# Fact-checking the Presidency of Obama

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [January 19, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563 "2017-01-19T19:29:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/1 "2017-01-19T19:29:08Z")

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For those who believe that it’s only Trump that equivocates and denies saying things that he did here’s an eye-opening article not from some right-wing blog but USA Today on [fact-checking Obama.](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/19/look-back-fact-checking-president-obama/96773058/)

> [@](#):
>
> In his farewell address, President Obama quoted his mother when he spoke about the virtue of honesty. “[A]s my mother used to tell me,” Obama said, “reality has a way of catching up with you.”
> 
> The president speaks from some experience.
> 
> For years, Obama repeated his promise that “if you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.” However, reality caught up with the president in 2013, when insurance companies began to cancel policies that did not meet the new requirements of the Affordable Care Act, and Obama was forced to apologize.
> 
> That wasn’t the only time when reality caught up with Obama. As he prepares to leave office after eight years, we look back at some of the more egregious falsehoods uttered by a president who did not always follow his mother’s advice.

The article goes on to cover in exhaustive detail, documenting each instance, the whoppers told by Obama and outright denials of statements that he was on record as having made.

The examples cover all areas of his Presidency:

ACA ‘if you like your health plan you can keep it’ (no)  
Otto Raddatz died because of cancelled insurance (no)  
‘my mother was almost denied health insurance’ (no)  
‘lower premiums’ (no)  
‘unprecedented for SCOTUS to overturn ACA’ (no)

Middle East ‘I didn’t set a red line, the world did’ (no)  
Never dismissed ISIS as the JV team (yep, he did)

Tax ‘in 2011 I paid a lower tax rate than a teacher making  
$50,000 a year’ (false)  
Many millionaires pay a lower tax rate than the middle  
class (no)

Education High school dropout rate has “tripled in the past 30 years.” (no,  
it had actually declined by 30%)

Oil ‘We import more oil today than ever before’ (untrue,  
imports peaked in 2005 and were substantially lower  
at the time that the president made his remarks.)

More examples and much more detail and documentation at the site. And please, try to address the actual facts, challenging them if you can, don’t just say Trump does it too. We know that. The article is simply pointing out that Obama has a bad record of bending the truth or outright lying too.

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**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/2 "2017-01-19T19:44:06Z")

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I clicked on your link and was sent to a paywall. So I tried searching for the article, and this was the first thing I found from USA Today:

> **[Fact check: Eight years of trolling Obama](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/19/fact-check-eight-years-trolling-obama/96771984/)**
>
> Some of the many false viral claims about Barack Obama's faith and citizenship.

Basically, it is a recounting of all the lies that people told, and many still believe, about Obama. He’s a secret Muslim, he cancelled the National Day of Prayer, he diverted funds to build madrassas around the world, he banned the Pledge of Allegiance in schools, etc.

We’re talking about different articles, correct?

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**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/3 "2017-01-19T19:47:04Z")

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> [@aldiboronti](#):
>
> For those who believe that it’s only Trump that equivocates and denies saying things that he did here’s an eye-opening article not from some right-wing blog but USA Today on [fact-checking Obama.](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/19/look-back-fact-checking-president-obama/96773058/)
> 
> The article goes on to cover in exhaustive detail, documenting each instance, the whoppers told by Obama and outright denials of statements that he was on record as having made.
> 
> The examples cover all areas of his Presidency:
> 
> ACA ‘if you like your health plan you can keep it’ (no)  
> Otto Raddatz died because of cancelled insurance (no)  
> ‘my mother was almost denied health insurance’ (no)  
> ‘lower premiums’ (no)  
> ‘unprecedented for SCOTUS to overturn ACA’ (no)
> 
> Middle East ‘I didn’t set a red line, the world did’ (no)  
> Never dismissed ISIS as the JV team (yep, he did)
> 
> Tax ‘in 2011 I paid a lower tax rate than a teacher making  
> $50,000 a year’ (false)  
> Many millionaires pay a lower tax rate than the middle  
> class (no)
> 
> Education High school dropout rate has “tripled in the past 30 years.” (no,  
> it had actually declined by 30%)
> 
> Oil ‘We import more oil today than ever before’ (untrue,  
> imports peaked in 2005 and were substantially lower  
> at the time that the president made his remarks.)
> 
> More examples and much more detail and documentation at the site. And please, try to address the actual facts, challenging them if you can, don’t just say Trump does it too. We know that. The article is simply pointing out that Obama has a bad record of bending the truth or outright lying too.

