AP Fact Check: GOP Candidates Make Debate Claims on Bailouts, Budgets & Taxes!
- Posted on February 22, 2012 at 11:29pm by
Scott Baker
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Twenty Republican presidential debates later, the head-scratching claims kept coming.
Did Mitt Romney really cut taxes as Massachusetts governor, as he asserted yet again? Or did he raise them by hundreds of millions of dollars, as former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum alleged? And how could Newt Gingrich have given the nation four balanced budgets when he was only in Congress for two of them?
There was something old, something new, in the misstatements of the candidates Wednesday in what was possibly the last GOP debate.
A look at some of the claims and how they compare with the facts:
ROMNEY to Santorum: “You voted to raise the debt ceiling five times without compensating cuts in spending.”
THE FACTS: Maybe so, but increases in the debt ceiling were not politically charged in the past as they are now. They just allow the government to pay bills run up by previous Congresses. To not pay them would be like deciding to stop paying a car loan or mortgage. In fact, President Ronald Reagan, an icon to most conservatives, supported increases in the debt limit 12 times over his two terms. The idea of insisting on offsetting spending cuts when raising the debt ceiling is relatively new.
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ROMNEY: “They finally realized I was right.” — On the government ushering the auto industry into and out of bankruptcy.
THE FACTS: Romney did propose a bankruptcy process for the automakers before the government opted for that course. But there was a tremendous difference between the course he advocated and the one that was taken. GM and Chrysler went into bankruptcy on the strength of a massive bailout that Romney opposed. Neither Republican President George W. Bush nor Democratic President Barack Obama believed the automakers would have survived without that backup from taxpayers. Romney held out the possibility at the time of the government giving certain loan and warranty guarantees that would not have approached the nearly $85 billion bailout.
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SANTORUM: “Gov. Romney even today suggested raising taxes on the top 1 percent.”
THE FACTS: Romney’s new proposal actually would lower tax rates across the board. The rate for the wealthiest Americans would drop to 28 percent from 35 percent. However, Romney’s call for unspecified new limits on tax deductions for higher-income taxpayers makes it impossible, absent more details, to assess the impact on any individual.
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NEWT GINGRICH: “When I was speaker … we balanced the budget for four consecutive years.”
THE FACTS: Gingrich has made this misstatement many times before. He was speaker from January 1995 to January 1999. During budget years 1996 and 1997, when Gingrich was House speaker, the government ran deficits totaling nearly $130 billion. In budget year 1998, which ended Sept. 30, 1998, there was a surplus of $69 billion. And in budget year 1999, during which Gingrich was speaker part of the time, there was a surplus of $126 billion. Thus, Gingrich can only claim credit for contributing to two years of a balanced budget, at most.
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SANTORUM: “Gov. Romney raised $700 million in taxes and fees in Massachusetts.”
ROMNEY: “We cut taxes 19 times.”
THE FACTS: Romney largely held the line on tax increases but the record is mixed. Massachusetts raised business taxes by $140 million with measures mostly recommended by Romney. As well, the Republican governor and Democratic lawmakers raised hundreds of millions of dollars from higher fees and fines, another form of taxation. Romney himself proposed raising nearly $60 million by creating 33 new fees and increasing 57 others. Anti-tax advocates praised his support for income tax cuts while objecting to his course on business taxes and fees.
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crazyoz
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:48amWho Fact Checks the liberal AP?
Report Post »justangry
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:38amSo called conservatives like the liberal AP when they saber rattle. Really the difference between the major networks is slight. Fox offers a more religious/pro business spin, but takes viewers to the same place. More debt, more wars and less freedom.
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 1:48pmFinance: Bloomberg “Paul Is Only GOP Contender Whose Policies Would Pare Debt, Analysis Finds”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-23/paul-s-plan-would-lower-debt-while-rivals-wouldn-t-report-says.html
Report Post »MS-GlenNBC
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 6:41pmWhy not Fact Check this
Does Romney love Lakes
Does Romney Love the Big ones
Does Romney Love the Little ones
Does Romney Love Trees
Does Romney love Cars
Do cars rule the world
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHaMqHh5NZ4
A little History, I, I, I was born and raised here, I love this state, it seems right here the trees are the right.. height…. uh I like uh… I like seeing the uh…. I like seeing the lakes, I love the lakes, there’s something very special here… The Great Lakes, but also, all the little inland lakes, that,… that… dot the uh.. uh.. the parts of Michigan uh… I love Cars I don’t know I mean I grew up i i u… totally in love with Cars I it it used to be in the 50‘s and 60’s if you showed me one square foot of all most any part of a car, I could tell you what brand it was the model and so forth, now now with all the Japanese Cars I’m not quite so good at it but I still know the American cars pretty well and uh Drive a Mustang uh Iife I Love Cars, I love American Cars and long may they Rule the world I want to do well…….
