Government

‘Bogus Assumptions’: FactCheck.org Finds Errors on Obama‘s ’Life of Julia’ Site

Bogus Assumptions: FactCheck.org Takes on Obamas Life of Julia

The Obama campaign’s “Life of Julia” web graphic created quite the stir when it was unveiled last week. Obama opponents derided its cradle-to-grave government philosophy, and there was also a spot of trouble with a certain flag placement.

“Julia” hasn’t escaped the notice of fact-checkers either: The Washington Post gave her three pinocchios for the claim that she could “retire comfortably” under Obama, while a Mitt Romney administration would cut her Social Security benefits by 40 percent. PolitiFact said it was “false” that her student loan rates would be allowed to double under a President Romney. And now, FactCheck.org has weighed in to say it found “some bogus assumptions in the Obama campaign’s fable about a fictional woman.”

FactCheck.org’s summary of its findings:

  • The campaign falsely claims Romney would leave Julia with “nothing but a voucher” to buy health insurance at age 65. Actually, the plan Romney has endorsed would let her choose between traditional Medicare fee-for-service coverage, or a variety of private plans with premiums partially paid by the government.
  • The slide show also contends that Julia, as a senior citizen, will have to pay “$6,350 extra per year” for a health care plan similar to Medicare. But that’s an out-of-date cost estimate based on a year-old plan that since has been made substantially more generous.
  • At age 67, Julia can “retire comfortably” under Obama but, “Under Mitt Romney: Julia’s benefits could be cut by 40%.” But the fact is Obama has not proposed any plan to avoid a 25 percent cut in benefits for all Social Security beneficiaries, which the system’s trustees say is looming in 2033 unless changes are made.
  • As a 22-year-old college student, Julia needs surgery that is covered “due to a provision in health care reform” keeping her on her parents’ insurance. Fair enough. But she’d probably be covered anyway: Thirty-seven states already have similar mandates on the books.
  • As a 31-year-old expectant mother, Julia “benefits from maternal checkups” required under the new health care law. But she would probably get that care anyway; 85 percent of full-time workers have health insurance now, and a 1978 federal law already requires that employer-provided insurance generally must “cover expenses for pregnancy-related conditions.”

Read its full analysis here.

Comments (50)

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  • ghostsouls
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:06pm

    Julia is a typical Democrat/Liberal, who wants the government to hold her hand and provide for her every need from cradle to grave. The government makes her into to a person who cannot think for herself, care for herself, educate herself, support herself, or to be an independent free thinking woman, when in fact she is nothing more than government chattel. This administration thinks they have the African Americans all snug as a bug on the Democratic plantation, now they need to put women in their place. Then the elites can live as one. This is what the Democrats REALLY think about African Americans and Women. That they are both incapable of living life independent of the umbilical cord to the government, and that they must turn their lives over to the government. American’s are not that stupid, and see what you are doing obama, that is why your speeches are to half empty stadiums.

    Report Post » ghostsouls  
  • Beckofile
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:02pm

    Who is fact checking the fact checkers at factcheck.org. This is an org created by the Anneburg foundation and although the founder was conservative his daughter runs it now. She is into social justice and environmental crap. Also did Bill Ayers and obamao sit on the board of Annenburg Challenge in Chicago. I bet they missed many more lies.

    Report Post » Beckofile  
  • Delta_River_Folk
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:53pm

    Have we gone so far to the left that people don’t see the shame in this form of lifestyle? Welfare is a Cancer that is killing our society.

    Report Post »  
  • HTuttle
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:48pm

    Julia asks not what she can do for her country but what her country can do for Julia!

    How the democrat party has CHANGED!

    Report Post »  
    • Zurich
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:17pm

      The Democratic Party doesn’t exist anymore as they are infiltrated by communists and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood. The small number of still existing Blue Dogs (that were not eaten by Obama yet) are being held hostage and they don’t have a voice anymore. Many say that we have to vote Republican, but in addition to that, it would be also good to vote for more Blue Dogs.

      Report Post »  
  • drphil69
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:40pm

    Probably every slide is wrong. All false assumptions. Under Obama, Julia would not go to college, because college costs continue to skyrocket at 3x inflation, and annual tuition is $300k. She would have guaranteed medical care, but with Obamacare most intellegent people no longer become doctors, and there is a severe shortage… so after an 18 month wait, Julia dies at home, taking the pain medication.

    Report Post »  
  • CMDR6
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:29pm

    Go figure…the President and his minion are liars.

    Report Post » CMDR6  
  • PALEHORSE
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:11pm

    I‘m just wondering where Julia’s baby daddy is and why he isn’t paying child support.

    Report Post »  
    • drphil69
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:38pm

      There is no baby-daddy. Julia was artificially inseminated, at a cost to taxpayers of $50,000, because the Obama administration DICTATED THE COVERAGE.

      Report Post »  
  • IMCHRISTIAN
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:06pm

    If things are and would be going so great why do they need a DONATE space.

    Report Post »  
  • trotula
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:02pm

    At 65, Julia can retire comfortably, while Julia’s kid is stuck with a $16 trillion dollar bill and is enslaved to China.

    Report Post »  
  • Mojoron
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:00pm

    The real truth about Julia is this: at three months gestations, Julia’s mother would have her aborted.

    Report Post » Mojoron  
    • Wislady
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:43pm

      @Mojoron
      Great response!
      (Permission to post the response on another blog)?

      Report Post » Wislady  
  • sawbuck
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:58pm

    At age 67, Julia can “retire comfortably” under Obama
    ~~~~~~
    Julia is 22 years old by this illustration.. That’s 45 years from now.
    Anyone else SEE the problem with this assertion..?

