Political Theater: DNC targets top House Republican on economic policy
Online political junkies and incessant truth squadders, we need your help.
Tonight, AC360° debuts our new Political Theater segment, employing our very own KTH-O-Meter (that’s KTH for Keeping Them Honest). Our correspondent Tom Foreman will be fact checking a new ad out Tuesday from the Democratic National Committee about House Minority Leader John Boehner’s economic policies.
Related on the CNN Political Ticker: New DNC ad blasts GOP leader
Here’s the script for new ad which is entitled “You’re Welcome”:
“Think Republicans have no plan for the economy?”
“It's not true"
“John Boehner opposes funding for government jobs”
“Jobs for teachers, for cops, for firefighters”
“Boehner has a different plan.
”
“Tax cuts for businesses, those that shift jobs and profits overseas, saving multinational corporations ten billion.”
“So to China and India and Mexico, Boehner has a message, you’re welcome.”
“The Democratic National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising.”
Take a look at the ad and the claims it makes and then render your own verdict in the comments section below. You have 4 choices: “Right on,” “It’s a stretch,” “Tall tale,” or “Big fat lie.” Be brief but please give us the evidence in support of your verdict. And two more things: CNN’s comment policy applies and be responsive to our request for help; only submit comments that will help us fact check the ad.
Earlier: Offbeat ads offer window into political Sliding Scale of Truth
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Filed under: 360° Radar • Raw Politics |
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Fundamentally the Ad is spot on they Republicans closed a $10bn loophole and then gave $700bn over 10 years to rich Americans ( over $250k income) and corporates.
They had 8 years to prove " trickle down economics worked" and it failed. They claim now to be very deficit conscious... where were they and what were they doing as a Clinton surplus went to a $7-8 Trillion deficit?
The real point for me which the DNC Missed is a) The ad points and
b) The follow up should be OK Mr Boehner and Mr McConnel please tell me your plans for deficit reduction ( why you refused my offer to join a commission on this) and taxes and border control improvement and Immigration control, beyond what current Democrats and previous Republicans have already done!?
Be clear and precise please with CBO validated numbers.
Regards,
Hodgson.
Gingrich is attacking President Obama because he is black. The right wing attacks on our President are to pray on people's fears.
Gingrich is a history professor the facts about Kenya are untrue and he knows better. So should CNN.
Come Keep'em Honest forgot some important honest actual facts; like Boehner passing out checks on the House floor from Tobacco Companies. He was censored by his own party for this arrogant act.
He is the King lobbyist for big corporations. When will the hear the honest facts about Boehner?
Sandra Bacus
Stevenson, WA (the evergreen state)
If we are all in this together(taxes), to expire, not to expire. I consider a compromise to the people. Those that make 250,000 and up, pay the higher taxes for two years and allow those that do not, an opportunity to continue to scrape by. in the following two years flip the roles. I believe this is a fair way to share in carrying this load(of B.S) that has been laid at our feet. Those voted in are the ONES to blame. Their holding us HOSTAGE to their check and mate games. I welcome any others that will chime in on this. Those in office should get minimum health coverage, and NOT sit on ANY lobbyist board. the monies that they earn should be repealed, (remember Bell, CA.), and adjusted per the people. THEY ALL SEEM OUT OF TOUCH. It appears that any one running for office has an agenda to profit from holding the position of being elected. What say you?
American peoples who against Gov't spendings, do they know where did the money go when the Gov't spent it? Perhaps I should tell them. It went back to American peoples, directly or indirectly. They do not realize that the Gov't has been making them rich.(No trade surplus and Gov't borrows and spends)
CNN ... it's a stretch? I think you are worrying a little too much about your Republican viewers. Although Boehner may truly believe that what he advocates is best for the country and American jobs ... if we use a little common sense and look at what the Republicans did under 8 years of Bush – the commercial is RIGHT ON.
Like the new "Political Theatre" segment but you should bring back "The Nth Degree"from 5 or 6 years ago. AC was so funny. (The turkey one was my favourite)
It's much more than a stretch. I can't wait to get back home from Asia, when I have a choice of News Stations to watch. Won't be CNN that's for sure!
big fat lie! – It's the unions that are costing teachers, firefighters etc their jobs. They won't even come the table. Gov Chris Christie put it best!
