FactCheck.Org Clears Up The McCain-Obama Debate

An independent organization called factcheck.org researched "facts" purported by Barack Obama and John McCain in their first debate.

The September 26 Presidential Debate between John McCain and Barack Obama was centered around foreign policy. Each candidate had plenty to say about one another, but one organization had plenty to say about their claims: factcheck.org. The website, who claim to be a non-partisan, non-profit consumer advocate, reviewed nearly every statement made by Senators Obama and McCain and attempted to clear up any misconceptions, misrepresentations, or downright lies made by either candidate. Some of the highlights included: -McCain's assertion that Obama would raise taxes on everyone and voted to raise taxes on anyone who made $42,000 a year. The fact was Obama voted for a tax raise, but only for single people who made that amount. Obama's new plan actually lowers taxes. But, according to factcheck.org, it's not the 95% of American people as he claimed but 95% of American families. - Kissinger's stance that he supports talks with Iran with no pre condition. McCain accused Obama of supporting those talks all around. Obama claims he never said at the Presidential level, but that talks without precondition should happen, defining precondition as not claiming Iran would have to do things "our way" before we spoke. Obama claimed Kissinger, McCain's friend, agreed. McCain said he would never agree to such a thing.

So who's right? Kissinger did in fact say a few days earlier at a forum of former secretaries of state that he favors very high-level talks with Iran – without conditions:

Kissinger Sept. 20: Well, I am in favor of negotiating with Iran. And one utility of negotiation is to put before Iran our vision of a Middle East, of a stable Middle East, and our notion on nuclear proliferation at a high enough level so that they have to study it. And, therefore, I actually have preferred doing it at the secretary of state level so that we -- we know we're dealing with authentic...

CNN's Frank Sesno: Put at a very high level right out of the box?

Kissinger: Initially, yes.But I do not believe that we can make conditions for the opening of negotiations.

There are many more issues cleared up, covering a wide range from economic policy, to their stances on Russia and Georgia (where both candidates agreed in principle) to $3 million spent on the DNA of bears. Hopefully more and more citizens, particularly DJ'ers and independents, are viewing resources such as this. Whether you agree with a particular candidate or not, at least you're opinion on here will be based on facts that are cited.