Good Article...

Elections Home

PrintEmailx ShareShare this on
FacebookStumble Upondel.icio.usDiggText SizeAP FACT CHECK: Obama Ad Avoids Budget Realities
The Associated Press takes a look at the details in Obama's prime-time ad

AP

Wednesday, October 29, 2008


WASHINGTON -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was less than upfront in his half-hour commercial Wednesday night about the costs of his programs and the crushing budget pressures he would face in office.

Obama's assertion that "I've offered spending cuts above and beyond" the expense of his promises is accepted only by his partisans. His vow to save money by "eliminating programs that don't work" masks his failure throughout the campaign to specify what those programs are -- beyond the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

A sampling of what voters heard in the ad, and what he didn't tell them:

THE SPIN: "That's why my health care plan includes improving information technology, requires coverage for preventive care and pre-existing conditions and lowers health care costs for the typical family by $2,500 a year."

THE FACTS: His plan does not lower premiums by $2,500, or any set amount. Obama hopes that by spending $50 billion over five years on electronic medical records and by improving access to proven disease management programs, among other steps, consumers will end up saving money. He uses an optimistic analysis to suggest cost reductions in national health care spending could amount to the equivalent of $2,500 for a family of four. Many economists are skeptical those savings can be achieved, but even if they are, it's not a certainty that every dollar would be passed on to consumers in the form of lower premiums.

THE SPIN: "I also believe every American has a right to affordable health care."

THE FACTS: That belief should not be confused with a guarantee of health coverage for all. He makes no such promise. Obama hinted as much in the ad when he said about the problem of the uninsured: "I want to start doing something about it." He would mandate coverage for children but not adults. His program is aimed at making insurance more affordable by offering the choice of government-subsidized coverage similar to that in a plan for federal employees and other steps, including requiring larger employers to share costs of insuring workers.

THE SPIN: "I've offered spending cuts above and beyond their cost."

THE FACTS: Independent analysts say both Obama and Republican John McCain would deepen the deficit. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates Obama's policy proposals would add a net $428 billion to the deficit over four years -- and that analysis accepts the savings he claims from spending cuts. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, whose other findings have been quoted approvingly by the Obama campaign, says: "Both John McCain and Barack Obama have proposed tax plans that would substantially increase the national debt over the next 10 years." The analysis goes on to say: "Neither candidate's plan would significantly increase economic growth unless offset by spending cuts or tax increases that the campaigns have not specified."

THE SPIN: "Here's what I'll do. Cut taxes for every working family making less than $200,000 a year. Give businesses a tax credit for every new employee that they hire right here in the U.S. over the next two years and eliminate tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. Help homeowners who are making a good faith effort to pay their mortgages, by freezing foreclosures for 90 days. And just like after 9-11, we'll provide low-cost loans to help small businesses pay their workers and keep their doors open. "

THE FACTS: His proposals -- the tax cuts, the low-cost loans, the $15 billion a year he promises for alternative energy, and more -- cost money, and the country could be facing a record $1 trillion deficit next year. Indeed, Obama recently acknowledged -- although not in his commercial -- that: "The next president will have to scale back his agenda and some of his proposals."

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!

This TAPE thing!!!!

This is the Headline on Foxnews.com

Tale of the Tape

McCain calls out L.A. Times for refusing to release video of Obama toasting PLO activist Rashid Khalidi, saying, 'why that should not be made public is beyond me.'

It worries me if the media doesn't want to put something out there just how bad it really is!! Does that not bother you...I'm just curious - Let's Hear It and let us decide...

Another thing - So many things have been brought out on Obama yet so many people still think he is so great - why? Is it really just because he is a great speaker??

One More thing! Obama was so head strong on VOTE early - wonder why - I wonder if his people were worried about what else might come about him...just my thoughts...

Really cute for the cat lovers like me!!!!

What do you think about this?

Cheese Please!

What should I be for HALLOWEEN?

I need Help!!!!!

This was me last year...

I need some ideas on how to dress up this year. Rodney and I went to the Halloween store to look for something fun but nothing just screamed at me ;)

I love to look scary but I did really scared a couple of kids last year they didn't even want to come in the house - and some didn't :( So share with me some pictures or your ideas I want something creative...

The year before this I was a dead bride...it was pretty neat!!

MY HUSBAND THE BAT SAVER!!!;)

Well Today is Thursday and it is almost over and that only means one thing tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!! (yeah) We are so Ready for the weekend I don't care what we do just for it to be the weekend!!!

But anyway...I have a BAT story to tell!!

Rodney and I have started back Walking and a the day before yesterday we walked our Circle through town and when we were walking by the pastures there was a BAT hanging on the fence there on the side of the road. We first thought it was dead and and we walked up to it and it turned its little head and I took off ;) that is all I needed to know everythign was just fine...

Well Yesterday we walked the same road and the same Bat was still there but this time it was throwing a little fit when we walked by. It was stuck!!! it had been stuck there for a full 24 hours and could have been much longer than that??? but Rodney got a stick and worked with the Bat and finally got him unstuck but man he was mad because I know it had to be hurting his little foot...but the wings on this thing was a good 10 inches wide! But when Rodney finally got him loose this bat took off and flew away so hopefully he now has a chance...otherwise he would have died right there...MY HUSBAND THE BAT SAVER!!!;)

Gas Prices...

WHY IS GAS STILL $3.50 HERE??????????????

First Trip Every to Disney World!

Fishing...