Archive: Barack Obama
Did he really say that?
Republican leaders are accusing Barack Obama of calling Israel a "constant wound" in U.S. foreign policy. They have twisted the senator's words.
Posted on May 13, 2008 at 11:28 AM ET | Comments (133)
Gas Tax Wars
Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have twisted the facts in competing ads on the proposed "gas tax holiday."
Posted on May 6, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (78)
Guilt by Association
Despite decrying the practice of "guilt by association," John McCain has been using the tactic a lot on the campaign trail recently. The Fact Checker looks at his rhetoric.
Posted on May 1, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (89)
A holiday from gas prices?
John McCain and Hillary Clinton are calling for a "gas tax holiday." Barack Obama calls the idea a "short-term quick fix" that won't help consumers. Who is right?
Posted on April 29, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (152)
Tracking the Fund-Raisers
Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have claimed new fundraising records recently. It is very difficult to verify their claims.
Posted on April 25, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (55)
Dr. Obama and Dr. McCain
Barack Obama and John McCain both believe there is good evidence of a link between autism and childhood vaccines. The medical establishment says otherwise.
Posted on April 22, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (60)
Pennsylvania Democratic Debate
The big fight from Philly! Join in a live Fact Check of tonight's Democratic Debate from Pennsylvania.
Posted on April 16, 2008 at 08:02 PM ET | Comments (169)
Obama's Rezko Connection
Barack Obama says he has "no recollection" of meeting with a controversial British billionaire barred from entering the U.S. It is a case of "he said, she said."
Posted on April 16, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (168)
The Pot and the Kettle
The Clinton campaign is accusing Barack Obama of airing a "misleading" TV ad in Pennsylvania. But just how accurate is the Clinton response?
Posted on April 11, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (121)
Still no light at the end of the tunnel
A rare Geppetto checkmark to General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker for acknowledging that there is still no "light at the end of the tunnel" in Iraq. The three remaining presidential candidates have been less honest about the flaws in their own Iraqi exit strategies.
Posted on April 9, 2008 at 01:55 PM ET | Comments (30)
McCain's '100-year war'
Barack Obama continues to claim on the campaign trail that John McCain wants to fight a 100-year war in Iraq. Both he and Hillary Clinton have twisted McCain's words.
Posted on April 2, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (164)
Professor Obama?
The Clinton campaign says that Barack Obama has been misusing the title of "former law professor." A former Princeton professor investigates.
Posted on April 1, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (268)
Obama's 'Camelot connection'
Barack Obama has suggested that he is the mythical offspring of the Kennedys and the American civil rights movement. There are some problems with his version of history.
Posted on March 31, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (217)
What did he hear--and when did he hear it?
Was Barack Obama present in church when the Rev. Jeremiah Wright delivered his most incendiary sermons? The Fact Checker investigates.
Posted on March 19, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (149)
Truth-telling on Iraq
Back from a short vacation, the Fact Checker awards a rare Geppetto checkmark, celebrating the dictum that "a gaffe is when a politician tells the truth."
Posted on March 13, 2008 at 01:25 PM ET | Comments (30)
'NAFTA-gate', Part II
The Clinton campaign is attempting to transform a Canadian diplomat's memo into "NAFTA-gate." The Fact Checker looks behind the spin.
Posted on March 4, 2008 at 11:46 AM ET | Comments (84)
Obama parses his words
After four days of non-denial denials, the Obama campaign now acknowledges a conversation over NAFTA with a senior Canadian diplomat. Has Obama been upfront about the 1993 trade agreement?
Posted on March 3, 2008 at 11:35 AM ET | Comments (152)
Readers Fact Check Dem Debate
Readers submitted dozens of tips on items to truth squad in Tuesday night's Democratic debate. The Fact Checker follows up.
Posted on February 28, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (55)
Democratic Debate Feb. 26, 2008
Join the Fact Checker, diplomatic reporter Glenn Kessler, and researcher Alice Crites for live truth squadding of tonight's MSNBC debate from Cleveland, Ohio.