We need the tax break on the better off to be allowed to expired and use the extra taxes to fund things that will create jobs for those still languishing in the unemployment lines.
ANDERSON, WE COULD EASILY SOLVE ALL OF OUR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IF YOU WOULD DISCUSS THIS IDEA.
THE CONSTITUTION Article 1, Section 8
The congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, impost and excises, to pay the debts and
provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; to borrow money on the credit
of the United States; TO COIN MONEY, REGULATE THE VALUE THEREOF, AND OF FOREIGN COIN,
AND FIX THE STANDARD OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES...
PS. I just heard that Mr. Boehner took back everything he said last Sunday. More flip-flopping!
Lilibeth
Edmonds, WA
Incessant truth squadders? I believe I have been summoned. Is 360 crowd-sourcing now? Cool. But I'm not sure I'm down with your four choices. Forced to pick between them, I'd have to go with "It's a stretch," but I'd rather deem it "mostly true" or perhaps "needs context!"
“John Boehner opposes funding for government jobs”
His website makes this pretty clear.
“Jobs for teachers, for cops, for firefighters”
Of the jobs mentioned, the legislation Obama signed only specifically provided money for teachers. The belief was that by providing states with money to be applied towards Medicaid, more funds would be freed up and states would then not have to lay off positions such as cops and firefighters. Boehner opposed the legislation, advocating instead for growth in the private sector.
“Tax cuts for businesses, those that shift jobs and profits overseas, saving multinational corporations ten billion.”
The legislation Boehner opposed closes a tax loophole that allowed companies to both claim tax exemption on foreign profits and claim a credit on monies paid to foreign governments. According to Politifact, this legislation does seemingly close that loophole (and will thus save money), but there is no concrete connection between the loophole and jobs being shipped overseas.
I'm assuming your commenting policy remains the same and no links are allowed? It's hard to give you evidence without them.
Why are the politicians
on all sides constantly arguing about tax issues when the real issue is jobs? We cannot have a thriving middle class with a service-based economy which splits us into the wealthy few and the majority poor who are barely hanging on. Manufacturing is what made our economy strong in past decades. We must be willing to pay more for American-made goods, which will then make more jobs, which will ultimately strengthen the economy. As long as we continue to import most of our goods, jobs here will always be limited. We will slowly sink back into a Medieval society.
It's hard to tell. Probably it's a stretch. Jobs have been hightailing it overseas for sometime now and both parties are responsible for that for one thing. And both parties know they have to generate jobs in the private sector. So they'll both have to go for some kind of business tax cut at some point.
The President & Both Houses of Congress are NOT the sharpest knives in the drawer- As some one who has been UNEMPLOYED since Feb 2007 they for get one KEY thing- INCOME Requires a JOB – No Job, =NO INCOME= NO TAXES or SPENDING that generates tax revenue !!!!!!- Get the cart back in FRONT of the horse where it belongs.
I'd say the ad is right on. Of course the Republicans have a plan for the economy. You see, on Sunday, Mr. Boehner said he would support extending tax cuts for the middle class, but not the wealthy–a change of heart from previous assertions that tax cuts should include everyone. Flip-flopping for politics? Hoping by doing so, it would show Republicans are open to compromise so they'll win in November? Just keeping you honest, Mr. Boehner!
Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington
It sounds accurate to me. I'd say Right On. From what I've heard Mr. Boehner say on television, that's exactly what he stands for.
If you want to see the future results of what the Democrats are proposing, look at California. How many Fortune 500 companies have relocated their business HQ to business friendly states? Look out how many manufacturing jobs have been outsourced to other states and the impact on the overall economy. The States that are experiencing growth are business friendly. The Public Unions have taken over the political agenda in California and now we are going over the edge. Will higher taxes save us? Less public Services (Schools/Public Safety/etc.)? Or reducing the cost of public servants by reviewing heathcare/retirement/salary? Does it make sense that someone can work for the State of California for 25 years and earn 3% a year in retirement benefits (75% of their salary)?
A Keeping Them Honest Thermometer is long overdue and greatly appreciated.
Judging from our deplorable leadership, these cold stiffs should register extremely low thermometer readings.
Right On.
Public sector jobs are of no interest to Boehner. I don't understand the logic in the creation of jobs in America by continuing to send mid level jobs overseas, it somehow seems counterproductive to me...but what do I know; I'm just part of the struggling group formerly known as the "middle class".
