PolitiFact.com
Statements about Families
Jay Carney

Jay Carney

Mostly False

Lots of discussion of middle class, but without that term

In the Republican presidential debate in New Hampshire, none of the candidates mentioned the "middle class" or "education."

Dennis Kucinich

Dennis Kucinich

True

In one county it's more than 50 percent

"Seventy of Ohio's 88 counties now have more than 25 percent of their residents eligible for emergency food."

Herman Cain

Herman Cain

Mostly True

Former pizza CEO (almost) delivers on food stamp claim

The U.S. has "47 million people on food stamps. That’s 14 million more than when the current occupant of the White House took over."

Amy Hanauer

Amy Hanauer

True

Figures for 2010 broke a record set in 2009

"To give a sense of how families are struggling, a record four out of every 10 school kids in Ohio now qualifies for subsidized lunch."

Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich

Half-True

Food stamp use at record high, but not exclusively Obama's fault

President Barack Obama deserves to be called "the most successful food stamp president in American history" because "47 million Americans are on food stamps."

Stephen Wise

Stephen Wise

False

Hardened killers, yes; all from foster care, no

"Every person on death row was a foster kid."

Roberto DaSilva

Roberto DaSilva

Mostly True

Actually, it’s millions

"We’re paying out-of-state residential facilities hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more," to house children in state custody

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee

Mostly False

"Most" aren't on welfare or under-educated, and a big majority work

Says it’s a "statistical reality that most single moms are very poor, under-educated, can't get a job, and if it weren't for government assistance, their kids would be starving to death."

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."

National Organization for Marriage

National Organization for Marriage

False

Just two examples, from 2006

"Massachusetts public schools teach kids as young as kindergartners about gay marriage."

Organizing for America

Organizing for America

Half-True

Words matter, especially in polls

"An overwhelming majority of Americans support passage of the DREAM Act, which would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented youth willing to work for a college degree or serve in our armed forces."

Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck

Pants on Fire!

Pesky things like facts won't mess up his good story

"This town (Wilmington, Ohio) hasn’t taken any money from the government. They don’t want any money from the government."

Gwen Moore

Gwen Moore

True

The approach the group uses inflates the number by including suicides, but even when taken out Moore is on target

In Wisconsin, "deaths from domestic violence are at the highest in 10 years."

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Half-True

Yes, but even this takes time.

"Before we even passed health care, 4 millions kids got health insurance that didn't have it before, through the Children's Health Insurance Program."

Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio

Mostly False

A complex story in flip flops

Charlie Crist "attacks me for positions he held, like, six months ago, (when) he was running in the Republican primary."

Jeff Merkley

Jeff Merkley

Mostly True

Children are abused in good times, too.

Says with the ongoing economic downturn, child abuse is on the rise.

Kenneth Block

Kenneth Block

True

Actually, the $1 billion was from food stamps. Over many years. In Texas.

"(I) helped to invent a system that saved over a billion dollars on welfare."

Debbie Riddle

Debbie Riddle

False

More than half, but less than 81 percent

"Over 81 percent of the babies that are born at LBJ Hospital right here in Houston are born of women who are not here legally."

Bill White

Bill White

Half-True

True for getting license, but no longer for keeping

Says Rick Perry's proposal on driver licenses and high school dropouts has been state law since 1989.

Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi

Mostly False

Food stamp cuts offset a bigger share than corporate tax provisions do

A bill to aid state and local governments "is fully paid-for by closing costly corporate tax loopholes."

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