Month: August 2013
No ‘Special Subsidy’ for Congress
Rep. Robert Pittenger is misleading his constituents by saying that he will decline the health insurance offered to members of Congress next year because it includes a “special subsidy” from the president that “exempted” Congress from the Affordable Care Act.
‘Train Wreck’ Ad Goes Off the Rails
A conservative TV ad misconstrues Sen. Max Baucus’ infamous “train wreck” statement to claim “there’s bipartisan agreement that Obamacare isn’t working.”
Attack-Ad Alchemy
In the Virginia race for governor, Republican candidate Ken Cuccinelli is running a TV spot that practices the dark art of political alchemy — turning facts into falsehoods. And it does so while claiming to be telling “the truth.”
Inspection Deception
Q: Will there be forced home inspections under the Affordable Care Act?
A: No. The law provides grants for state home-visiting programs for expectant and new parents. The programs are voluntary and participants can opt out any time.
The Messy Facts in Virginia
The Virginia governor’s race is breaking our general expectations as fact-checkers: There’s strident attack galore, but much of it is accurate. We normally find the harsher the attack, the more likely it’s false. So much for that.
NRCC Distorts McIntyre’s Fiscal Record
The National Republican Congressional Committee distorts Rep. Mike McIntyre’s record on balanced budgets and congressional pay in a new TV ad.
Aug. 16: Affordable Care Act, Immigration
Environmentalists Misuse GOP Quote
The League of Conservation Voters misuses a quote by a Republican congressman to portray him as “extreme” on climate change.
McConnell Fudges Facts in Attacks on Bevin
Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has gone to great lengths in ads — both Web and paid — to discredit the conservative credentials of his Republican primary challenger Matt Bevin. But his attacks have often stretched the truth or outright misled viewers.