Obama Second Debate LIES and The Facts

LIE #1: OBAMA MISLED ON HIS RESPONSE TO LIBYA

THE CLAIM: Obama Gave A Misleading
Response About His Reaction To The Terrorist Attack In Libya. OBAMA:
“Secretary Clinton has done an extraordinary job. But she works for me. I’m the
president. And I’m always responsible. And that’s why nobody is more interested
in finding out exactly what happened than I did (sic). The day after the attack,
Governor, I stood in the Rose Garden, and I told the American people and the
world that we are going to find out exactly what happened, that this was an act
of terror. And I also said that we’re going to hunt down those who committed
this crime. And then a few days later, I was there greeting the caskets coming
into Andrews Air Force Base and grieving with the families.” (President Barack
Obama, Presidential Debate, Hempstead, N.Y., 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: The Washington
Post ‘s Fact Checker: Obama Did Not Say “Terrorism” In The
Rose Garden And “It Took The Administration Days To Concede That That It Was An
‘Act Of Terrorism’” Unrelated To The Video. “What did Obama say in the
Rose Garden a day after the attack in Libya? ‘No acts of terror will ever shake
the resolve of this nation,’ he said. But he did not say ‘terrorism’-and it took
the administration days to concede that that it was an ‘act of terrorism’ that
appears unrelated to initial reports of anger at a video that defamed the
prophet Muhammad.” (Glenn Kessler, “Fact Check: Libya Attack,” The
Washington Post’s The Fact Checker, 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: Politico
‘s Mike Allen: In The Rose Garden, Obama Said “Very Generally, We Will
Not Let Acts Of Terror Go Unpunished.”  (Presidential Debate Wrap-Up, Politico
Live, 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: In Obama’s Rose Garden Remarks,
“He Did Not Explicitly Refer To The Benghazi Attack As An ‘Act Of Terror,’
Though He Did Use Those Words.”  (Josh Rogin, “Obama Did Call Benghazi Attack ‘An Act Of
Terror’ – In Colorado,” Foreign
Policy ‘s The Cable, 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: The Washington
Post ‘s Fact Checker: “From Our Many Years Of Covering
Diplomacy We Would Say There Is A World Of Difference” Between Acknowledging
Terrorism And Referring To “Acts Of Terror.”  (Glenn Kessler,
“From Video To Terrorist Attack: A Definitive Timeline Of Administration
Statements On The Libya Attack,” The
Washington Post ‘s Fact Checker, 9/27/12)

THE FACTS: CNN’s Candy Crowley Said
Governor Romney Was “Right” That Obama Didn’t Call Libya A Terrorist
Attack. CNN’s JOHN KING: “By misspeaking about exactly what the
president said the day after, Governor Romney has now, he is in this fact check
environment, this should be a problem for the president. This should not be a
problem for what Governor Romney said in the debate. Because He was wrong about
- the president did generically refer to an act of terror the day after. We are
correcting – Candy corrected Governor Romney on the spot. And so we are having a
question. What did Governor Romney say as opposed to what did the administration
do. So Governor Romney’s choice of words there was a poor one. So he’s being
fact checked, and that takes something away from him. I would make this
argument. This is going to be done in studios like this in Washington and New
York and we’re going to talk about it. Our undecided voters out there in the
country and lots of undecided voters in the battleground states that are going
to make their decisions based on what happened in Libya or based on who they
think is going to have a better economic plan. I vote the latter.” CNN’s
ANDERSON COOPER: “I totally agree. I mean this is a murky situation. I think
Candy had it right. Romney clearly got it wrong. On one fact, but there’s a
bigger story. Surely we’re not going to spend a lot of time on trying to start
or litigate. “Let’s bring in Candy, though. Candy, because this was a moment
which obviously now both campaigns are going to be focusing on. Tell us your
thoughts during that moment.” CNN’s CANDY CROWLEY: “Well, you know, again, I
heard the president’s speech at the time. I sort of re-read a lot of stuff about
Libya, because I knew we’d probably get a Libya question, so I kind of wanted to
be up on it. So I knew that the president had said, you know, ‘these acts of
terror won’t stand’ or whatever the whole quote was. And I think actually,
because right after that, I did turn around and say but you are totally correct
that they spent two weeks telling us that this was about a tape and that there
was this riot outside the Benghazi consulate, which there wasn’t. So he was
right in the main, I just think he picked the wrong word. They’re going to parse
and we all know what the definition of ‘is’ is, but, you know, in the end, I
think John’s probably right.” (CNN’s “Debate
Night In America,” 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: NBC’s Chuck Todd: “I Think That
The Increased Coverage Of It Will Still Cause Questions, Right, The President
Didn’t Answer Why Was The Film Being Used To Still , As Part Of The Blame Of
What Happened In Benghazi.” (PBS, 10/16/12)

