Fact-Checking the End Game Smears

As the election cycle enters its final week, the lies coming from the McCain campaign are multiplying both in their numbers and in their sleaziness. Chances are you've heard one or more of the ones listed here. Please click the links for further information if you have any doubts on just how false they really are.

ALSO, please forward this information to everyone and anyone! We need to get the truth out. We can't afford to elect "leaders" who will say or do anything just to hold power and further their own political ambitions. Now is the time to hold them accountable. Once they are in office, there is little we can do to stop them (see: George W. Bush).

Driver's Licenses, Social Security, and Healthcare for Immigrants

Ad accuses Obama of wanting to give driver's licenses to illegals (including terrorists), healthcare to illegals, social security to illegals...

• http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/a_license_to_kill.html

"Hardly a word in the ad is true. … despicable terror-pandering of the highest order."

Obama is Going to Take Away the Guns!

An ad accuses Obama of voting to "deny citizens the right of self-protection", and that he would make the homeowner a criminal in cases of home-invasion. All he voted for was to uphold a previously existing local gun ban in a small town, which had a maximum penalty of a $750 fine.

• http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/the_rifle_associations_true_story.html

Obama's Tax Plan is Bad for Small Business Owners

In fact, it would benefit the vast majority of small businesses.

• http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/09/fact-check-obama-tax-plan-and-small-businesses/
• http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/21/fact-check-would-obama-hike-taxes-on-small-businesses-that-employ-16-million/
• http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/right_change_is_wrong.html

Obama is a "Socialist" who wants to "Spread the Wealth"

Ridiculous right-wing lying and fear-mongering at its finest.

• http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/18/fact-check-obama-said-he-would-spread-his-wealth-around/
• http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/obamas_welfare.html
• http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/spread_the_tax_hooey.html

Obama and "congressional liberals" want to raise taxes on families making $42,000

It's just false. This is not now and never has been part of Obama's tax proposals.

• http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/more_tax_deceptions.html
• http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/15/fact-check-did-obama-vote-to-raise-taxes-for-people-making-as-little-as-42000/
• http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/spread_the_tax_hooey.html

Obama voted 94 times to increase taxes.

Again, not even close.

• http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/tax_tally_trickery.html

McCain and Palin are Socialists!

Actually this one is true. Well, in as much as, they support the same type of "wealth-spreading" policies that they are accusing Barack Obama of.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27424491/

Email: Is Barack Funded by Ties to the Middle East?

One of the more recent email hoaxes to make the rounds regarding Barack Obama calls into question any number of items regarding his background, most notably things like "how did he pay for college and grad school?", "How did he buy his house?", and others.

Other sites have already done a decent job of debunking this email, including this article from Snopes.com, and our article on Tony Rezko (which cites further verifiable sources). We won't bother to rehash that information here; you can check it yourself.

However, more recent versions of the email have had some additional points added to them that are worth addressing separately.

First, the email mentions an out-of-context quote of Obama saying, "my Muslim faith". This quote was part of an interview with George Stephanopoulos. During the interview, Obama was talking about conservative smears against him insinuating that he is a Muslim, and how (remarkably) the McCain campaign has not brought up the issue. When heard or read in context, the intended meaning of the quote becomes clear.

(Apart from which, all rumors about Obama secretly being a Muslim have been widely researched and debunked. Obama is a long-time Christian, was never a Muslim, and did not attend a Islamic religious school when growing up. Here is one source; there are many others you can find via Google.)

The last point of note is in reference to his close advisor, Valerie Jarrett. It says that she was born in Iran – seemingly intending to lead the reader to the conclusion that all Iranians are Muslims and/or terrorists and cannot to be trusted. Leaving aside the racist undertones, the statement is extraordinarily misleading because of what it doesn't tell you. Ms. Jarrett WAS in fact born in Iran... to American parents! Her father was a medical doctor, and worked for several years back in the 1950's at a hospital for the poor in Iran, long before that country was part of the "axis of evil".

Here is an excellent article on Valerie Jarrett. It is long, but pages 4-5 provide the relevant information regarding the above claim.

Obama and the Slum Lord

This is another topic that was brought up originally by the Clinton campaign during the primaries. There was lots and lots of innuendo, but after thorough investigation... it all amounted to nothing.

It can be summed up thusly:

• Tony Rezko was a powerful real estate developer in Chicago.
• He was an early financial supporter of Obama.
• Obama bought a house next to a piece of land that was bought by Rezko. Obama later bought part of that lot from the Rezko's, at market value.
• Rezko never requested nor received political favors from Obama, save one: Obama gave an internship to a friend's son at Rezko's request.
• Many years later, Rezko was indicted for crimes that we have no reason to believe Obama was aware of. Obama severed ties at that point.

Nothing illegal or improper has ever been found... and don't think for a moment that the GOP war machine hasn't been digging HARD. Yes, he received campaign contributions from the man, just as he has from millions of others. He has been forthright in stating that the real estate deal to buy his house -- while again not improper -- was a "boneheaded move" simply because of the conclusions people might draw.

Notably missing from ALL the information on ties between Obama and Rezko is even a HINT that there was some sort of wrong-doing or quid-pro-quo from Obama in return for the campaign financing help that he received. It is widely believed that Rezko's main reason for supporting Obama was that it made him feel important/connected to be close to a political candidate. It was merely a status symbol for him.

Sources:

• http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/02/01/rezko/index1.html
• http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/757340,CST-NWS-watchdog24.article

How well do we really know Barack Obama?

John McCain and Sarah Palin are trying to convince you that you don't know the "real" Barack Obama. "Who is Barack Obama?" they ask. They are trying to scare you into thinking that he's a complete unknown.

If you feel that you don't know him, either you haven't been listening, or you have been actively trying to ignore him. Barack Obama has participated in nearly 200 town-hall type meetings with prospective voters. He regularly gives speeches that give unique insights into his character, his ideals, and his vision for America. His web site is chock full of information including his plan on every significant topic. He even answers reporters' questions on a frequent basis (unlike Sarah Palin, who the Republican party wisely keeps locked in a cage unless there are teleprompters in front of her).

Below are several sample speeches that should give you excellent insight into the man and the makeup of his character. If you get on YouTube.com and search for "Barack Obama Speeches", you'll find just about every word the man has ever uttered at your fingertips. Then you'll know him. Odds are, you'll also come to the same conclusion as millions of your fellow Americans: this is the leader and visionary that America needs, right now.

• Barack's speech on race relations in America, directly addressing his ties with Rev. Jeremiah Wright (Link to Video, Link to Transcript)
• Barack on America's Role in the World (Link to Video, Link to Transcript)
• Barack Campaign Commercial on Changing our Economic Future (Video)
• Barack's 2008 Convention Speech (Link to Video)

Some of the speeches are long, but they are worth the time investment. This is the most important election in many of our lifetimes, and you need to know who you are voting for.