October 26, 2004

Scorecard

Dan Froomkin's WaPo White House Briefing column summarizes David Rosenbaum's NYT fact-check story.

  • Bush says Kerry continually shifted positions on Iraq: Not true.

  • Bush says the war in Iraq was being waged by a large coalition. Not so true.

  • Bush says that 75 percent of Osama bin Laden's "people have been brought to justice." Not documented.

  • Kerry says the administration had put "not one nickel" into protection for vulnerable tunnels, bridges and subways. An exaggeration.

  • Kerry says Bush's was the first presidency in 72 years in which the number of jobs had fallen. Correct--although the figures Kerry quotes are not right.

  • Bush says most of the tax reduction in his presidency had gone "to low- and middle-income Americans." Not true.

  • Bush says Kerry voted for tax increases 98 times. Probably true, but misleading.

  • Kerry says the budget had a projected $5.6 trillion surplus over 10 years when Mr. Bush took office and now has large deficits for the foreseeable future. True.

  • Kerry says he has shown "exactly how" he intended to pay for all his spending proposals. Not true.

  • Kerry maintains that Bush plans a "January surprise" that could cost retirees up to 45 percent of their monthly checks. Not supported.

  • Kerry says "the great potential of the draft" if Mr. Bush won a second term. Bush denies it.

On balance, I'd say Kerry's been more honest than Bush.

Posted by Linkmeister at October 26, 2004 09:32 AM
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