He’s pretty accurate: [PolitiFact | Barack Obama](http://www.politifact.com/personalities/barack-obama/)

Has he said stuff that’s wrong, sure. I’d put his numbers against any president in history, and I’d suspect he’s way near the top.

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**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/4 "2017-01-19T19:51:01Z")

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A lying politician!? Shocking.

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**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/5 "2017-01-19T19:59:25Z")

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You are talking about different articles.

Some of the claims in the article are… questionable. They say that Obama told a lie when he said that overturning the ACA would be unprecedented. The article says “actually, the job of the Supreme court is to rule on the constitutionality of things.”

No fucking shit. He clearly wasn’t saying that ruling on the constitutionality of things is beyond the purview of the court, but that the ACA itself doesn’t have precedent.

It also claims that Obama was lying that millionaires pay lower effective tax rates than middle class people.

The article calls that a lie because “nuh uh, some millionaires pay higher rates than some middle class people!”

It’s a really fucking stupid article.

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**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/6 "2017-01-19T20:02:47Z")

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Why, sometimes Trump says as many as six unpossible things before breakfast.

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/7 "2017-01-19T20:05:57Z")

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Politifact  
[Obama](http://www.politifact.com/personalities/barack-obama/) 596 statements checked.

True 123 (21%)  
Mostly True 163 (27%)  
Half True 160 (27%)  
Mostly False 70 (12%)  
False 71 (12%)  
Pants on Fire 9 (2%)

[Trump](http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/)  
348 statements checked.

True 15 (4%)  
Mostly True 40 (11%)  
Half True 51 (15%)  
Mostly False 65 (19%)  
False 115 (33%)  
Pants on Fire 62 (18%)

Wow. They’re practically identical.  
_old rolleyes_

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**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/8 "2017-01-19T20:07:43Z")

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Need a working link, please.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BeepKillBeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@BeepKillBeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeepKillBeep)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/9 "2017-01-19T20:12:08Z")

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> [@aldiboronti](#):
>
> For those who believe that it’s only Trump that equivocates and denies saying things that he did here’s an eye-opening article not from some right-wing blog but USA Today.

Let’s say that it is true, although it has already been posted that the truth-telling of Trump and Obama is not the comparable. But let’s say that it is.

Isn’t Trump supposed to be changing things? Isn’t that supposed to be part of his appeal? That Trump isn’t a politician and since he’s beholden to nobody he’s not afraid to say things as they are. Why is the bar for Trump that he’s no better than any previous politician when a major reason he was elected was because the people wanted something different and better?

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**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/10 "2017-01-19T20:13:25Z")

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> [@Snarky\_Kong](#):
>
> You are talking about different articles.
> 
> Some of the claims in the article are… questionable. They say that Obama told a lie when he said that overturning the ACA would be unprecedented. The article says “actually, the job of the Supreme court is to rule on the constitutionality of things.”
> 
> No fucking shit. He clearly wasn’t saying that ruling on the constitutionality of things is beyond the purview of the court, but that the ACA itself doesn’t have precedent.
> 
> It also claims that Obama was lying that millionaires pay lower effective tax rates than middle class people.
> 
> The article calls that a lie because “nuh uh, some millionaires pay higher rates than some middle class people!”
> 
> It’s a really fucking stupid article.

QFT.

