10-14-2004, 03:36 PM
then lets talk fact checks Jack
*cracks knuckles*
Wrong on The Black Caucus
Kerry wrongly claimed Bush "hasn't met with the Black Congressional Caucus." He garbled the organization's name, for one thing. It's actually the Congressional Black Caucus, made up of 39 African-American members of the House.
And in fact, Bush met with the caucus a few days after taking office, on Jan. 31, 2001. The next meeting, on Feb. 25, 2004.
Bush also met with the Urban League very recently.
Wrong on the Surplus
Kerry claimed Bush "has taken a $5.6 trillion surplus and turned it into deficits as far as the eye can see." But the country never actually had a $5.6 trillion surplus. The projected surplus Kerry was referring to was a 10-year figure that was already made dubious by a weakening economy and a pent-up Congressional urge to spend. The largest annual surplus actually realized was $236 billion in fiscal year 2000
Kerry twice claimed 1.6 million jobs have been lost under Bush, which is 1 million too high. -- 1 million of those lost jobs were directly attributable to 9/11, and we are gaining 100k+ jobs a month, so we may even break even by jan.
Wrong on Pell Grants
Kerry claimed the Bush administration had cut Pell Grants for low-income students to attend college. Bush said Pell Grants have been increased by a million students. Bush was correct.
Department of Education figures show the number of Pell Grants awarded the year before Bush took office was 3.9 million. The number grew to 5.1 million for the most recent academic year -- an increase of 1.3 million, actually.
Wrong on After-School Programs
Kerry claimed that "500,000 kids lost after-school programs," which isn't the case. A cut was proposed but Congress rejected it.
Kerry repeated that "I have a plan to cover all Americans" for health care. Actually, his plan wouldn't cover all Americans. It would increase the percentage who have coverage from 84% currently to an estimated 92% to 95%. But several million would still be left uninsured.
*cracks knuckles*
Wrong on The Black Caucus
Kerry wrongly claimed Bush "hasn't met with the Black Congressional Caucus." He garbled the organization's name, for one thing. It's actually the Congressional Black Caucus, made up of 39 African-American members of the House.
And in fact, Bush met with the caucus a few days after taking office, on Jan. 31, 2001. The next meeting, on Feb. 25, 2004.
Bush also met with the Urban League very recently.
Wrong on the Surplus
Kerry claimed Bush "has taken a $5.6 trillion surplus and turned it into deficits as far as the eye can see." But the country never actually had a $5.6 trillion surplus. The projected surplus Kerry was referring to was a 10-year figure that was already made dubious by a weakening economy and a pent-up Congressional urge to spend. The largest annual surplus actually realized was $236 billion in fiscal year 2000
Kerry twice claimed 1.6 million jobs have been lost under Bush, which is 1 million too high. -- 1 million of those lost jobs were directly attributable to 9/11, and we are gaining 100k+ jobs a month, so we may even break even by jan.
Wrong on Pell Grants
Kerry claimed the Bush administration had cut Pell Grants for low-income students to attend college. Bush said Pell Grants have been increased by a million students. Bush was correct.
Department of Education figures show the number of Pell Grants awarded the year before Bush took office was 3.9 million. The number grew to 5.1 million for the most recent academic year -- an increase of 1.3 million, actually.
Wrong on After-School Programs
Kerry claimed that "500,000 kids lost after-school programs," which isn't the case. A cut was proposed but Congress rejected it.
Kerry repeated that "I have a plan to cover all Americans" for health care. Actually, his plan wouldn't cover all Americans. It would increase the percentage who have coverage from 84% currently to an estimated 92% to 95%. But several million would still be left uninsured.