Five eye-popping claims Democrats made in Charlotte speeches

This highly entertaining video takes apart some of the fantasy math Democrats employ when promoting the ObamaCare Tax Bill. (Video from Political Math blog)

On Tuesday evening as I watched various Democrats speak at the convention in Charlotte, I kept a running list of false claims. I planned to check them this morning.

Fortunately, a number of media outlets actually saved me some time; they ran fact-checks on statements made by speakers like Obama’s Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius. That in itself is a surprise considering the informal alliance Democrats have traditionally had with media.

The Associated Press, CNN and USA Today summed up errant statements. Here’s a brief list of some of the statements that bordered on fantasy:

• Sebelius claimed that under the ObamaCare Tax Bill, if you like your current health insurance you can keep it. That’s a promise neither Sebelius nor President Barack Obama can keep. One survey found that approximately 10 percent of small businesses—mainly those with 50-100 workers—will drop coverage once the full bill kicks in. It’s a no-brainer anyway. Even public companies will drop coverage if they can get off cheaper by simply paying the fine.
• San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and others touted Obama’s jobs record—4.5 million created! Problem is, as CNN notes, “While that is indeed a gain of 4.5 million, it's only a net gain of 300,000 over the course of the Obama administration to date.”
• Citing a study from a left-leaning (in my opinion) tax organization, some speakers accused GOP nominee Gov. Mitt Romney of planning to raise taxes on the middle class. That’s a fantasy, as USA Today explains. On the other hand, if the Bush tax program expires, many of us will see higher taxes because the marriage penalty will return. And that’s without sweeping taxes in ObamaCare, something no supporter ever mentions.
• The Illinois governor, a Democrat, claimed Romney’s record as Massachusetts governor was poor when it came to jobs. Fantasy. USA Today explained that one too: “The state's ranking actually improved while Romney was in office…In the 12 months before Romney took office, the state ranked 50th in job creation, and by his final year, the state ranked 28th. Quinn would have been more accurate to say Romney ‘left his state’ in 28th place, not 47th.” That’s actually a gain for Romney who advanced Massachusetts from 50^th to 28^th in job creation.
• On the Romney-Ryan Medicare plan, Dems are running a scare campaign. Republican challengers to Obama have repeatedly asserted Medicare will not change for current seniors. This is nothing new. Even media erred in fact-checking a statement that President Bill Clinton convened a “bipartisan” commission on the issue when he was in office. Newspapers like The Washington Post claimed Clinton’s commission was not “bipartisan.” Poppycock. You can read for yourself at government files online what Clinton called it, and “bipartisan” was the exact term he used.

Democrats are mounting an effort to convince voters that because of Obama’s policies, our lives have improved over the last 4 years.

However, anyone on Main Street who checks his or her wallet knows better and we don't need a fact-checker to prove it.

(Commentary by Kay B. Day/Sept. 5, 2012)

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