Reality Check On The Town Hall Debate

CBS News Fact Checks The Presidential Town Hall Debate In Nashville

(CBS)  The CBS News Reality Check Team fact checks the Nashville Town Hall Debate...

Reality Check on Obama's Earmark Request - Never Funded

Senator John McCain attacked Senator Barack Obama for spending hundreds of millions of dollars in earmarks while he's been senator. McCain specifically cited an outlay of $3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago.

McCain was referring to a request from Obama for $3 million for a projector for the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. According to the non-partisan spending watchdog organization, Taxpayers for Common Sense, the request was for $3 million to replace the projector. But the earmark was not funded. No money was spent on the projector. Here is the text of the Obama request according to Taxpayers for Common Sense: "Adler Planetarium, to support replacement of its projector and related equipment, $3,000,000. One of its most popular attractions and teaching tools at the Adler Planetarium is the Sky Theater. The projection equipment in this theater is 40 years old, and is no longer supported with parts or service by the manufacturer. It has begun to fail, leaving the theater dark and groups of school students and other interested museum-goers without this very valuable and exciting learning experience."



Obama Proposes a Net Spending Cut?

Senator Barack Obama claims he's proposing a net spending cut. False, according to most nonpartisan sources. Tax Policy Center says Obama will deficit spend by $473 billion over 4 years, and that was an estimate made before the bailout. McCain scored worse, however, with a projected 4 year deficit of $988 billion.

Obama Biggest Spender in Congress?

Senator John McCain's claim that Obama is the most liberal big spending Senator in Congress is a slight stretch. He's not the most liberal according to most rankings. And one of the lead spending watchdog groups, Citizens Against Government waste, says Obama is tied for the Senate's 15th biggest spender, not the biggest for lifetime rankings. In 2008, the group ranked Obama as number 70, meaning 69 Senators ranked higher than Obama in their pork requests.

Obama Voted to Raise Taxes 94 Times?

McCain tonight repeated the same line he, his running mate and their Republican allies have used against Senator Obama for some time: that Obama voted 94 times to raise taxes or to not cut taxes. Not so fast. This fact has been well-documented by many independent observers. Of those 94 votes, 23 were against tax cuts. So that part is right. Seven of the votes cast by Obama would have lowered taxes. And according to teh nonpartisan FactCheck.Org, most of the 94, over 50 of them, were on non-binding budget resolutions that are not on their own tax bills. According to FactCheck.Org's Deputy Director Viveca Novak, "These are not actual bills that would raise taxes, further action would be required before any tax increase could take effect."

McCain: Wrong on Hoover

McCain: "My friends the last president to raise taxes during tough economic times was Herbert Hoover..."

Not true. The National Bureau of Economic Research says the recession in the 1990's began during the administration of the first President Bush and lasted from July 1990 to March 1991. U.S. Treasury says President Bush raised taxes in October, 1990.

[p4nd1d]

I am of McCain acting like he is doing so much for the troops and the veterans.Veterans Groups Give McCain Failing Grades. In its most recent legislative ratings, the non-partisan Disabled American Veterans gave Sen. McCain a 20 percent rating for his voting record on veterans%u2019 issues. Similarly, the non-partisan Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a %u201CD%u201D grade for his poor voting record on veterans%u2019 issues, including McCain%u2019s votes against additional body armor for troops in combat and additional funding for PTSD and TBI screening and treatment.
McCain Voted At Least 28 Times Against Veterans'' Benefits, Including Healthcare. John McCain%u2019s Quote%u201D"I know the veterans, I know them well, and I know that they know that I%u2019ll take care of them, and I have been proud of their support and their recognition of my service to the veterans, and I love them, and I%u2019ll take care of them, and they know that I%u2019ll take care of them.%u201D
This statement%u2013made near the end of the 1st debate%u2013immediately infuriated veterans across America and overseas. In fact, Senator John McCain has a very clear, long, and illustrious history of not supporting troops and veterans one bit.