    Report Post » sawbuck  
  • Mike Benton
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:51pm

    Go back to slide 1…. Why is Julia going to Head Start instead of her mother reading to her in the evening instead of watching TV?

    Report Post » Mike Benton  
  • clockwatcher
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:43pm

    Stop telling the truth, Hope and Change, Hope and Change, we are going to get it in 175 days. Obama on the trash heap of history along with Carter, Marx, Castro and Stalin.

    Report Post » clockwatcher  
  • TEIN
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:35pm

    Pres. O and his sites are portraying how reforming America’s culture and way of life would look like…hoping the perception will change to reality…..

    Report Post »  
    • Bill Rowland
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:45pm

      Tell the same lie long enough and loud enough and you will begin to believe it yourself.

      OMG 2012

      Report Post »  
  • cuinsong
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:30pm

    Openly socialist agenda but they still deny it to your face!
    I’m not that stupid. Are you?
    Vote for freedom this November not a socialist!

    Report Post » cuinsong  
  • leasecommander
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:20pm

    Did it ever occur to you that this is basically a “Cartoon”, maybe this is so Mr. Obama’s followers can understand and enjoy it !!! Even though it is often untrue.

    Report Post »  
    • Sue Dohnim
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:41pm

      Infantilizing communication strategy from an infantilizing ideology…

      I have said it before and I’ll say it again the “modern liberal” mind is like a 5 year old but with a bigger vocabulary.

      They live in cliches, stories, wishes, utopia, dreams and unicorns.

      Facts, reason and logic,, not so much

      Report Post » Sue Dohnim  
    • brother_ed
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:08pm

      @SUE DOHNIM

      Hahaha

      Ever notice that every ‘dream catcher’ you see hanging from a rear-view mirror is empty?

      Report Post » brother_ed  
    • Sue Dohnim
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:11pm

      @BROTHER_ED

      “every ‘dream catcher’ you see hanging from a rear-view mirror is empty?”

      and aimed FORWARD

      Report Post » Sue Dohnim  
    • KMM
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:14am

      @SUE DOHNIM:

      “I have said it before and I’ll say it again the “modern liberal” mind is like a 5 year old but with a bigger vocabulary.”

      Yeah, I happen to know some of those 5 year olds with a bigger vocabulary than the “modern liberal” ;-)

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:16pm

    Poor Julia, she’s now just another satisitc in the evil “Republican war on women”. Grow the hell up Obama.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • T-2
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:36pm

      at lease Julia had a chance to become a woman so that we can wage war on her.

      Report Post »  
  • cemerius
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:13pm

    Ahhh the “surgery” must have been that pesky fetus removal kind? Obscurity and fantasyland is where the dems live and play!!!

    Report Post » cemerius  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:53pm

      Sexual reassignment surgery. After she becam a man, she decided she was a transvestite. Just your average Democrat girl…boy…girl.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • poster
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:07pm

    Looks like “Julia” is entitled to about $100 grand a year, with annual cost of living increases, of course. She wants free heathcare (just because), free food (from the vast food desert), free housing (upscale townhouse, please – it’s a self esteem thing), free cell phone (make that a SmartPhone, please), free Internet (high speed, of course), free legal council (for when she has to sue somebody for looking at her wrong), free college education (even though she can’t read beyond a 5th grade level), and $1.00 admission to all museums, parks, etc (think I’m kidding? – that reality NOW).

    Now… for all of these entitlements, “Julia” doesn’t work, doesn’t pay taxes, doesn’t do diddly. She’s at home, watching TV, surfing the Internet (getting her latest marching orders from moveon.org, etc.), on her SmartPhone racking up thousands of free minutes (thanks to the U.S.taxpayer).

    Maybe she’ll head off to a museum for the day, where the not-so-entitled have to pay about a $100 for a family of 4 to get in, but she slaps down a dollar bill (that she didn’t earn in the first place) and she’s home free, baby. Note, that Julia ain‘t headin’ out for no job. No sir. She’s basically unemployable – 400-pound, smelly people who can hardly read or write don’t usually get the job. But that’s okay with Julia – she’s doing JUST fine.

    Report Post »  
  • 1TrueOne55
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:06pm

    Again with smoke and mirrors. George Soros must be the Wizard of “OZ” since he funds most of these lies against Godly peeps. And he will fail in the end. Be vigilant and stay true to your God.

    Report Post » 1TrueOne55  
  • brother_ed
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:59am

    The biggest assumption, of course is that she won’t be aborted in the third trimester.

    Report Post » brother_ed  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:58am

    This thing was total BS from the beginning. Nothing but pandering to the already hooked and the so called enlightened youth.

    Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • Locked
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:58am

    Now this is the kind of analysis I like to see, even if it wasn’t done by The Blaze itself! More facts like these, fewer articles about idiotic leftists’ opinions, please!

    Report Post »  
  • spirited
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:57am

    Facts

    :^> pesky facts.

    Report Post » spirited  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:57am

    ever wonder how much healthcare would cost if we got rid of health insurance?

    Report Post »  
    • Sue Dohnim
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:33pm

      Meh, the entire thing is ridiculous condescending, intellectually dishonest and patronizing..

      Julia will get an overpaid government job, produce nothing, (welfare) with egregious benefits, which are deficit funded effectively stealing from producers and savers as well as the younger generations and unborn who will be stuck with the bill.

      But, Julia won’t see it that way as her degree in liberal arts has indoctrinated her into an immature and juvenile ideology where everyone is equal and deserves everything they want and her that work is actually productive, and she fails to realize that the Government produces no wealth, they take everything they have from current and future producers and savers. The children…

      Ain’t socialism great…

      Report Post » Sue Dohnim  
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