Politics: The VP Debate

[Gabrielle Friedman]

VS.

I find it extremely funny how 84% of Americans thought that Sarah Palin "exceeded expectations" in last night's debate - I am guessing this has something to do with the fact that people's expectations of Governor Palin were quite low following her performance on Katie Couric.

As far as Joe Biden is concerned, I thought he did a solid job. He did not amaze me or captivate me as he had when I met him in West Palm but I think his experience and leadership was very visible when juxtaposed to Mrs. Palin's lack thereof.

Well enough with the commentary, everyone has their own opinion and that is just fine.

My real intentions behind this blog was to do a little googling and fact checking to see which of our vice-presidential candidates made the most mistakes. Always fun right?

Lie: Palin claimed that the Iraqi surge is a huge success and that Obama needs to acknowledge the fact they we are now at pre-surge troop levels.

Truth: Even with withdrawals of troops which is suppose to take place thru February 2009, we will still be 6,000 troops short of pre-surge levels. Nice going there Mrs. Palin.

Half-lie: Biden said that Obama and McCain voted the "same way" on legislation funding troops with the string attached of a timeline for withdrawal of troops in Iraq.

Truth: McCain had said he was planning on voting against this legislation but on the day of the vote, did not even show up to Congress.

Either way, Palin is wrong in claiming that McCain believed in such funding, because if he did, he would have voted for it instead of playing hooky.

Lie: Palin made a claim that Obama voted to raise taxes on families making only $42,000 a year.

Truth: FactCheck has spoken and the answer is No. Obama plans on raising taxes on those who make over $250,000 a year and these taxes will be no more than what these people paid under Reagan.

Lie: Palin claimed McCain's health care plan would be "budget neutral."

Truth: The plan's cost, including revenue offsets from taxing employer-based plans, is at $14 to $163 billion for just the year 2013.

Lie: Palin claimed that Obama's plan calls for healthcare to be "taken over by the feds."

Truth: This one is a lie as well. Obama's plan actually calls for more choices in publicly funded health care not a "complete take-over."

Lie: Palin said "But when you talk about Barack's plan to tax increase affecting only those making $250,000 a year or more, you're forgetting millions of small businesses that are going to fit into that category."

Truth: Independent estimates show that several hundred thousand small businesses make less than this amount and would therefore be unaffected by the tax increase.

Lie: Palin disagreed with Biden in that the current U.S. commander in Afghanistan said that "surge principles" would not work there, saying that the commander claimed otherwise.

Truth: The general did say a surge would not work, and Mrs. Palin got his name wrong in her speech.

Lie: Palin said that it is untrue that the U.S. is killing civilians in Afghanistan.

Truth: According to the AP, the US is killing more civilians than the insurgents are.

Lie Biden said his "clean coal" line was taken out of context.

Truth: Biden's statement did not make any sense and was an example of Biden's yapping tendency. His record shows clear support for clean coal. Whether or not this has changed since the last vote is uncertain.

Lie: Palin claimed that oil imports were at $700 million

Truth: $493 million

Lie: Palin said Obama voted for the 2005 energy bill and "that's what gave those oil companies those big tax breaks."

Truth: The bill did give breaks, but took away others, and the net effect was a tax increase for oil companies.

Half-lie: Biden: claimed Iraqi surplus at $80 million instead

Truth: $79 million

Not as big of a deal, maybe he was just rounding up.

Lie: Biden said McCain voted against alternative energy 20 times.

Truth: McCain has voted against alternative energy 11 times.

All in all, I think it is clear who pulled more mistakes and made more inaccurate, outlandish comments - Governor Palin.

I am not diminishing her performance at the debate because I feel that she did okay, but I think it is important to note that a lot of what she was saying was simply propaganda and not factual.

Take that into consideration come November 4th.

[Gabrielle Friedman]

Haha. I like...twice. lol

[Brad Benoit]

Half-Lie: Ms. Palin got his name wrong in her speech.

Truth: Governor Palin got his name wrong in her speech. Twice.

Not to fact-check your fact-check or anything. :-Þ

You might like my post, if you can stand to read the whole thing.