He is electable dreamy and presidential. Don’t you think. Ha ha
Report Post »ianmc002
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 9:10amAnyone notice that Paul is not included in this chicanery?
RON PAUL 2012!!!
Never voted to raise the debt ceiling, Never voted to raise taxes, Never voted for an earmark, Never voted for a Congressional pay raise, etc, etc.
Ron Paul also proposes LOWERING presidential compensation from ~400k/yr to 39.6k/yr
The proof is in the puddn’ people. Ron Paul Never voted to do ANY of those things even when it was ‘cool’ according to the author.
RON PAUL 2012!!!
Report Post »zorro
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:37amThat’s because Ron Paul has been in Congress for 30 years and accomplished absolutely nothing.
Report Post »ImMormon
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 1:56pmNever voted for an earmark? Ha! He has more earmarks then every guy on the stage. Sorry pal.
Report Post »West Coast Patriot
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 2:33pmZorro and Immoron, You two should take classes on how government works as it seems you have no clue.
Report Post »zorro
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 8:34amGood comeback. Way to defend Ron Paul’s incompetence. You really told us.
Report Post »individualliberty85
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 1:47pmso zorro, it‘s ron paul’s fault that when he votes with the constitution and not along party lines (as santorum pretty much admitted he did with no child left behind)? It‘s ron paul’s fault that while the rest of congress has voted to increase our debt limit and he has said no? yea that’s accomplishing nothing huh? look at the majority of bills that go through congress. Bills that stamp on our personal freedoms and privacy, forming departments like education (which is unconstitutional) bills that raise spending all around the board, giving money to organizations like planned parenthood (ahem… santorum!), giving foreign aid to all these countries, even our enemies!! having our troops spread out all around the world on our tax dollar while doing little to nothing on our borders (how does that make american safer?) not to mention pouring money into undeclared, unwinnable unconstitutional wars. so, zorro, is what you’re saying that paul should have played the “team game” like santorum did? compromise constitutional values for the sake of passing a republican bill? Go along with the republican party whether their platform is constitutional or not? That‘s why we’re in the mess that we’re in!! and republicans jump on democrats when democrats undermine the constitution, and vice versa….. and ron paul is one of the very few that stand up to both parties and just plain sticks to the constitution. Most politicians have made the decision that their political party is mo
Report Post »individualliberty85
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 2:04pmpoliticians have made the decision that their political party and special interests are more important than the constitution. Ron Paul is one of the few that has not done that. If you want to call that accomplishing nothing, then I don’t know what to tell ya…..
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 4:31am1) Raising the Debt Ceiling is NOT a Cause for Blame… because the Government CANNOT just STOP; 2) Ear Marks are REQUIRED to tell the President how to Spend Funds… otherwise it just goes into General SLUSH Fund!
The Romney’s screwed up Mich, then Mass, and now want to do it everyone!
Report Post »Clawdewd
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:19amBefore you claim that George Romney “screwed up” Michigan, Check your facts; He left Michigan with a huge surplus ( a feat only duplicated recently under Rick Snyder), rebuilt the state educational system, and supported Martin Luther King’s civil rights struggle.
It’s the subsequent 40 years of Democrat rule that has injured Michigan generally, and Detroit specifically.
Report Post »ImMormon
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 1:58pmWell said. Checked the facts. He is right.
Report Post »TeaPartyForRomney
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 1:44amFunny how the liberal media sees facts and fiction. Much different than the people see it. The media seems to lean towards the talking points of the left.
If you haven’t seen the whole debate, here it is in its entirety: http://www.thedailycandidate.com/video/2012/feb/gop_debate_20.html
Report Post »kspatriot
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 12:23amHmmm…….I don’t see any mention of Ron Paul “misstating” facts (I like to call them what they are, LIES)! Consistent? Yes, and HONEST. A rare combination these days.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 12:47amLol, Yeah. I mentioned that in live chat.
