuant to the upcoming Presidential Election --- something that will significantly impact our daily lives --- until the news media become focused on something more important to the minds of it's viewers and readers i.e. the new line up for American Idol or the latest celebrity marriage scandal --- the world is meanwhile focused on the increasing vulnerability of world trade - world terrorism - world hunger - and certainly the failing of the European banks --- we ((in the USA)) retain our anal focus on the price we pay for gasoline --- thinks that if we drill more in the USA we will lower the price of gas --- daaaahhh -- as if the small amount that our TOTAL petroleum reserved could impact the WORLD Market Price --- hence our price --- the the precious commodity --- ------- my thoughts go back to the wonderful cookies baked by my precious Grandmother and the advice she gave me as a child --- that being --- you can only care for - impact- change - what is within your grasp -- and usually no more than your immediate family --- if your life energy is spent outside of caring for - enjoying - nurturing - your family --- then you will have few memories worth keeping --- and life is --- your memories worth

[susanmarie11]

Yes, its all coming from the blacks and latinos......you know, the entitlement groups

[erasmus111]

Well, I'm not surprised that the Republicans are still denying the truth. That was only to be expected.

[rcandrewz]

Meanwhile Slick Willy is the puppet president that abolished The Glass-Stegal Act of 1933 and created the financial crisis we are currently facing.

Our presidents are bought and paid for by the power brokers and the global elite.

The REAL problem is the myth of the Greater Good.

Why must we sacrifice one person for a group of people or one group for another?

Why sacrifice anyone when liberty does away with all necessity of sacrifice?

The entire notion of the Greater Good is nothing but a politically manufactured conflict and is as absurd as the philosophically manufactured one.

[marcie10000]

And who were the sponsors of that Dec, 2000 lame duck legislation? And where is one, in particular, along with his wife , now? Hint - Phil and Wendy Graham.

[af19833539]

If we could all accept ONE REALITY that CANNOT be disputed with ANY data or logic or fact ......

Higher profits (lower taxes) do not create jobs. Demand creates jobs. The only reason a company hires more people is that they have more customers than their current employees can manage. Corporate profits are at record highs without having creating more jobs. How then can people believe that if the "job creators" have even higher profits (lower corprate taxes) they will hire more people. They will not, they have not.

[marychgo]

Net-net, based on dozens of fact-check articles, one generalization seems crystal clear: the Democrats sometimes exaggerate or shade the truth; only the Republicans (including Real_American below) LIE!

[af19833539]

I am NOT anti Mormon --- I found that living amongst Mormons as a minority ((I was white, anglo saxon, and protestant)) --- so i grew up "at the back of the bus" --- but they were very polite when they told me to sit at the back of the bus --- they knew they were right in their religion and you were wrong in your religion --- they are blessed and you are not and that would justify TELLING A LIE when debating a subject whether that was religion of where to go skiing --- Mormons are groomed from the time they are born to "covert" people --- so

[Alasitis]

You must be doing your fact checking at MSNBC. Obama all by himself has accumulated well over 160 documented lies—not to mention the massive list of broken promises, which are well documented at PolitiFact.com. I also recommend http://barackobamafile.com/about-barack-obama/obama-lies/

[johnrf]

As to the claims that Obamacare has lowered health costs. In my personal situation: I am self-employed. Before Obamacare my monthly fee was $650 for a bare bones policy.Thanks to Obamacare I was able to purchase insurance through a pool for $450 saving me $200 a month. Last month I received a check for $650 due to the 80/20 rule in Obamacare. So Obamacare lowered my insurance cost by about 40 percent. And Romney wants to repeal it? I know how I'm voting.

[marychgo]

Tell your story to everyone you know, John! This is ANOTHER of the many things the Republicans are LYING about!

[Constitution-Job-One]

There are no pools currently running liar.