Obama's exaggerations...a little insight!

I just watched an interview on CNN of several young voters, citing that they weren’t voting for John McCain and Sarah Palin because McCain “frequently lied.” While I’m sure one can point to instances where McCain stretched facts or misworded things (as you can do with any candidate) I wanted to compile a list to combat accusations of this nature. Specifically, a list of instances where Obama has been less-than-truthful to his devoted followers and undecideds. A comeback, if you will, to accusations that McCain is the only exaggerating politician ever.

Obama Exaggeration #1:

Obama: “Now, 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 that don’t help America grow.”

What he should have mentioned: Over the summer, the Barack Obama campaign told newspapers that their tax proposals were estimated to cost the U.S. approximately $130 billion dollars. The Tax Policy Center analysis reveals that "closing corporate loopholes and tax havens" America would save only $80 billion dollars, leaving $50 billion that still would be unpaid for. Another little fact Obama didn't mention is that he plans to return taxes on people making $250,000+ to pre-Bush tax cuts levels to provide additional income for the government. Another point? The Tax Policy Center indicates that without significant cuts in spending by the federal government, the deficit would increase significantly over the next 10 years, to about $3.8 trillion, even with the ending of the Iraq War and the aforementioned $100 billion factored in.

Obama Exaggeration #2:

Obama: "Now, I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans; I just think he doesn’t know. Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under five million dollars a year?"

What he should have mentioned: What McCain actually suggested was that taxes should be low for all income levels. His '$5 million' comment was a joke, as demonstrated in the transcript below:

Pastor Rick Warren: "Give me a number, give me a specific number - where do you move from middle class to rich?" 

McCain: "I don't want to take any money from the rich – I want everybody to get rich. ... So, I think if you are just talking about income, how about $5 million? [Laughter from audience] But seriously, I don't think you can - I don't think seriously that - the point is that I'm trying to make here, seriously – and I'm sure that comment will be distorted – but the point is that we want to keep people's taxes low and increase revenues." (From August 16, 2008)

Obama Exaggeration #3:

Obama: "When John McCain said we could just “muddle through” in Afghanistan, I argued for more resources and more troops to finish the fight against the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11."

What he should have mentioned: What McCain actually said was that the U.S. "may muddle through" indicating that he was "guardedly optimistic about" Afghanistan. The exact quote was:

McCain: I think Afghanistan is dicey. I think that there are certain areas of the country, particularly along the Pakistani border, that are clearly not under the control of either Pakistan or the Afghan government. ...There has been a rise in al Qaeda activity along the border. There has been some increase in U.S. casualties. I am concerned about it, but I'm not as concerned as I am about Iraq today, obviously, or I'd be talking about Afghanistan. But I believe that if Karzai can make the progress that he is making, that – in the long term, we may muddle through in Afghanistan." (2003)

McCain has strongly and consistently argued for more troops in Afghanistan, as well as installation of NATO forces.

Obama Exaggeration #4

Obama: "And next week, we'll also hear about those occasions when he's broken with his party as evidence that he can deliver the change that we need. But the record's clear: John McCain has voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time." 

What he should have mentioned: If Senate votes are the measure of whether a candidate breaks with his party or not, then McCain is partisan at an average of about 85% of the time while Obama votes with the Democrats about 97% of the time (Congressional Quarterly Study of Senate Votes). Either way, neither candidate can claim to be that bipartisan if this is the measure of bipartisanship we're using.

A Few Other Exaggerations:

Obama suggested that during the presidency of George W. Bush, the average American family experienced an income drop of about $2,000. That is flat-out wrong. Figures from the U.S. Census actually state that the "average" family income decreased by $348 - quite a jump from $2,000. Obama aides clarified what Obama meant by saying he was referring to "median" income not "average" income. Median refers to the middle point (not the average). The aides also insisted Obama was referring to working families as opposed to including retired couples, etc. 

He was still outrightly incorrect. Median family income increased under George W. Bush by $272.

Leave a comment if you want sources on these facts!