Report Post »zorro
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:39am30 years. He’s had 30 years on Congress. He’s exactly the type of politician we need to get rid of. If he hasn’t even made a dent in changing the system in 30-freakin’-years, he needs to go. We need him to drop out of this race TODAY.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 11:22amIt isn‘t Ron Paul’s fault that EVERY other politician is corrupt. Take a look at what he’s TRIED to do during those 30 years. Get back to me if you find anything that you don’t agree with.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Paul_bills
Seriously, this attack is getting boring.
Report Post »West Coast Patriot
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 2:37pmZorro, we have had idiots, kinda like you, in Congress that have been doing everything they can to strip the Constitution out of our lives with Paul being one of the lone voices in trying to protect it. It is hard to get anything done when people like you are around.
Report Post »zorro
Posted on February 24, 2012 at 8:36amOnce again, you can’t defend Ron Paul. Instead you call me an idiot. Way to show how much more intelligent you are.
Report Post »larrytheconservative
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 11:57pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpgSwcYah8E
Report Post »flyoverbob
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 11:51pmYou know I didn’t even read this,why in the name of all that is truthful would you cite the AP ?
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 5:09amFLYOVERBOB, exactly.
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 11:48pmThis AP Fact check is a bunch of garbage, These people should be ashamed of themselves. What a bunch of garbage. Everybody knows the federal employees make hands down much better than the competition in the private market. They want to try and compare the stats across the board in the private sector, not in comparable positions. This is not to mention, these people are work for a company that doesn’t produce anything, has hardly a concern for budgeting, and could care less about how productive they are.Lastly, they hardly have to worry about losing their jobs. Try working somewhere in the private sector for 20 – 25 years, same company. That is not a reality these days. Lastly, I have a sever problem with the federal government myself, being a recovering addict, I have a minor record, but enough that I am ineligible for federal work. These people talk about equal rights all the time, but not when concerning me it isn’t.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 11:56pmPoint of order, for what I do for the DoD, contractors I work with, that do the same thing, make almost 35% more. They just don’t have security in contract lengths, and have their contracts come up about every 3-5 years. So there is a trade off, but please stop saying how “Overpaid” we are. And as far as retirement, I pay 15% of my gross pay into a 401k, that along with my other savings is my retirement. There is no way I could live on what my standard retirement would be.
Report Post »DownWithDems
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 11:40pmSantorum looked like a minor league player at tonights debate.
He got caught on all his lies and could not defend himself.
He could not defend voting for $ for planned parenthood.
He could not defend voting for no child left behind.
He could not defend campaigning for Arlen Spector.
He could not defend voting for the bridge to no where.
He tried, but failed in his efforts.
As a Republican commentor said after the debate;
Mesa Az is famous for spring training, and Santorum was not
ready for spring training. It was perfectly worded.
Santorum was the novice in the room. He got caught with his hand in the
Report Post »cookie jar. Time to go home Santorum.
rugin
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 1:31amDitto
Report Post »conservativejon
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 7:58amdid you not hear him say there was no was to stop prop 10 that it was going to be put into the bugget. he proposed prop 20 to off set it.
this is the problem with people like ron paul. he votes no on every thing and gets nothing done. santorim at least tryed to get funding for abstinace teaching that would have made PP defunt.
you might not agree with how he did it but atleast he did something unlike ron paul. you have to work in the system to change the system. i hate that. you might hate that but its true.
with no child left behind he said he was wrong and that they were lied to on what it would do.
Santorum is not perfect but then only Jesus was.
Report Post »zorro
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 10:44amI find it funny the so called “conservative crowd” bood Santorum when he brought up Romneycare. Is this was conservatism is now? Is Romneycare now a good thing?
Clearly this was a Romney crowd and old-man-Paul is just kissing ass trying to get something out of his failed 30 years in Congress.
The GOP stands no chance of defeating Obama because the one thing we had against him, Obamacare, is out the window with Romney as the nominee. When Romney brings it up against Obama, Obama will make him look silly. Conservatives blow it again. Nice job, folks. Be sure to remember to thank Christie, Hannity, and Coulter for this loss.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 11:38pmRon Paul is the only one that can claim to have pulled a beating heart out of a man, although all of them do know what a prostate feels like.
Cain 2012.
Report Post »Lumbar Spine
Posted on February 22, 2012 at 11:37pmBut, but, but….how can they be lying? Isn’t God on the side of the GOP? Be gone Satan…! LOL…
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 23, 2012 at 12:23amLet’s fact check Obama .. no need if his lips are moving he is LYING!
Report Post »