FactCheck.org: Bachmann's presidential campaign starts with a slew of off-base claims

[pampango]

http://factcheck.org/2011/06/bachmanns-waterloo/

Bachmann’s Waterloo

The Minnesota Republican appeared on two Sunday talk shows the day before giving her formal announcement speech in Waterloo, Iowa. On the shows, she made false statements about income from her family farm and government subsidies to her husband's business. She also made misstatements regarding earmarks, federal pay, government-owned "limousines" and health care:

-Bachmann wrongly blamed President Obama for increasing the number of federal transportation workers who earn more than $170,000 from one to 1,690 during the recession. At least two-thirds of those employees were receiving more than $170,000 before Obama took office.

-She criticized the president for a 73 percent increase in government "limousines." But one department accounted for the increase, and it had a long-term plan, pre-dating Obama, to add armored vehicles. The term "limousine" includes armored vehicles and sedans, not just actual limos.

-She claimed she had been "faithful" to her pledge not to request federal earmarks. But she requested $40 million in transportation earmarks in the 2009 fiscal year budget after taking the pledge, later claiming such projects should not be subjected to her promise. She withdrew her requests after the House Republicans took a party position in 2010 not to seek earmarks.

-The three-term congresswoman repeated — on two Sunday shows — the false claim that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the federal health care law will "cost the economy 800,000 jobs." The CBO never said that. It said there will be a "small" impact on jobs.

[hobbit709]

1. She's a Republican and her lips were moving.

Lying comes easier to them than breathing.

[wellstone dem]

2. this tactic was one she used very successfully in her last campaign

She learned that the media does not hold her accountable. She is treated a lot like George Bush was. Her not telling the truth was not news, it was expected, so there was no coverage.

[glinda]

3. A friend and supporter of hers has told me that "it is all marketing" to get attention to get

the final outcome. They don't care. She is a tool. He calls her brilliant. Ugh.

[Martin Eden]

4. When it is easily shown that a politician lies consistently and blatantly ...

... in a sane world, that politician's career would be over.

We do not live in a sane world -- and certainly not in a functional democracy.