GOP debate preview: the so-called ‘facts’ that keep getting repeated

[spanone]

The candidates running for the Republican nomination for president have now had four debates, with a fifth scheduled for Thursday. As usual, they will come armed with an arsenal of facts, often designed to put the incumbent, President Obama, in the worst possible light.

The problem is, many of these facts are suspect. Here then is a guide to dubious claims you might hear Thursday—and, if not then, probably a debate after that.

Obama’s health-care law
Both Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney have repeatedly charged that Obama “stole” or “cut” $500 billion from Medicare and used the money to fund his health care law. The claim rests on a technicality.

Under Obama’s health-care law, Medicare spending continues to go up every year. The law tries to identify ways to save money, and so the $500 billion figure comes from the difference over 10 years between anticipated Medicare spending and the changes the law makes to reduce spending.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/gop-debate-preview-the-so-called-facts-that-keep-getting-repeated/2011/09/21/gIQAHAVSmK_blog.html

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. We need to revive/update Bush Bingo for these 'pub "debates"!

[LongTomH]

2. Make sure you've got a designated driver

or the phone number of a good cab company.

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. It would only be safe at home. Okay, not even that much...

[Bandit]

3. Why the 11.1% decrease in Medicare spending beginning Oct 1st then?

:shrug: However there are plenty of Republican facts that just don't hold any water what-so-ever.. "You can't raise taxes in a recession" "If you tax the job creaters you kill jobs". "Social Security is a failed program." "Reagan proved Deficits don't matter"...D'Oh "We are at War"....."Muslims are all terrorists"

[Scuba]

4. "We all know that Social Security is broke." Why is this not challenged? Is the Army broke too?