Debate Fact Check

Topic: TAXES

What was said

What is true

PALIN: On presidential candidate Barack Obama: "94 times he voted to increase taxes or not support a tax reduction."

TRUTH: The McCain-Palin count includes repetitive votes as well as votes to cut taxes for the middle class while raising them on the rich. factcheck.org reports that 23 of the votes were for measures that would have produced no tax increase at all, 7 were in favor of measures that would have lowered taxes for many and 11 would have increased taxes only on those making more than $1 million a year.

Topic: Domestic Ecomomic Policies

What was said

What is true

BIDEN: Emphatically claimed that the "economic policies of the last eight years" led to "excessive deregulation."

TRUTH: Biden voted for deregulation that liberal groups are now blaming for part of the economic crisis today. Laws on the books have enabled Wall Street investment banks to create the havoc running rampant in mortgage-related securities. Republicans overwhelmingly support the policies and even Democratic President Clinton has claimed it has stopped the crisis today from being even worse.

Topic: Health Care Reform

What was said

What is true

PALIN: Panned Obama's "plan to mandate health care coverage and have universal government run program" and added: "I don't think it's going to be real pleasing for Americans to consider health care being taken over by the Feds."

TRUTH: Obama's health package does not provide for universal coverage. It does mandates insurance for children; it does not advocate government run health care. Many workers would still obtain private insurance through their employer group health plans. Obama proposes subsidies to help with the cost of health coverage for millions who cannot afford it. He further proposes a dialogue with private insurers to negotiate prices and benefits.

Topic: Health Tax Credit

What was said

What is true

BIDEN: John McCain's $5,000 tax credit to help families buy health coverage "will go straight to the insurance company."

TRUTH: It’s true because it is intended to pay for insurance. Businesses expect to put a price on their products and services or they wouldn’t have a business.

Topic Economic Reform Measures

What was said

What is true

PALIN: "Two years ago, remember, it was John McCain who pushed so hard with the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reform measures. He sounded that warning bell."
BIDEN: Said McCain supports tax breaks for oil companies, and "wants to give them another $4 billion tax cut."

TRUTH: In 2005, Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska tried to tighten regulation on the mortgage companies. A year later McCain supported Hagel’s proposal. But the proposed  legislation was not addressed by the Republican held senate.
McCain supports a cut in income taxes for all corporations, and doesn't single out any one industry for that benefit.

Topic: Troop Levels in Iraq

What was said

What is true

PALIN: Said the United States has reduced its troop level in Iraq to a number below where it was when the troop increase began in early 2007.

TRUTH: According to the Pentagon,  there are currently 152,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, about 17,000 more than  prior to the 2007 military buildup.

Topic: Deregulation of Health Care

What was said

What is true

BIDEN: "As a matter of fact, John recently wrote an article in a major magazine saying that he wants to do for the health care industry — deregulate it and let the free market move — like he did for the banking industry."

TRUTH: Biden and Obama have distorted what McCain said when  laying out his health plan. McCain  referred to deregulation in the context of allowing people to buy health insurance across state lines. McCain  wrote: "Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation."

Topic: Alaska’ Natural Gas Pipeline

What was said

What is true

PALIN: Alaska is "building a nearly $40 billion natural gas pipeline, which is North America's largest and most expensive infrastructure project ever to flow those sources of energy into hungry markets."

 TRUTH: Actual construction is at least six years away. Govenor Palin managed to award a license to Trans Canada Corp., but it initially it comes with only $500 million in seed money in exchange for commitments toward a lengthy and costly process to getting a federal certificate. On the state Legislature approval of the license, Palin said: "It's not a done deal."

Topic: Raising Taxes

What was said

What is true

PALIN: "Barack Obama even supported increasing taxes as late as last year for those families making only $42,000 a year."
BIDEN: "The charge is absolutely not true. Barack Obama did not vote to raise taxes. The vote she's referring to, John McCain voted the exact same way."

TRUTH: Obama is proposing tax increases only on the wealthy and would cut taxes for most others. McCain did not vote on the March budget resolution that Obama abd Biden supported.

Topic: Troop Levels in Iraq

What was said

What is true

PALIN: Said the United States has reduced its troop level in Iraq to a number below where it was when the troop increase began in early 2007.

TRUTH: According to the Pentagon,  there are currently 152,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, about 17,000 more than  prior to the 2007 military buildup.

Topic: US Embassy in Jerusalem

What was said

What is true

PALIN: A McCain-Palin administration "will support Israel," including "building our embassy ... in Jerusalem."

TRUTH: Jerusalem is claimed as a capital by both Israel and the Palestinians. The city's status is a key issue in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
The U.S. supports the idea of moving the capital to Jerusalem but both Bush  administrations have realized that the realities of Middle East peacemaking have forced them to delay it.