Posted on February 26, 2008 at 08:15 PM ET | Comments (115)
Feuding over NAFTA
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are both guilty of distortions and factual errors in the debate over NAFTA.
Posted on February 26, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (37)
Obama vs Clinton
Both candidates made some factual errors, but no huge mistakes, in last night's Democratic debate from Austin, Texas.
Posted on February 21, 2008 at 10:51 PM ET | Comments (91)
Bombs Away!
Macho alert! John McCain suggested changing the Beach Boys song "Barbara Ann" to "Bomb, bomb, Iran." But he is blasting Barack Obama for talking about bombing al Qaeda targets in Pakistan.
Posted on February 21, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (36)
The Obama 'pledge'
Barack Obama claims that he never promised to accept public financing in the general election if the GOP candidate does the same. We look at the record.
Posted on February 20, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (146)
Obama's 'Weatherman' Connection
A spate of blog postings and newspaper articles are linking Barack Obama to a former member of the radical Weathermen group. Is this a case of guilt by association?
Posted on February 19, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (343)
Obama's 'backroom deal'?
Hillary Clinton has accused Obama of cutting a secret deal with a major campaign contributor. But she has failed to produce evidence to support her claim.
Posted on February 14, 2008 at 06:40 PM ET | Comments (388)
Measuring the "Obama effect"
Barack Obama claims that he has helped "double" voter turnout in the early primary states. We examine the "Obama effect."
Posted on February 13, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (122)
Will Puerto Rico decide everything?
Several media pundits are predicting that the Democratic presidential race could be decided by the "winner takes all" Puerto Rican primary. We look at the facts.
Posted on February 11, 2008 at 03:58 PM ET | Comments (40)
Who has the most delegates?
Most news organizations are reporting that Clinton is leading in the delegate count. The Obama campaign claims that Obama is ahead. Who is right?
Posted on February 7, 2008 at 05:55 PM ET | Comments (80)
Obama's voting record on abortion
E-mails from NOW leaders are attacking Obama for lack of consistency on abortion. We examine the record.
Posted on February 6, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (59)
Hillary vs Barack on Meeting Dictators
She claims that he would meet with dictators "without precondition." He claims that she is following the discredited "Bush-Cheney" doctrine of refusing to talk to your enemies. Who is right?
Posted on February 4, 2008 at 11:30 AM ET | Comments (27)
Democratic Debate, Jan. 31, 2008
Did Hillary Clinton negotiate an open border agreement with Macedonia? The Fact Checker and friends truth squad last night's Democratic debate from Hollywood.
Posted on January 31, 2008 at 06:03 PM ET | Comments (69)
Partial Quote Alert!
The art of the partial quote is alive and well in the 2008 presidential campaign. The Fact Checker digs up some recent examples of an old advertising trick.
Posted on January 29, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (11)
Obama and Health Care
Clinton catches Obama in an inconsistency on his advocacy of a single-payer health insurance system, similar to the Canadian system.
Posted on January 24, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (52)
Clinton vs Obama on CNN
Clinton and Obama got into a slanging match during the South Carolina Democratic Debate over their records. We look at Obama's ties with a "slum landlord" and Clinton's work for Walmart.
Posted on January 23, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (98)
Bill the Attack Dog
We adjudicate the dispute between Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Has the former president been twisting the facts?
Posted on January 22, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (95)
Barack Obama's 'neighborhood'
Clinton supporter Robert Johnson has now apologized to Obama for bringing up the candidate's past drug use. Previous statements by the Clinton campaign on this issue must now be considered "inoperative."
Posted on January 18, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (62)
Clinton vs Obama on Iraq
Clinton has accused Obama of "inconsistency" on his opposition to the Iraq War. We examine the record.
Posted on January 16, 2008 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (60)
Democratic Debate Las Vegas
Live truth squadding ofthe Democratic debate from Las Vegas.
