Debate FACT CHECK from CNN

CNN has issued a list of fact checks from the debate. How accurate were statements made by each side? Check out the candidates' claims at CNN online at this link.

Bush claimed that he had never said that he was not concerned about Osama bin Laden. Here is the actual quote from a press conference on March 13, 2002--

Bush's response: "Well, as I say, we haven't heard much from him. ... And, again, I don't know where he is. I -- I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him. I know he is on the run. I was concerned about him, when he had taken over a country. I was concerned about the fact that he was basically running Afghanistan and calling the shots for the Taliban. But once we set out the policy and started executing the plan, he became -- we shoved him out more and more on the margins.

Kerry claimed that Bush had never met with the Congressional Black Caucus. In fact, Bush met with the CBC on two occasions at the White House, but has never spoken at their national conference. Also, Bush is the only President since Herbert Hoover to not speak at the NAACP convention.

Kerry claims that 5 million people have 'lost' their health insurance under Bush. Actually, the number of uninsured people increased by 5.2 million from 2001 to 2003--this number includes people who have recently entered the workforce, people who have recently entered the country, and others who did not previously have health insurance. The number does not reflect only those people who previously had health insurance and 'lost' it during the three year period.

Kerry said that 1.6 million jobs have been lost under Bush. That number actually reflects only private sector jobs. When public sector jobs are included, just over 800,000 fewer jobs exist today than when Bush took office. Of course, we also need to realize that this means that the party that believes in limited (small) government has actually added almost a MILLION more government jobs than when Clinton left office!

Bush claims that Kerry's spending plans would cost $2.2 trillion. Bush is apparently working from an outdated report from the American Enterprise Institute (a conservative think tank!). Meanwhile, the Concord Coalition estimates that BOTH candidates' spending plans would cost about $1.3 trillion dollars! UGH!!