Skeeter
09-05-2008, 04:29 PM
Fact check: Nominees' speeches
ST. PAUL — Here are the facts behind some of the statements made by John McCain in his acceptance speech here Thursday and Barack Obama's speech in Denver from a week ago:
McCain
•Taxes
Quote: "I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them."
Facts: Both McCain and Obama have proposed substantial tax cuts, at the expense of the federal budget deficit. McCain proposes a $4.2 trillion cut over 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. Obama proposes $2.9 trillion. It's true that Obama would raise taxes on some high-income taxpayers, while McCain would not.
•Health care
Quote: Obama's plan "will force small businesses to cut jobs, reduce wages, and force families into a government-run health care system where a bureaucrat stands between you and your doctor."
Facts: Obama's plan doesn't require families to enter a public SPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAM program, although it would make one available. It also offers subsidies for small businesses.
•Russia
Quote: "They invaded a small, democratic neighbor to gain more control over the world's oil supply, intimidate other neighbors, and further their ambitions of reassembling the Russian empire."
Facts: Russia did invade neighboring Georgia over the treatment of South Ossetia, but there is no proof that it was trying to gain control of Georgia's oil pipelines.
Obama
•Taxes
Quote: "I will cut taxes — cut taxes — for 95% of all working families."
Facts: The Tax Policy Center says that when retirees and children are included 81% of Americans would get a tax cut under Obama's plan.
•Spending
Quote: "Many of these plans will cost money, which is why I've laid out how I'll pay for every dime — by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens."
Facts: Brian Riedl of the conservative Heritage Foundation says Obama has proposed nearly $350 billion per year in new spending. The entire corporate tax code raises about $350 billion annually, he says.
•Family income
Quote: "We measure progress in the 23 million new jobs that were created when Bill Clinton was president — when the average American family saw its income go up $7,500 instead of down $2,000, like it has under George Bush."
Facts: Census Bureau figures show that median income has declined by $324 from 2000 to 2007, not $2,000.
ST. PAUL — Here are the facts behind some of the statements made by John McCain in his acceptance speech here Thursday and Barack Obama's speech in Denver from a week ago:
McCain
•Taxes
Quote: "I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them."
Facts: Both McCain and Obama have proposed substantial tax cuts, at the expense of the federal budget deficit. McCain proposes a $4.2 trillion cut over 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. Obama proposes $2.9 trillion. It's true that Obama would raise taxes on some high-income taxpayers, while McCain would not.
•Health care
Quote: Obama's plan "will force small businesses to cut jobs, reduce wages, and force families into a government-run health care system where a bureaucrat stands between you and your doctor."
Facts: Obama's plan doesn't require families to enter a public SPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAM program, although it would make one available. It also offers subsidies for small businesses.
•Russia
Quote: "They invaded a small, democratic neighbor to gain more control over the world's oil supply, intimidate other neighbors, and further their ambitions of reassembling the Russian empire."
Facts: Russia did invade neighboring Georgia over the treatment of South Ossetia, but there is no proof that it was trying to gain control of Georgia's oil pipelines.
Obama
•Taxes
Quote: "I will cut taxes — cut taxes — for 95% of all working families."
Facts: The Tax Policy Center says that when retirees and children are included 81% of Americans would get a tax cut under Obama's plan.
•Spending
Quote: "Many of these plans will cost money, which is why I've laid out how I'll pay for every dime — by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens."
Facts: Brian Riedl of the conservative Heritage Foundation says Obama has proposed nearly $350 billion per year in new spending. The entire corporate tax code raises about $350 billion annually, he says.
•Family income
Quote: "We measure progress in the 23 million new jobs that were created when Bill Clinton was president — when the average American family saw its income go up $7,500 instead of down $2,000, like it has under George Bush."
Facts: Census Bureau figures show that median income has declined by $324 from 2000 to 2007, not $2,000.