Fact-checking the new Crossroads GPS ad

President Obama pledged to cut the deficit in half in February 2009, when it stood at $1.3 trillion. Today, the deficit is estimated at almost $1.2 trillion. 

By Sean Gorman :: Published on Monday, May 21st, 2012 at 10:08 a.m.

Fact-checking the ad about Obama's promises

We fact-check the new ad from the conservative group Crossroads GPS.

By Angie Drobnic Holan :: Published on Friday, May 18th, 2012 at 11:05 a.m.

Obama announces support for gay marriage

With the president's announcement, PolitiFact New Jersey revisits fact checks on gay marriage

By Bill Wichert :: Published on Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 at 04:15 p.m.

The PolitiFact guide to Medicare attack lines

Barack Obama has slashed Medicare by $500 billion. Mitt Romney and House Republicans want to end Medicare. And a new board is going to ration care so Washington can waste more money.  Believe any of that? You shouldn’t.  But it’s what the political ads likely will be saying between now and Election Day in November. We have some advice for voters sorting out the claims: Believe nothing you hear in a 30-second TV ad.

By Angie Drobnic Holan :: Published on Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 at 02:26 p.m.

Americans for Prosperity's traffic light claim

Is stimulus money paying for traffic lights on Chinese streets? That's a claim made by Americans for Prosperity in a TV ad running in Ohio and seven other states. The ad blames President Barack Obama for sending stimulus money overseas while Americans are out of work. The claim about traffic lights is the third one we've checked out.    

By Becky Bowers, Robert Higgs :: Published on Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 at 10:50 a.m.

Fact-checking candidate Barack Obama

With the GOP nomination battle settled, the general election campaign is well under way. Here, we take a look at recent fact-checks of statements by President Barack Obama and his campaign.

By Louis Jacobson :: Published on Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 at 12:05 p.m.

Barack Obama debuts stump speech

President Barack Obama held his first official campaign rallies in Columbus, Ohio, and Richmond, Va., on Saturday. He repeated several claims that PolitiFact has rated before and made new ones that PolitiFact will rate in the coming weeks.

By Sean Gorman, Nancy Madsen :: Published on Saturday, May 5th, 2012 at 07:44 p.m.

Line by line: How an ad uses sleight-of-hand to distort facts on stimulus

An ad from Americans for Prosperity is a case study in how to weave falsehoods, exaggerations and the occasional fact. We take a closer look.

By Becky Bowers :: Published on Friday, May 4th, 2012 at 02:34 p.m.

Americans for Prosperity cites stimulus for Finland

Is your tax money paying for jobs in Finland? That's one of the claims in an ad Americans for Prosperity is airing in eight states, including Ohio. The ad takes aim at President Barack Obama, claiming that stimulus money was sent overseas while Americans are out of work. The claim about Finland is the second one we've checked out.

By Becky Bowers, Robert Higgs :: Published on Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 at 04:55 p.m.

Checking the claims from Americans for Prosperity

Americans for Prosperity takes aim at President Barack Obama in a ad running in Ohio and seven other states, claiming that stimulus money was sent overseas while Americans are out of work. "Tell President Obama, American tax dollars should help American taxpayers," the narrator says. Instead, $2.3 billion in tax credits funded jobs in Mexico, Finland and China, the ad claims. We checked it out the so-called funding for jobs in Mexico and found the claim somewhat incendiary.

By Becky Bowers, Robert Higgs :: Published on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.

Checking Romney's secret weapon: Infographics

Mitt Romney's campaign has been attacking President Barack Obama for how the economy has treated key demographic groups. Each time the Romney campaign has used the same tactic: Hurling a blizzard of negative statistics in neatly organized graphics. How accurate are they?

By Louis Jacobson :: Published on Thursday, April 26th, 2012 at 04:48 p.m.

In context: Obama's comments on eating dog in Indonesia

In response to the criticism of Mitt Romney's practice of transporting his dog on the roof of the family station wagon, some Republicans have noted that President Barack Obama ate dog when he was a child in Indonesia. Here's a look at what Obama has said about the meals.

By Louis Jacobson :: Published on Friday, April 20th, 2012 at 12:08 p.m.

In Context: Ted Nugent saying if Obama wins, 'I will either be dead or in jail'

Conservative rocker Ted Nugent grabbed the attention of the Secret Service when he discussed President Barack Obama at this weekend's NRA convention. Here's what "Uncle Ted" told the "stone-cold, hell-raisin' bad mofos."

By Becky Bowers :: Published on Thursday, April 19th, 2012 at 03:56 p.m.

Ad Watch: Obama lauds his energy record

Domestic oil production has increased during President Obama's term. But much of the gain comes from drilling on private lands that the president does not control. More from PolitiFact Virginia: *Ad Watch: American Energy Alliance blames Obama for high gas prices *On health care reform: What does the public want?

By Nancy Madsen :: Published on Thursday, April 19th, 2012 at 12:01 p.m.

Ad Watch: American Energy Alliance blames Obama for gas prices

Steven Chu did call for boosting U.S. gas prices to "the levels in Europe." But this happened before he became energy secretary, when Barack Obama was campaigning for president. Chu had no ties to Obama at the time. 

By Warren Fiske, Sean Gorman :: Published on Monday, April 16th, 2012 at 06:00 a.m.

Romney campaign blames Obama for women's economic distress

Romney ratchets up the rhetoric to blame the president. But we find two claims are Mostly False.

By Martha M. Hamilton :: Published on Thursday, April 12th, 2012 at 03:50 p.m.

No shortage of energy claims -- true and otherwise

Our partners at PolitiFact National recently featured some of the more recent and interesting energy-related claims, and PolitiFact Tennessee has plans to use our rulings and those of our national and state partners for a package in conjunction with Earth Day.  

By Molly Moorhead :: Published on Thursday, April 12th, 2012 at 09:02 a.m.

Dewhurst v. Obama

U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst leveled two charges about Barack Obama; one proved True.

By W. Gardner Selby :: Published on Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 at 01:15 p.m.

Their eyes are on November

President Barack Obama and likely Republican nominee Mitt Romney used dueling speeches to newspaper executives to preview the general election campaign.

By Martha M. Hamilton :: Published on Thursday, April 5th, 2012 at 12:31 p.m.

No shortage of energy claims -- true or otherwise

Politicians won't let you forget that you're paying more for gasoline. Voters are feeling the pinch, and leaders at the top are eager to point the finger. We explore a few of their claims.

By Molly Moorhead :: Published on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012 at 01:11 p.m.