Right On,.. I don't care if Richers get taxed more. Yes, most of their employees are not in this country anyway and there’s no way this tax hike will affect me. If the Bush tax cuts were so great, then why were we loosing 700,000 jobs a week when he left office? Some blame it on the housing industry but I don't see how someone foreclosing on their home will put a trucker out of work, I think it was high gas prices that started all this along with a refusal to open the oil reserves.
There`s nothing more addictive than power. Just ask any politician !!!!
1) If he is against funding for govt. jobs, is he volunteering to not be paid? If not – then the statement is a lie.
2) Teachers, firefighters, and cops are STATE, not federal, employees. If he is against state funding for those offices, then he would be running for a state position. Most likely he is against federalizing the funding for those position (done more and more recently by federal money (read DEBT)being shifted to keep states solvent rather than states raising their own funds (read DEBT) to preserve or expand positions).
3) Has he proposed tax cuts for buisnesses or only for buisnesses that ship jobs overseas? If his breaks include all buisnesses, then it is spurious to select only some of the buisnesses involved and smear him by association.
4) I'm not sure what his imigration policy is, but someone should check that before putting the words "thank you" in his mouth towards Mexico. Furthermore, his position on the National Debt would be the strongest indication of his feelings towards China. If he is for making the cuts and sacrifices necessary to eliminate it, that would certainly not be a "thank you" to a country that profits greatly from our continual indebtedness.
Big Fat Lie;
Democrats have turned to fear tactics to mobilize the vote. If you disagree with a policy, this administration paints you as a racist, extreamist or focused on the rich – I am none of these things. I pay taxes and when I see massive spending on a scale never before seen I want people in Washington to say no, it is enough already. I voted for Obama in 2008, it will not be for a democrat in 2010.
Im independent i have pay attention to the republicans since the new adminastration has taken over and this ad seems to be right on about Boehner all i have seen him and fellow GOPers do is say no with no plan of there own to back them up ill say right on
Right on.
This was a debate that happened just before the summer recess:
A bill to provide emergency state funding for teachers, firefighters, and cops was proposed.
The bill would not increase the deficit, as it was paid for by closing a tax loophole for foreign multinational corporations.
Boehner and House Republicans opposed this bill. This bill laid bare the priorities of the two parties, an uncommon occurrence in Washington, but a telling one nonetheless.
So lets take a look at the logic of this add. According the DNC by increasing taxes on the companies that produce the wealth in the United States we are supporting firefighters, teachers and police. Sorry to say though, public sector jobs are paid for by... tax payers. Companies pay taxes. Increased taxes mean these companies are less competitive on the global market. This means two things. First, they make less money which in turn creates less tax revenue. Second, by cutting into their profits you will see many of them shipping more jobs over seas in search of a more profitable location. By raising taxes on the companies in the United States the DNC is effectively killing more public sector jobs in the long term then jobs any company has ever out sourced in our history.
Big Fat Lie,
republicans are try to stop wasteful spending
dems cain't run on thier record of tax and spend
Where was this kind of oversight during the 08 Presidential campaign when the mainstream media "JournOlist" media collusion conspired to mislead the American voter on properly vetting Obama and his lack of experience, Rev Wright, Bill Ayers, ties to ACORN and on and on and on??
Only NOW is the mainstream media stepping up to properly vet candidates now that it is Republicans being vetted........... how convenient!!!!!!!
The opposition NEVER tells the truth about their opposition.
I love this ad. It tells the truth in real and shocking terms.
John Boehner is the scariest politician I've seen in a long time (and not just because of his color). It's rather hard to fathom how this man can really believe he and his ideas and policies are good for America and Americans. He is a big-money, anti-environment, anti-HUMAN candidate. If he gets the speaker job, I am moving to Canada, even if they don't want to have me.
All true based on what I heard him spew on TV. This guy is so far away from the average American, that you can't even see him from Russia. He is a lying, cheating scum like the rest of his Republican pals in government. They rather average American starve and die while they favor fighting wars we have no business fighting, giving tax breaks to companies that shift jobs overseas and tax breaks to millionaires while the rest of us starve and struggle to survive. Way to go Republicans. You have a strange way of putting Americans first.
DJ