Barack Obama has come under some scrutiny after Obama For America aired a 30 minute product infomercial on Wednesday, Oct 29. Associated Press writer, Calvin Woodward, caught just some of the misleading or false claims made by Obama in the informercial:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was less than upfront in his half-hour commercial Wednesday night about the costs of his programs and the crushing budget pressures he would face in office. Obama’s assertion that “I’ve offered spending cuts above and beyond” the expense of his promises is accepted only by his partisans. His vow to save money by “eliminating programs that don’t work” masks his failure throughout the campaign to specify what those programs are — beyond the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. [emphasis added]

I would say that not only has Obama failed to specify his spending offsets, but the media has failed to question ANY of Obama’s claims during the campaign. Obama has repeatedly been taken at his word by the media with little curiosity to verify his truthfulness. When the media does look past the smoke and mirrors, we find Obama’s truthfulness lacking.

Let’s take a look at health care. The American people deserve quality, affordable health care. However, Obama continues to mislead the public on his health care positions and his health care plan(s). He makes a claim that he will lower a family’s health care costs by $2,500. Here is Obama’s spin:

THE SPIN: “That’s why my health care plan includes improving information technology, requires coverage for preventive care and pre-existing conditions and lowers health care costs for the typical family by $2,500 a year.”

THE FACTS: His plan does not lower premiums by $2,500, or any set amount. Obama hopes that by spending $50 billion over five years on electronic medical records and by improving access to proven disease management programs, among other steps, consumers will end up saving money. He uses an optimistic analysis to suggest cost reductions in national health care spending could amount to the equivalent of $2,500 for a family of four. Many economists are skeptical those savings can be achieved, but even if they are, it’s not a certainty that every dollar would be passed on to consumers in the form of lower premiums. [emphasis added]

Obama has also held two very different positions on health care within the last three years: (pre-presidential primary) single payer health care (government run health care aka “socialized medicine” like Canada and Europe); (during democratic presidential primary) market-based health care with a mandate for children only, and (general election) market-based “universal health care” with a mandate for children only. He campaigned ruthlessly against Hillary Clinton’s market-based universal health plan that included mandates, then after the primaries said his plan was “universal,” then said it wasn’t when challenged by the Republicans.  Which position on health care does Obama really hold? He has stated that he supports single payer health care and a market-based system. It cannot be both, so to whom is he lying? Here is Obama’s spin:

THE SPIN: “I also believe every American has a right to affordable health care.”

THE FACTS: That belief should not be confused with a guarantee of health coverage for all. He makes no such promise. Obama hinted as much in the ad when he said about the problem of the uninsured: “I want to start doing something about it.” He would mandate coverage for children but not adults.

Here are the problems: 1) Obama has held two opposing positions on health care - government run, single payer health care (aka socialized medicine) and a market-based plan, 2) Obama has changed his positions on health care to suit his audience, 3) if he does pursue a market-based plan, then it must have a mandate to be truly universal coverage. I don’t understand how a man who has espoused his support for government run, single payer health care can also advocate for a market-based approach. What is Obama’s true and honest position on health care? Do you know, because I sure don’t.

Obama says he will cut spending, but he has proposed almost $1 trillion dollars of new spending. He will increase taxes, increase spending, and increase the deficit. Here is Obama’s spin:

THE SPIN: “I’ve offered spending cuts above and beyond their cost.”

THE FACTS: Independent analysts say both Obama and Republican John McCain would deepen the deficit. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates Obama’s policy proposals would add a net $428 billion to the deficit over four years — and that analysis accepts the savings he claims from spending cuts. [emphasis added]

McCain will cut taxes to stimulate the economy. McCain will also initially implement a spending freeze for nearly every federal program except for the Department of Defense, for veterans, and entitlement programs, then after reviewing program spending, will offset new spending with spending cuts. McCain has a proven record of cutting spending and cutting pork. Obama does not. Obama’s record doesn’t match his rhetoric on taxes and spending and his rhetoric certainly doesn’t match the economic reality. We cannot afford Obama’s proposals. Either he is making campaign promises he knows he cannot keep or he is dangerously over his head on the economy. Regardless, he is misleading the public at a time when we are most vulnerable.

Obama has repeatedly said that he will “raise taxes” for families (and small businesses) making more than $250,000. However, his cap keeps creeping down. Obama is now saying he will “raise taxes” on families (and small businesses) making more than $200,000, and his running mate, Joe Biden said this week that Obama will “raise taxes” on families making over $150,000. Here is Obama’s spin:

THE SPIN: “Here’s what I’ll do. Cut taxes for every working family making less than $200,000 a year. Give businesses a tax credit for every new employee that they hire right here in the U.S. over the next two years and eliminate tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. Help homeowners who are making a good faith effort to pay their mortgages, by freezing foreclosures for 90 days. And just like after 9-11, we’ll provide low-cost loans to help small businesses pay their workers and keep their doors open. ”

THE FACTS: His proposals — the tax cuts, the low-cost loans, the $15 billion a year he promises for alternative energy, and more — cost money, and the country could be facing a record $1 trillion deficit next year. Indeed, Obama recently acknowledged — although not in his commercial — that: “The next president will have to scale back his agenda and some of his proposals.”

AP didn’t catch the wild descrepancies in Obama’s tax cap. Also, Obama would have to “raise taxes” across the board to pay for his proposals. So, either he is lying about raising taxes or his ability to fund his proposals. It cannot be both.

Obama and his campaign have been seriously misleading about his proposed tax cuts. Obama has said that he would give “tax cuts” to 95% of Americans; however, 40% of Americans don’t even pay taxes, which means they are getting a government hand out. It looks like only the people not paying taxes will get our tax dollars, while the rest of us who do pay taxes are going to foot the bill so that Obama can “spread the wealth around.”

Here is a clip from FOX News discussing the AP fact check and Obama’s health care promises:

This next video captures Obama in his own words regarding his creeping tax caps and fuzzy definition of the “middle class.”

I actually blame the media for failing to do their jobs and vet, investigate, and call Obama out on his record, claims, and lies. Liars lie that’s what they do. A liar will lie until he gets caught. Words matter and Obama has consistently obfuscated, mislead, and lied when questioned. He may not admit the truth but at least we are put on alert that he is not to be trusted.