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January 28, 2010

AP Fact Checks SOTUS - Finds Ten Whoppers

Topics: Political News and commentaries

The AP took a look at some of Obama's claims and how they compare with the facts, and they found that our president was rather foot-loose and fancy-free with the truth.

Take for example his announcement of a freeze on government spending:

OBAMA: "Starting in 2011, we are prepared to freeze government spending for three years. Spending related to our national security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will not be affected. But all other discretionary government programs will. Like any cash-strapped family, we will work within a budget to invest in what we need and sacrifice what we don't."

THE FACTS: The anticipated savings from this proposal would amount to less than 1 percent of the deficit -- and that's if the president can persuade Congress to go along.
Obama is a convert to the cause of broad spending freezes. In the presidential campaign, he criticized Republican opponent John McCain for suggesting one. "The problem with a spending freeze is you're using a hatchet where you need a scalpel," he said a month before the election. Now, Obama wants domestic spending held steady in most areas where the government can control year-to-year costs. The proposal is similar to McCain's.

Read the rest here.

In addition to the total of ten whoppers by the president that the AP found, Ed Morrissey adds another whopper that the AP doesn't mention (emphasis mine):

Obama repeatedly insisted that he inherited massive budgetary problems from George Bush, but the Con Law professor may want to retake his high-school civics class. Congress passes budgets, not the President, and the last three budgets came from Democrats. In three years, they increased annual federal spending by $900 billion, while the admittedly profligate and irresponsible Republican Congresses under George Bush increased annual federal spending by $800 billion -- in six years. And during the last three years before taking office as President, Obama served in the Senate that passed those bills, and he voted for every Democratic budget put in front of him.

By my count, that's a minimum of 11 whoppers, and there may be more.

Posted by Abdul at January 28, 2010 2:21 PM

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