Fact-Checking Obama's Speech -

Even Annenberg's FactCheck and TIME are getting tired of Obama's distortions. Does Obama override the advice of his staff? A staff member or speech writer who made these kinds of mistakes would be fired.

Fact-Checking Obama's Speech
February 25, 2009
The president gets facts wrong about oil imports, mortgage aid and the transcontinental railroad, and more.
Summary
President Obama's first speech to a joint session of Congress was stuffed with signals about the new direction his budget will take and meant-to-be reassuring words about the economy. But it was also peppered with exaggerations and factual misstatements.

He said "we import more oil today than ever before." That's untrue. Imports peaked in 2005 and are substantially lower today.


He claimed his mortgage aid plan would help "responsible" buyers but not those who borrowed beyond their means. But even prominent defenders of the program including Fed Chairman Bernanke and FDIC chief Bair concede foolish borrowers will be aided, too.


He said the high cost of health care "causes a bankruptcy in America every 30 seconds." That's at least double the true figure.


He flubbed two facts about American history. The U.S. did not invent the automobile, and the transcontinental railroad was not completed until years after the Civil War, not during it.


He claimed that his stimulus plan "prevented the layoffs" of 57 police officers in Minneapolis. In fact, it's far more complicated than that, and other factors are also helping to save police jobs.

The president also repeated some strained claims we've critiqued before.

Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and citations may be viewed on our Web site: http://www.factcheck.org/politics/fact-checking_obamas_speech.html

TIME is also finally starting to look at Obama rationally: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1881855,00.html?xid=newsletter-daily

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