LIE #2: OBAMA DISTORTED ROMNEY’S POSITION ON THE AUTO
BAILOUTS

THE CLAIM: Obama Attacks Romney Saying His
Bankruptcy For Detroit Would Not Have Worked. (President Barack Obama, Presidential Debate, Hempstead, N.Y., 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: “Romney Called For A Managed
Bankruptcy,” And “GM And Chrysler Did Go Through A Managed Bankruptcy.”
“Although ‘bankrupt’ often conjures up images of liquidation, Romney called for
a ‘managed bankruptcy.’ This is a process in which the company uses the
bankruptcy code to discharge its debts, but emerges from the process a leaner,
less leveraged company. Ultimately, along with getting nearly $80 billion in
loans and other assistance from the Bush and Obama administrations, GM and
Chrysler did go through a managed bankruptcy. (Glenn Kessler, “Fact Check:
Letting Detroit Go Bankrupt,” The
Washington Post’s Fact Check, 10/16/12)

LIE #3: OBAMA RESURFACED FAUX WAR SAVINGS LIES

THE CLAIM: Obama Said
“Let’s Take The Money That We’ve Been Spending On War Over The
Last Decade To Rebuild America, Roads, Bridges, Schools.” OBAMA: “Let’s
take the money that we’ve been spending on war over the last decade to rebuild
America, roads, bridges, schools. We do those things, not only is your future
going to be bright, but America’s future is going to be bright as well.”
(President Barack Obama, Presidential Debate, Hempstead, N.Y., 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: “Using Money
That Had Been Earmarked For Wars To Build Schools And Infrastructure Would
Involve Even More Borrowing, Adding To The Federal Deficit.” “What
Obama didn’t mention is that much of the money that has been paying for the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan was borrowed. In fact, the government borrows nearly 40
cents for every dollar it spends. Thus using money that had been earmarked for
wars to build schools and infrastructure would involve even more borrowing,
adding to the federal deficit.” (Calvin Woodward, “FACT CHECK: Stumbles In
Latest Presidential Debate,” The
Associated Press, 10/16/12)

LIE #4: OBAMA LIED ABOUT ENERGY PRODUCTION ON HIS
WATCH

THE CLAIM: Obama Touts The Highest Levels
Of Energy Production From Oil And Gas In Years.  (President Barack Obama, Presidential Debate, Hempstead, N.Y.,
10/16/12)

THE FACTS: Contrary To President
Obama’s Assertions, “Production Of Oil On Public Land Is Down 14 Percent And
Production Of Gas On Public Land Is Down 9 Percent.” “Is Gov. Mitt
Romney telling the truth when he says oil and gas production is down on public
land? Contrary to President Obama’s assertions, Romney’s telling the truth when
he says, ‘Production of oil on public land is down 14 percent and production of
gas on public land is down 9 percent.’ That’s because energy production on
federal lands is down compared to 2010, according to the Energy Information
Administration.” (Juliet Eilperin, “The Truth About Oil And Gas Production On
Public Land,” The
Washington Post’ s Fact Check, 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: ABC’s Jonathan Karl: “It Is
True That Those Drilling Leases And Permits Are Down Under President Obama.”
ABC’s JOHNATHAN KARL: “But on this issue of oil and gas drilling,
Governor Romney said that oil and gas drilling is down by 50% on public lands.
That is not exactly true but it’s not far off. In fact, we looked at the numbers
and oil drilling permits on public land dropped by 37% in the first two years of
the Obama administration, 42% in terms of leases for natural gas. So the numbers
weren’t exactly right, but it is true that those drilling leases and permits are
down under President Obama.” (ABC’s Presidential Debate Coverage, 10/16/12)

LIE #5: OBAMA LIED ABOUT MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUTS

THE CLAIM: Obama Said He Had Kept His
Promise To Cut Taxes For Middle Class Families, And Had Cut Them By
$3,600. OBAMA: (President Barack Obama, Presidential
Debate, Hempstead, NY, 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: Obama “Makes It Sound Like It
Is One Big Tax Cut. The $3,600 Figure Is Over Four Years.” “But he
makes it sound like it is one big tax cut. The $3,600 figure is over four years
- $800 in each of 2009 and 2010 due to the Making Work Pay tax credit and $1,000
in each of 2011 and 2012 due to a Social Security payroll tax cut.” (Glenn
Kessler, “Fact Check: Obama’s $3,600 Tax Credit,” The
Washington Post’s The Fact Checker, 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: “The Making Work Pay Tax Credit
Has Expired And Obama Has Not Promised To Extend The Payroll Tax Cut, Meaning
That People’s Taxes Will Go Up Next Year.” “Obama makes it sounds as
though workers got a $3,600 cut every year. But the Making Work Pay tax credit
has expired and Obama has not promised to extend the payroll tax cut, meaning
that people’s taxes will go up next year even if he succeeds in his effort to
extend Bush-era tax cuts for those earning less than $250,000 a year.” (Glenn
Kessler, “Fact Check: Obama’s $3,600 Tax Credit,” The
Washington Post’s The Fact Checker, 10/16/12)