[rcgreene1]

What is the point of the candidates making outlandish and exaggerated claims, when both candidates could more easily hit on the inherent weaknesses of their respective promises? These exaggerations (Obama pals with terrorist; McCain slicing Social Security spending in half; etc.) are debunked within minutes of being made and posted on news websites immediately. I suppose the candidates are encouraged by the current campaign "culture" to think of it as a spin game; but this just weakens the integrity of both the campaign process and the candidates themselves. And this leads inexorably to voter cynicism and apathy. Why not simply be reasonable. When Obama proposes a net spending cut, McCain could simply point out that the next president will inherit a huge national debt (Iraq War, Bank Bailout, etc.) and no cash reserves due to Bush%u2019s tax cuts. No president can stop the spending at this point; and can only try to manage it so that ordinary folks are not overwhelmed. (Of course McCain fares no better in this area, so silence might be better!)

When McCain starts talking about insurance markets and interstate competition and level playing fields to save people money, Obama might simply point out that competition has never saved people money, that there has never been a level playing field, and that the market has just gone belly-up in the crash.

Reason will always trump rhetoric with an intelligent audience.

[hatesthecolt]

bsb asks why do some people keep saying the same thing over and over again?

Most are just plain ignorant, but some like being annoying.

[bsb53]

why do some people keep saying the same thing over and over again?

[tonfrac]

This is so hard to bear seeing the once honorable John McCain stoop so low. He kept stating that Barack Obama wanted to "attack Pakistan" in front of the whole world. How disgusting.

[beaujolie1]

where''s the media investigations into palins'' involvement in the anti-american secessionist party in alaska and mccain''s involvement in the terrorist iran/contra organization. How about questioning their judgment to lead (they have none based on the way they are conducting themselves).

[coronada_xv]

McCain looked shaky and old last night, trying to control his temper. He and Palin really scare me. A psychiatric exploration of Palin, I think, would uncover multiple pathologies.

[coronada_xv]

McCain looked shaky and old last night, trying to control his temper. He and Palin really scare me. A psychiatric exploration of Palin, I think, would uncover multiple pathologies.

[coronada_xv]

McCain looked shaky and old last night, trying to control his temper. He and Palin really scare me. A psychiatric exploration of Palin, I think, would uncover multiple pathologies.

[vote4change]

Senator Obama clearly demonstrated his leadership abilities, his knowledge of the issues, and his genuine concern for the middle class. If you watched the entire debate and continued watching the debate coverage on C-Span after the debate ended you would have seen the stark contrast of character between the two candidates. Immediately after the debate John McCain and his wife headed off camera. When McCain and his wife realized that The Obama''s were spending time greeting the audience, only then did they begin shaking hands with a few audience members. Senator McCain did not accept the offer of a handshake from Senator Obama while the senators and their wives stood before the audience. Mr. McCain spent about two minutes shaking hands and smiling at the audiece after that incident before abruptly leaving the auditorium. Senator Obama and his wife spent over twenty minutes with the audience members posing for photos, shaking hands, and signing autographs. How difficult would it have been for the McCains to stay for a few minutes and chat with regular Americans?

My question to everyone posting here and to everyone in America is this: If Mr. McCain can show such blantant disregard and disrespect for a man who is clearly his equal, even when his campaign is desperate to present him as a man of the people, what must he think of you and me, middle-class Americans?

[ibzjem]

Love the biased FACTCHECKING. Fair & balanced left wing media loves to call up the WRONG from McCain & brushes over the WRONGS of Obama. Thanks for just taking up space instead of taking up the news!

Posted by LFforMcCain at 11:32 AM : Oct 08, 2008

Please... if you look around at various sources and you get the sense of some common idea, then that should raise a red flag in your mind that maybe there is something to it. Of course you can find any number of blatantly biased information. When a source calls out both parties, but seems to call out one more than the other, it should indicate to any rational person that the one party is being more misleading than the other.

