The Frank file:
FrankJohn Frank

Staff Writer, St. Petersburg Times

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The latest Truth-O-Meter items written by John Frank

Mostly true "I'm the product of a mixed marriage that would have been illegal in 12 states when I was born."
Democrat Barack Obama on Thursday, April 10th, 2008 in an interview with theadvocate.com
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Half-True McCain's "plan for the economy is to extend George Bush’s tax cuts for billionaires and give a $100-billion additional corporate tax cut."
Democrat Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 in Philadelphia.
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Mostly true "He told gay organizers in Massachusetts he would be a stronger advocate for special rights than even Ted Kennedy."
Republican John McCain on Monday, January 28th, 2008 in an automated call to voters
>> Details

Half-True "But it was Hillary Clinton, in an interview with Tom Brokaw, who quote 'paid tribute' to Ronald Reagan's economic and foreign policy."
Democrat Barack Obama on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 in a radio ad in South Carolina
>> Details

Mostly true "And he’s the only candidate who will fight for a national catastrophe fund to reduce insurance rates."
Republican Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 in a TV ad
>> Details

The latest Truth-O-Meter items researched by John Frank

Mostly true "He told gay organizers in Massachusetts he would be a stronger advocate for special rights than even Ted Kennedy."
Republican John McCain on Monday, January 28th, 2008 in an automated call to voters
>> Details

Half-True "But it was Hillary Clinton, in an interview with Tom Brokaw, who quote 'paid tribute' to Ronald Reagan's economic and foreign policy."
Democrat Barack Obama on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 in a radio ad in South Carolina
>> Details

Mostly true "And he’s the only candidate who will fight for a national catastrophe fund to reduce insurance rates."
Republican Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 in a TV ad
>> Details

True "(My dad) used to campaign against the gas-guzzling dinosaurs."
Republican Mitt Romney on Monday, January 14th, 2008 in a TV interview on CBS.
>> Details

True "Sen. Obama's chair in New Hampshire is a lobbyist. He lobbies for the drug companies."
Democrat Hillary Clinton on Saturday, January 5th, 2008 in a debate in Manchester, N.H.
>> Details

Recent stories by John Frank

Rudy's Florida pitch: In a TV ad aimed at voters in Florida, Rudy Giuliani makes claims about cutting taxes, welfare reform and a national insurance fund. We find he's mostly right on two, but wrong on the other.

History is not their best subject: Presidential candidates often make historical references to emphasize points or justify positions. A lot of the time, though, they get their facts wrong — to the dismay of historians.

Making 'disruption' equal 'destruction': Rudy Giuliani frequently attacks Hillary Clinton over her views on the free market, but he's blatantly misquoting her.

Thompson's first role: factory worker: To counter his history in Hollywood and Washington, he tells of growing up in rural Tennessee.

No easy pricetag for Iraq war: A precise figure on the cost of the Iraq war is missing in action.

Recent stories researched by John Frank

Rudy's Florida pitch: In a TV ad aimed at voters in Florida, Rudy Giuliani makes claims about cutting taxes, welfare reform and a national insurance fund. We find he's mostly right on two, but wrong on the other.

History is not their best subject: Presidential candidates often make historical references to emphasize points or justify positions. A lot of the time, though, they get their facts wrong — to the dismay of historians.

About this staffer

John Frank is a reporter for the St. Petersburg Times. Previously, he reported on Congress and the 2004 presidential election for the Houston Chronicle before joining The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier as the lead political reporter covering national and state politics from the capital bureau in Columbia, S.C.

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