Posted on January 15, 2008 at 05:59 PM ET | Comments (33)
Why We Got it Wrong
The prose candidate won. The Fact Checker asks why the media (FC included) were all wrong.
Posted on January 9, 2008 at 10:43 AM ET | Comments (66)
Poetry versus Prose
The Fact Checker shares his impressions from four days on the road in New Hampshire. The Poetry party is beating the Prose party.
Posted on January 8, 2008 at 10:53 AM ET | Comments (25)
Obama and Iraq
5:10 p.m. I just came from a Bill Clinton town hall meeting in Peterborough. The news nugget out of the meeting was his attack on Barack Obama for alleged inconsistency over the Iraq war. The former president reminded his audience that Obama had made a big deal out of a...
Posted on January 7, 2008 at 05:10 PM ET | Comments (50)
NH: One Day to Go
One day to the New Hampshire primary. The Fact Checker is on the road, following the candidates.
Posted on January 6, 2008 at 10:36 AM ET | Comments (29)
Saint Anselm College Presidential Debates
Join the Fact Checker for live truth squadding of the Republican and Democratic debates from Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire.
Posted on January 5, 2008 at 10:44 PM ET | Comments (44)
The 2007 Pinocchio Awards
The Fact Checker announces the 2007 Pinocchio Awards and a special Geppetto prize for truth-telling.
Posted on December 31, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (55)
Obama vs Clinton on Foreign Policy
Clinton and Obama are feuding over who has the most support from the Democratic Party foreign policy establishment. We name names.
Posted on December 27, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (53)
The Fibs of 2007
Nominations are now open for the "Top Ten Fibs of 2007" and the "2007 Geppetto Award."
Posted on December 24, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (22)
True But False
What do Barack Obama, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, and Jesus have in common? A) They attended madrassas. B) They are "spirit brothers."
Posted on December 19, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (52)
Most Revealing Fibs: Barack Obama
Trailing behind Hillary Clinton among African-American voters, Obama is repeating the false claim that more "young black men" are in prison than in college.
Posted on December 14, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (25)
Clinton vs Obama: The 'Fact Check' War
The Clinton and Obama campaigns have issued competing "Fact Checks" on Iran. The Fact Checker fact checks the "fact checkers".
Posted on December 6, 2007 at 08:00 AM ET | Comments (17)
Obama Tells a Fib
Obama claims that George Bush never left the country prior to his election as president. That is false.
Posted on November 28, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (92)
Grace and Candor Under Pressure
Giuliani, Clinton, and Obama receive Geppetto checkmarks from the Fact Checker for statements that combine honesty with memorability.
Posted on November 26, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (17)
Clinton vs. Obama on Health Care
Both Clinton and Obama have claimed that their health care plans will provide "universal coverage" to all Americans. We point out the gaps in their proposals.
Posted on November 19, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (25)
Obama Blurs Definition of 'Combat Troops'
Barack Obama has promised to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq. But he has also said that he might send troops back into the country to fight al-Qaeda and "stop genocidal violence." Is he trying to have it both ways?
Posted on November 14, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (28)
Obama Nabbed by the Patriot Police
Viral e-mails have become a new hazard for presidential candidates in the Internet Age. Barack Obama is a favorite target. The Fact Checker follows the electronic trail.
Posted on November 2, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (146)
Fact Checking the Fact Checker
The Fact Checker adjudicates the case of Obama and Edwards vs "federal lobbyists." Is FC a "shill" for the Clinton campaign?
Posted on October 29, 2007 at 08:50 AM ET | Comments (12)
Obama, Edwards, and the Lobbying Industry
There are numerous loopholes in the anti-lobbyist campaigns launched by Barack Obama and John Edwards. Do they deserve Pinocchios?
Posted on October 22, 2007 at 07:00 AM ET | Comments (51)
Young Black Males Headed for Extinction?
Both John Edwards and Barack Obama say young black men in this country are at serious risk. Do their statistics measure up?
Posted on October 3, 2007 at 06:00 AM ET | Comments (30)
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