[lakinslow]

I have been very disappointed by how McCain is handling the presidential debates so far. For someone who claims to want and to have worked across party lines, the cold, edgy style of debate that McCain is leading is a stark contrast to such claims. There is no attempt to directly address Obama or to even make eye contact with him. It is as if he is repulsed to be on stage with him. Addressing Obama as "That One" was the last straw. If you cannot respect the other person you are debating on stage with, how can we trust that McCain will respect anyone else if he becomes our president? A big thumbs down to McCain.

[mr96thst]

Clearly Mr. NObama_SUX finds that English grammar, punctuation, and wit, are insurmountable challenges. It is no surprise, therefore, to find that he has the intellectual facility of an ape.

Look up "marxist" in the dictionary you reactionist fop! And then run to the nearest High School to finish what you have neglected.

If you are representative of the "Average American" (what your fellow dunce Mrs. Palin calls "Joe Sixpack"), America''s future is in serious jeopardy.

Obama for President!!! Quickly, before we "return to the planet of the apes".

[mr96thst]

Mr. NObama_SUX clearly finds English grammar, punctuation, and wit, challenging. It is no surprise, therefore, to find that he has the intellectual facility of an ape.

Look up "marxist" in the dictionary you reactionist fop! And then run to the nearest High School to finish what you have neglected.

If you are representative of the "Average American" (what your fellow dunce Mrs. Palin calls "Joe Sixpack"), America''s future is in serious jeopardy.

Obama for President!!! Quickly, before we "Return to The Planet of the Apes".

[LFforMcCain]

Love the biased FACTCHECKING. Fair & balanced left wing media loves to call up the WRONG from McCain & brushes over the WRONGS of Obama. Thanks for just taking up space instead of taking up the news!

[mr96thst]

Mr. NObama_SUX clearly finds English grammar, punctuation, and wit, challenging.

It is no surprise, therefore, to find that he has the intellectual facility of an ant.

Look up "marxist" in the dictionary you reactionist fop! And then run to the nearest High School to finish what you have neglected.

If you are representative of the "Average American" (what your fellow dunce Mrs. Palin calls "Joe Sixpack"), I fear for America''s future.

Obama for President!!! Please!!!

[mr96thst]

Mr. NObama_SUX clearly finds English grammar, punctuation, and syntax challenging. It is no surprise, therefore, to find that he has the intellectual facility of an ant.

Look up "marxist" in the dictionary you reactionist fop! And then run to the nearest High School to finish what you have neglected.

If you are representative of the "Average American" (what your fellow dunce Mrs. Palin calls "Joe Sixpack"), I fear for America''s future.

Obama for President!!! Please!!!

[mr96thst]

Mr. NObama_SUX clearly finds English grammar, punctuation, and syntax challenging. It is no surprise, therefore, to find that he has the intellectual facility of an ant, and the wit of a constipated ape.

Look up "marxist" in the dictionary you reactionary fop. Then run to the nearest High School to finish what you have neglected.

If you are a representative of the "Average American" (what your fellow dunce Mrs. Palin calls "Joe Sixpack"), I fear for America''s future.

Obama for President!!! Please!!!

[moonglo2]

I am an Independent voter. I feel McCain is digging himself farther into the ground each day. "That One" is just another arrogant, condescending, pompous remark---another "glue to the hip with Bush language" McCain needs to put aside his personal (too tiring!) attacks and start getting to the economy, health, energy, etc. issues. He has a long way to go to sway my vote. WAKE UP McCain!

[ibzjem]

I personally think Obama could have been a bit more articulate last night. I''d like to see a bit more vigor from him at times. Though I do think he "won" the debate over McCain. I''m very tired of the repeated accusations from the McCain/Palin camp that have been debunked over and over. I know there is some coming from Obama''s camp too. But if these were piled up on opposite sides of a scale, McCain/Palin would easily out weigh Obama/Biden in the lying department.