LIE #6: OBAMA CLAIMED GOVERNOR ROMNEY INVESTED IN COMPANIES
THAT WERE PIONEERS OF OUTSOURCING

THE CLAIM: Obama: “Romney Invested In
Companies That Were Pioneers Of Outsourcing.”  (President Barack Obama,
Presidential Debate, Hempstead, N.Y., 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: “Here, Obama Is Referencing An
Article In The Washington Post That Has Been Frequently Exploited By His
Campaign.” “Here, Obama is referencing an article in The Washington
Post that has been frequently exploited by his campaign. The article used the
word ‘pioneers’ but it does not say that transfers of U.S. jobs took place while
Romney ran the private equity firm Bain Capital.” (Glenn Kessler, “Fact Check:
Pioneers Of Outsourcing,” The
Washington Post’s The Fact Checker, 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: “One Of The President’s
Campaign Ads Attacking Romney On Outsourcing Earned Four Pinocchios.”
(Glenn Kessler, “Fact Check: Pioneers Of Outsourcing,” The
Washington Post’s The Fact Checker, 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: Obama “Has Not Been Able To
Fulfill Many Of His Campaign Promises In 2008 To Stem The Outflow Of American
Jobs To Other Countries.” “Obama never mentions another Washington Post
article, one that detailed how he has not been able to fulfill many of his
campaign promises in 2008 to stem the outflow of American jobs to other
countries.” (Glenn Kessler, “Fact Check: Pioneers Of Outsourcing,” The
Washington Post’s The Fact Checker, 10/16/12)

LIE #7: OBAMA CLAIMED HE CAN CUT THE DEFICIT BY HIKING
TAXES ON THE WEALTHY

THE CLAIM: Obama Claimed That “We’ve Got
To Make Sure That The Wealthy Do A Little Bit More” To Make Sure We Are Serious
About Reducing The Deficit. (President Barack
Obama, Presidential Debate, Hempstead, N.Y., 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: CNN’s Tom Foreman: The White
House Tax Plan Is “A Level They Are Not Willing To Talk About.” CNN’s
Wolf Blitzer:What about President Obama’s plan? Does it hold up to scrutiny,
Tom, any better than Mitt Romney’s plan? FOREMAN:Well, let’s look at that. He
has the same thing. He’s got a plan of spending, things that he would like to
do. He would like to have all of this money to cover it; he won’t. He’ll also
have a deficit. How does he want to deal with it? He said it again tonight.
Let’s tax the wealthy more. This is a popular idea in polls, but look at the
problem that it has. There aren’t that many wealthy people in the country if you
talk about people making $250,000 individually, every one person that makes that
much money, this is how many there are who don’t make that much. You would
actually have to tax this person at a much higher level than what the White
House is suggesting if you really wanted to make up much difference in this pile
over here. The truth is, that’s a level they are not willing to talk about, and
the president said the math doesn’t add up in Mitt Romney’s plan; the math
doesn’t add up in either one of the plans based on the details we have so far.
We need many, many more. So this basic claim from both sides, I can reduce the
deficit, we’re going to give a big grade of “I” for incomplete. Neither one has
given enough answers to give us much faith in that, Wolf.”(CNN’s “Debate Night
In America,” 10/16/12)

LIE #8: OBAMA CLAIMED HE CUT BUSINESS TAXES 18
TIMES

THE CLAIM: Obama Claimed He Cut Small
Business Taxes Eighteen Times.  (President Barack Obama, Presidential Debate, Hempstead, N.Y., 10/16/12)

THE FACTS: Many Of Obama’s Oft-Repeated 18
Small Business Tax Cuts Are Simply “Renewals Of Tax Breaks That Already
Existed.” “ President Obama often touts his 18 small
business tax cuts, but there’s some confusion as to what they really are. Many
are renewals of tax breaks that already existed.” (John Pagliery, “Obama’s 18
Small Business Tax Cuts – Explained,” CNN
Money, 9/24/12)

THE FACTS: “If Extensions Or Expansions
Aren’t Double Counted, The List Comes Out To 14 Tax Breaks — And Only Five Are
Still Around.” (John Pagliery, “Obama’s 18 Small Business Tax Cuts –
Explained,” CNN
Money, 9/24/12)