Did the stimulus cost more than the Iraq War?
By Martha M. Hamilton, Lukas Pleva
Published on Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 1:52 p.m.
Related rulings:
"Obama’s stimulus, passed in his first month in office, will cost more than the entire Iraq War."
Mark Tapscott, Monday, August 23rd, 2010.
Ruling: Mostly False | Details
Share this article:
Whether the war costs more than the stimulus depends when the war ends.
Washington Examiner editorial page editor Mark Tapscott warned readers Aug. 23, 2010, to expect to hear a lot from Democrats about the cost of the Iraq War. It might be expensive, he said, but not as expensive as President Barack Obama"s economic stimulus.
Citing data from conservative writer Randall Hoven, Tapscott said, "Obama"s stimulus, passed in his first month in office, will cost more than the entire Iraq War -- more than $100 billion more."
Really? Could the nearly seven-year-long war cost less than the 2009 stimulus, which was designed to keep the U.S. economy from sliding into a depression?
We put his claim to the Truth-O-Meter.
We want to hear your suggestions and comments.
For tips or comments on our Obameter and our GOP-Pledge-O-Meter promise databases, please e-mail the Obameter. If you are commenting on a specific promise, please include the wording of the promise.
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.Keep up to date with Politifact:
- Sign up for our e-mail (about once a week)
- Put a free PolitiFact widget on your blog or Web page
- Subscribe to our RSS feeds on Truth-O-Meter items
- Subscribe to our RSS feeds on GOP Pledge-O-Meter items
- Subscribe to our RSS feeds on Obameter items
- Follow us on Twitter
- Fan us on Facebook
- Advertise on PolitiFact
- Shop the PolitiFact store for T-shirts, hats and other PolitiFact swag
