Beyond the Truth-O-Meter
Benghazi Attack, Revisited
President Obama says the May 8 House hearing on Benghazi and subsequent reporting about it produced no new information. That's largely the case, but the president misrepresented some facts at his May 13 press conference in dismissing the House investigation as a "political circus."
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
Obama’s claim he called Benghazi an ‘act of terrorism’
Once again, it appears that we must parse a few presidential words.
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
Checking the Harrisburg, Pa., mayor's claims on business growth
Since the campaign season began, Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson has made some startling claims about the growth of businesses and jobs in the capital city during her tenure. Many simply don't believe them.
Monday, May 13th, 2013
Is Obama threatening to arrest governors?
Has President Obama threatened 14 state governors with arrest for forming State Defense Forces?
Monday, May 13th, 2013
The claim that Senate Democrats have produced a ‘balanced budget’
Is the Democratic-crafted budget plan “a balanced budget,” as Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said?
Monday, May 13th, 2013
Gun deaths in Arizona vs. troop deaths in Afghanistan
President Barack Obama said that twice as many people were murdered with guns in Arizona from 2001 to 2010 than were killed in combat in Afghanistan. Is that correct?
Sunday, May 12th, 2013
Arizona's governor and the deficit
Gov. Jan Brewer said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that she inherited -- and resolved -- the largest budget deficit in the country. Is that correct?
Sunday, May 12th, 2013
9/11 Hijackers and Student Visas
Lawmakers on both sides of the immigration debate have falsely claimed that “some” or “all” of the 9/11 hijackers were in the U.S. on student visas. Only one of the 19 hijackers came to the U.S. on a student visa. The rest arrived here on tourist or business visas.
Friday, May 10th, 2013
Court-Martialed for Sharing Religious Faith?
Q: Has the Pentagon recently declared that sharing one's faith is punishable by court-martial? A: No. The Pentagon merely restated its long-held policy that military members can "share their faith (evangelize)" but "not force unwanted, intrusive attempts to convert others to one’s beliefs (proselytization)."
Friday, May 10th, 2013
Coburn’s claim that violence in national parks has declined ‘85 percent’ because of guns
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., attached an eye-popping figure — 85 percent — to the decline in violent crime in national parks after guns were allowed. Could this possibly be true?
Friday, May 10th, 2013
Was Roman statesman Cicero a budget balancer?
Is a quotation from Roman statesman Cicero about balancing the budget, reducing public debt, and curtailing foreign assistance a genuine one?
Thursday, May 9th, 2013
The Benghazi hearings: what’s new and what’s not
Readers who are just tuning into the Benghazi story may be a little confused about what is new — and what is not. As a reader service, here’s an effort to help readers through some of the fog of charges and countercharges that emerged at the House hearings on Wednesday.
Thursday, May 9th, 2013
Will Tsarnaev be buried in Arlington National Cemetery?
Is accused bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev going to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery?
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
A fake quote by the NRA's new president
Did NRA president Jim Porter say that 'it’s only a matter of time before we can own colored people again'? No, it ran in a satire publication.
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
Cherry-picking one survey to discredit a survey of scientists on climate change
A look at a comment by Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, a freshman who chairs a House subcommittee on the environment.
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
The Benghazi talking points: What’s known and unknown
New information is raising questions about the development of the administration’s talking points on the deadly attack on the diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya, which left four Americans, including the ambassador, dead.
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
McCain’s Gitmo Exaggeration
Sen. John McCain exaggerated when he claimed that about 25 percent of prisoners released from Guantanamo have returned to terrorist activities in "leadership positions."
Monday, May 6th, 2013
Is Long Beach really limiting the hours of 1,600 workers because of ‘Obamacare’?
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and a questionable talking point about city workers in Long Beach, Calif.
Monday, May 6th, 2013
Debatable Facts in South Carolina
In a spirited debate between South Carolina congressional candidates Elizabeth Colbert Busch and Mark Sanford, we found a couple of misleading statements -- and one seemingly contradictory exchange about Sanford's voting record that isn't.
Friday, May 3rd, 2013
Congress and an Exemption from ‘Obamacare’?
Q: Is it true that there are bills in Congress that would exempt members and their staffs and families from buying into "Obamacare"? A: No.
Friday, May 3rd, 2013
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