PolitiFact.com
Statements about Civil Rights
Travis Rowley

Travis Rowley

False

Not tied to any party

"Martin Luther King was a Republican."

John DePetro

John DePetro

Pants on Fire!

Waaaay out of bounds

"[The] ACLU and atheists in Denver are demanding the NFL stop [Tim Tebow] from praying on the sidelines."

Sheila Oliver

Sheila Oliver

Mostly True

Two dozen states in 1958

"In 1958, there were 16 states in this country that prohibited -- prohibited -- an African-American and a Caucasian from being married."

Phil Gingrey

Phil Gingrey

Mostly False

GLOW bus made no house calls

When Georgia tightened its voter identification laws, the state sent a van and photographer to the homes of people who needed photo IDs and made them for free. 

Eric Holder

Eric Holder

True

A good candidate for the truth

"After filing a lawsuit in Rhode Island, we reached an agreement with state agencies that resulted in more voters being registered in the first full month after our lawsuit than in the entire previous two-year reporting period."

Josh Mandel

Josh Mandel

Pants on Fire!

Brown's support was specific: nonviolent protests

Says that Sen. Sherrod Brown is "out there egging on a lot of these protesters who are spitting on policemen and going to the bathroom on policemen’s cars at these protests on Wall Street and other places." 

John Birch Society

John Birch Society

Half-True

Technically, yes, but ...

Under a Wisconsin bill, "minor offenses such as violating pet leash laws, seat belt laws, parking infractions, etc., would now be arrestable offenses."

David Quiroa

David Quiroa

True

From 2002-2003

"Under Governor Almond the RI DMV had a program that allowed undocumented [people to] use their Personal Tax Identification Number . . . to apply [for] and receive a RI driver’s license."

Robert Kraig

Robert Kraig

Mostly True

Not blanket protection

Wisconsin bill "grants drug companies and medical device manufacturers immunity from injuries and deaths caused by their products."

Brad Avakian

Brad Avakian

False

Try over three years

Says "We do about 300 investigations a year into housing discrimination and in recent years have put about $150,000 of damages into the pockets of individuals who have been treated unfairly."

Martin Frost

Martin Frost

Mostly False

A change in emphasis

Says Rick Perry flip-flopped on gay marriage by first saying it was a state’s rights issue and then saying he was in favor of a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

Al Roker

Al Roker

Mostly False

Sorry Al, Montgomery has greater civil rights claim, experts say.

"(Birmingham, Ala.) is the cradle of the civil rights movement."

Christopher Plante

Christopher Plante

Pants on Fire!

His latest poll says otherwise.

"The people of Rhode Island don't want same-sex marriage."

Jesse Jackson

Jesse Jackson

Mostly True

The accepted measure puts Milwaukee — the metro area — at No. 1

Milwaukee is "the most segregated city in America."

Bill Fischer

Bill Fischer

Mostly False

Is the mere mention of marriage a right denied?

"Full marriage equality [would provide same-sex couples] with about 1,700 rights."

Get EQUAL Texas

Get EQUAL Texas

Half-True

And Fort Worth, San Marcos, Round Rock...

"Between Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas over 8,000 same-sex couples are raising children."

Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow

False

Fox coverage was likely overblown, but no discussion of electoral impact

Fox News "said the New Black Panther Party decided the election for Barack Obama."

Vincent "Buddy" Cianci

Vincent "Buddy" Cianci

Mostly True

Do loaded questions matter?

"Over 80 percent of the people want the shot to vote" on whether to approve same-sex marriage, according to polls.

Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck

Pants on Fire!

Lincoln Memorial is open for biz - and rallies

"The government is trying to now close the Lincoln Memorial for any kind of large gatherings."

Bill McCollum

Bill McCollum

True

They can check now; Arizona law would require a check

"Police officers in this state have that right," to check the immigration status of people they arrest.

Advertisement
How to contact us:

We want to hear your suggestions and comments. For tips or comments on our campaign promise database, please e-mail the Obameter. If you are commenting on a specific promise, please include the promise number. For comments about our Truth-O-Meter or Flip-O-Meter items, please e-mail the Truth-O-Meter. We’re especially interested in seeing any chain e-mails you receive that you would like us to check out. If you send us a comment, we'll assume you don't mind us publishing it unless you tell us otherwise.

Browse the The Truth-O-MeterTM:
Browse The Obameter:
Subscribe:

Keep up to date with Politifact National: