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Checking the GOP response to the State of the Union

Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell delivers the Republican response to the State of the Union address. Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell delivers the Republican response to the State of the Union address.

Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell delivers the Republican response to the State of the Union address.

Bill Adair
By Bill Adair January 28, 2010

Through Twitter and "live blogging" and cable TV, Republicans offered a spirited reply to President Barack Obama's State of the Union. Just as we did for Obama, we put their claims to the Truth-O-Meter. We'll update this story as we publish additional items, so check back later.

• Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell, who delivered the official Republican response, earned a Half True for his claim that the federal debt is "on pace to double in five years and triple in 10. The federal debt is now over $100,000 per household."

• McDonnell earned a True for his claim that if the government allows drilling off the coast of Virginia, it would be the first time on the East Coast.

• In a live-blogging response to the State of the Union address, House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, wrote that "a majority of Americans still oppose this health care bill." We rated that claim Mostly True.

• Boehner earns a True for his claim that Obama's spending freeze would affect a tiny portion of government spending.

• Boehner earned a Barely True for his claim that spending has increased 67 percent in the last year. 

Republican strategist Nancy Pfotenhauer made a ridiculously false claim about the impact on Obama's health care plan on premiums. That earned a Pants on Fire.

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Checking the GOP response to the State of the Union