Truth squad
Candidates' debate answers get a fact check
—The Associated Press
September 27, 2008
A brief look at how assertions in Friday's debate match with the facts.
Energy policy
Barack Obama: Said oil companies "would get an additional $4 billion in tax breaks" under John McCain's plan.
THE FACTS: The $4 billion in tax breaks for oil companies is part of McCain's overall corporate tax-reduction plan and does not represent an extra tax benefit.
JOHN MCCAIN: "We had an energy bill before the United States Senate. ... It had all kinds of breaks for the oil companies, I mean, billions of dollars worth. I voted against it; Sen. Obama voted for it."
THE FACTS: Obama did vote for a 2005 energy bill that included billions in subsidies for oil and natural gas production; he voted to strip those tax breaks, but when that failed, he voted for the overall measure. Obama says he supported the bill because it funded renewable energy.
Health care
OBAMA: Said he would make sure the health-care system "allows everyone to have basic coverage."
THE FACTS: Obama carefully stopped short of claiming his plan provides health care for all. He promises to make health insurance affordable but would require only that children have coverage, not adults.
Iraq War
MCCAIN: McCain said Obama voted to cut off money for the troops in Iraq.
THE FACTS: Despite opposing the war, Obama has, with one exception, voted for Iraq troop financing. In 2007 he voted against a troop funding bill because it did not contain language calling for a troop withdrawal.
