Restore Our Future: “Better”

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Restore Our Future is running an ad in 10 states making the case that “Barack Obama’s economy isn’t working.” The pro-Romney super PAC blames President Obama for the consequences of the devastating recession he inherited, ignoring the fact that the economy is growing and the private sector has added 4.7 million jobs in the last 31 months. The group also blames Obama for high deficits fueled by Bush policies and the recession, as well as for the credit downgrade that resulted from the GOP’s reckless approach to the debt ceiling and refusal to consider any deficit-reduction measure that increases revenue.

Read more after the jump.

Crossroads GPS: “Ideas”

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An ad from Crossroads GPS accuses Virginia Senate candidate Tim Kaine (D) of pushing tax hikes, skimming over the fact that the largest of the revenue increases Kaine proposed as governor were designed to fund transportation upgrades that the state’s GOP wanted to pay for with long-term borrowing. The ad also accuses Kaine of supporting the defense cuts set in motion by last summer’s deal to raise the debt limit, lifting a quote out of context. Although Kaine supported the compromise to raise the debt ceiling and prevent default, he has proposed a plan to avoid the upcoming defense cuts.

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American Crossroads: “Add Up”

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American Crossroads characterizes Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) as “extreme,” citing several alleged examples of her voting to take tax dollars “out of Wisconsin to pay for her extreme agenda in Washington.” However, the Bush administration’s bipartisan bailout of the financial sector helped prevent a possible depression; the Affordable Care Act does not raise taxes on most Americans and actually reduces the burden on the middle class; and “failed” Recovery Act not only created jobs but also cut taxes for millions of working American families.

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Crossroads GPS: “Dragging”

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An ad from Crossroads GPS accuses Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) of voting for higher taxes and hurting Ohio’s job creators. But ending the Bush tax cuts for top earners, few of whom are actual small businesses, would help reduce the deficit without impeding the recovery, and the Affordable Care Act doesn’t tax most Americans. Furthermore, the ad’s insinuation that Brown bears responsibility for job losses in Ohio ignores the devastating impact of the Great Recession as well as the fact that Ohio has gained well over 100,000 jobs since the recession officially ended.

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Crossroads GPS: “Simple”

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Armed with misleading claims and a clip of Heidi Heitkamp playing softball, Crossroads GPS alleges she “will go to bat for the Obama agenda,” while Rep. Rick Berg is the “independent voice” North Dakota needs in the Senate. Of course, Congressman Berg’s voting record does not reflect that supposed independence – but it does include two votes for the exact Medicare savings GPS attacks Heitkamp for supporting. The ad’s claim that Heitkamp wants to “hit job creators with higher taxes” fares no better under scrutiny.

Read more after the jump.

Crossroads GPS: “Biggest Votes”

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Crossroads GPS hits Indiana Senate candidate Joe Donnelly over his support for the Affordable Care Act, claiming it cuts Medicare spending and raises taxes on the middle class, and suggesting it is responsible for rising health insurance premiums. In reality, the law finds future Medicare savings without cutting current spending or benefits, it doesn’t raise taxes on most Americans, and it slows the growth in health care costs, which are primarily to blame for higher premiums.

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Crossroads GPS: “Vision” CA-36

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In an ad hitting congressional candidate Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Crossroads GPS levels a series of falsehoods about the Affordable Care Act. Despite the ad’s claims, the health care law reduces future Medicare spending without cutting seniors’ current benefits, it helps control rising costs, and it’s expected to expand insurance coverage – all without taking health care decisions away from individuals or raising taxes on most Americans. What’s more, Ruiz’ opponent voted to keep the $716 billion in savings GPS attacks the Democrats over.

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Crossroads GPS: “Tilting”

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Crossroads GPS’ attack on Angus King for recommending taxpayer funding for a windmill project that ‘cluttered Maine’s scenic beauty’ ignores the significant benefits it has provided to the town where the windmills went up. Thanks to the windmill project, Roxbury residents saw a 59 percent drop in their property tax rates, among other direct financial benefits. The project has been hailed by local leaders and residents alike. The ad’s claims about taxes and schools funding in King’s tenure are similarly dishonest.

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False Facts: Why Conservative Groups Hope You Won’t Check Their Sources

Mitt Romney’s citation of “six studies” confirming his claims about his tax plan has unraveled rather completely at this point. When a candidate makes that kind of claim, it receives deserved scrutiny, and fact checkers rightly shredded the Republican’s line. But the evidence offered by conservative outside groups in political ads receive much less attention, despite being a near-constant presence in voters’ lives on television, radio, and the web.

The network of outside-money conservative groups we monitor often don’t bother trying to ground their claims in objective truth. Some of their most effective TV ads rely on debatable interpretations of legislation or public statements, and many simply deprive the viewer of context in order to mislead. Others cite only a piece of legislation or a floor vote, while making un-cited claims about what that vote or law meant for voters. But these well-heeled organizations tend to get themselves in trouble when they cite more specific studies or news reports to support their claims.

Read more after the jump.

E.W. Jackson: Obama Is “Not A Christian,” Thinks He’s “Smarter Than God”

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In an interview with the Daily Caller’s Ginni Thomas, Bishop E.W. Jackson said:

President Barack Obama is not a Christian. He’s not a Christian. Now it’s just that plain and simple. You say, “Well who are you? How do you have the right?” Well the Bible says, “By their fruits shall you know them,” and it’s clear from everything he says and everything he does that Christianity is not part of his thinking. The proof is there for anybody who wants to see it so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to us. For example, he stood in Cairo and said we’re not a Christian nation. Now what Christian thinks of America and wants to declare to the Muslim nations we’re not a Christian nation? He has said he doesn’t believe the Bible, they are esoteric texts that he doesn’t bother with because those couldn’t possibly be right. He said we should all admire same-sex marriage. Now the Bible condemns it. Doesn’t condemn the people but it condemns the behavior. He says we should admire it. So that means he thinks he’s obviously smarter than the Bible and smarter than God. Now, no Christian, even if we don’t quite live up to all that the Bible calls us to do, is gonna stand up and say, “Well, I’ve got a better idea, and we ought to think about it this way rather than that way.”