Fact-Checking Barack

Barack Obama has a new television ad that is playing in a number of states:

In the ad, Obama claims credit for three pieces of legislation. In one case, the claim is reasonable. The other two are bogus.

Obama says that “I… cut taxes for working families,” citing Illinois Public Act: PA 91-0700, the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit of 2000. Given the collaborative nature of any legislation, Obama’s claim that “I cut taxes” is pretentious at best. As it happens, though, Obama was only a minor player with respect to the Earned Income Tax Credit Act. In fact, he was not one of the bill’s chief sponsors. He signed on as one of 37 co-sponsors on April 15, 2000, shortly before the act was signed into law on May 11.

In the ad, Obama also claims that “I…extended health care for wounded troops who had been neglected.” Wow, that’s quite an accomplishment for a single Senator. The ad cites Public Law 110-181, the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. Funny thing, though: Obama didn’t show up to vote on that bill in the Senate. So it’s hard to see how Obama can take credit for having personally “extended health care for wounded troops.”

But that’s Obamaworld–the facts are optional.

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