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/11 "2017-01-19T20:20:40Z")

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> [@running\_coach](#):
>
> Politifact  
> [Obama](http://www.politifact.com/personalities/barack-obama/) 596 statements checked.
> 
> True 123 (21%)  
> Mostly True 163 (27%)  
> Half True 160 (27%)  
> Mostly False 70 (12%)  
> False 71 (12%)  
> Pants on Fire 9 (2%)
> 
> [Trump](http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/)  
> 348 statements checked.
> 
> True 15 (4%)  
> Mostly True 40 (11%)  
> Half True 51 (15%)  
> Mostly False 65 (19%)  
> False 115 (33%)  
> Pants on Fire 62 (18%)
> 
> Wow. They’re practically identical.  
> _old rolleyes_

First, who is saying Trump is “practically identical” to Obama? Secondly, you’re talking about something different from the OP. The OP is talking about denying things that one has actually said. That’s a subset of lying, but is not the entire category.

N.B.: Yes, I expect Trump will look than Obama on that item as well.

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**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/12 "2017-01-19T21:10:44Z")

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> [@aldiboronti](#):
>
> For those who believe that it’s only Trump that equivocates and denies saying things that he did

Great! You should print this article out, pop it in an envelope, and mail it to Kansas. Dorothy can take it with her next time she goes to Oz, where she can deliver it to the intended audience.

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**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/13 "2017-01-19T21:18:23Z")

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> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#):
>
> Great! You should print this article out, pop it in an envelope, and mail it to Kansas. Dorothy can take it with her next time she goes to Oz, where she can deliver it to the intended audience.

I think **aldiboronti** has something in common with the Scarecrow.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/14 "2017-01-19T21:25:57Z")

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> [@dasmoocher](#):
>
> I think **aldiboronti** has something in common with the Scarecrow.

Please do not appear to insult other posters. If you feel you must the BBQ Pit is right around the corner.

[/moderating]

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/15 "2017-01-19T21:34:46Z")

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> [@aldiboronti](#):
>
> For those who believe that it’s only Trump that equivocates and denies saying things that he did…

And that would be who, again? Links to anyone saying something like this would lovely-I would like to know who you are debating with.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/16 "2017-01-19T23:42:11Z")

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> [@El\_Kabong](#):
>
> Need a working link, please.

The link works just fine for me, it goes to the correct article and there’s no paywall. I’m certainly not subscribed to USA Today so I’m not sure what the problem is for those who can’t get to it.

I’m assuming that’s the reason very few of you are actually challenging the facts in the article. It surely couldn’t be that the record of Obama’s saying things he’s later denied saying (in other words lying) is rather difficult to challenge?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/17 "2017-01-19T23:43:13Z")

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> [@aldiboronti](#):
>
> The link works just fine for me, it goes to the correct article and there’s no paywall. I’m certainly not subscribed to USA Today so I’m not sure what the problem is for those who can’t get to it.
> 
> I’m assuming that’s the reason very few of you are actually challenging the facts in the article. It surely couldn’t be that the record of Obama’s saying things he’s later denied saying is rather difficult to challenge?

It’s been challenged. Do you have nothing to say to **Snarky Kong’s** response?

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/18 "2017-01-19T23:47:20Z")

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Well, it goes to a paywall for me, too, and I don’t read USA Today, FWIW.

Ah. Figured it out. It goes to the paywall if you have AdBlock running.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/19 "2017-01-19T23:51:57Z")

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> [@pulykamell](#):
>
> Well, it goes to a paywall for me, too, and I don’t read USA Today, FWIW.
> 
> Ah. Figured it out. It goes to the paywall if you have AdBlock running.

I run Adblock and it went to the linked article, no paywall. I wonder if Viglink is acting up again.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-presidency-of-obama/777563/20 "2017-01-19T23:53:16Z")

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> [@aldiboronti](#):
>
> It surely couldn’t be that the record of Obama’s saying things he’s later denied saying (in other words lying) is rather difficult to challenge?

I read the article. There’s really only one example that actually meets this, which is the “ISIS is JV” comment.

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